Nakiyo Teak Damascus 8" Kiritsuke

The kiritsuke (切付包丁) is a Japanese multipurpose knife that combines features of a slicer and a vegetable chopper. While the kiritsuke was traditionally a single-bevel knife meant for slicing fish and mincing vegetables, this variant is a double-bevel knife that can be considered a type of chef's knife with a straighter blade and narrower tip.

Function

Like the gyuto, the standard chef's knife, the double-bevel kiritsuke can be used for most kitchen tasks. In comparison to the gyuto, the kiritsuke's straighter edge makes it better for up-and-down chopping than rock chopping, and it is more capable of precise work with the narrow tip. The 210 mm (8.3”) blade length is best for most users, but a smaller size is available as well.

Form

Damascus steel was first developed in India over 2,000 years ago and quickly established a reputation not only for its beauty, but also as one of the greatest metallurgical innovations in history. Swords forged in Persia and sold in the Syrian city of Damascus inspired legends of their ability to slice through a gun barrel or part a hair falling across the blade. Although the ancient technique was lost to history around 1900, modern metallurgists have succeeded in reproducing the effect with state-of-the-art alloys to bring performance to the next level.

Nakiyo Damascus blades are forged from 63-layer (all larger knives) or 37-layer (paring, peeling, and petty knives) Damascus steel, which is made by repeatedly folding and forge welding two stainless steels with different carbon contents. The resulting material bears the elegant, wavelike pattern produced by its many fine layers—a testament to its strength, flexibility, and durability. This Damascus envelops a core of harder VG-10 cobalt alloy steel, a high-carbon stainless steel developed in Japan. Hardened to a Rockwell hardness of 62, it accommodates a long-lasting, razor-sharp edge.

The lightweight handle is crafted from strong and durable teak (Tectona grandis) wood, which provides a secure grip without upsetting the knife’s balance. The wood, among the most water-resistant species in the world, is secured and accented by a ferrule (collar) of black water buffalo horn. Its octagonal profile guarantees a firm hold and is suitable for both right- and left-handed users.