The double bevel kiritsuke is the format that serious home cooks tend to discover after they have worked through gyutos and santokus - a blade that combines the length and curve of a gyuto with the angled, pointed kiritsuke tip that adds precision for detail work and a visual distinctiveness that sets it apart on the block. Unlike a traditional single-bevel kiritsuke, this double bevel version is accessible for both right- and left-handed cooks and sharpens on standard water stones without the specialized technique that single bevel edges require. Hatsukokoro brings ATS34 stainless steel to this format in the Hayabusa series, working with Nihei Takahiro in Tosa to produce a thin, light kiritsuke at a price that reflects the practical ambition of the line.
ATS34 is a premium high-carbon stainless steel with excellent edge-forming characteristics and good sharpenability at the hardness levels a skilled maker achieves with it. At 5.1 oz and 208mm this is a light, well-balanced knife - the 2.2mm spine at the heel is thin enough to keep the blade responsive through its length, and the 45.9mm blade height gives it enough surface for comfortable push cutting and scooping without the knife feeling oversized. The kasumi (hazy) finish contrasts gently with the polished edge bevel, giving the blade a traditional, understated character. San Mai construction keeps the ATS34 core performing at its best. The one-piece octagonal ebony handle completes a package that is quiet and considered in its aesthetic - a working knife that earns attention through performance rather than visual drama.
Care Instructions: ATS34 stainless is low maintenance - hand wash and dry after each use. Avoid the dishwasher. The ebony handle is dense and durable but benefits from occasional conditioning with food-safe wood wax or oil. Sharpen on quality water stones and strop regularly. Avoid bones, frozen foods, and hard surfaces that could chip the edge at this hardness level.
ATS34 is a premium high-carbon stainless steel with excellent edge-forming characteristics and good sharpenability at the hardness levels a skilled maker achieves with it. At 5.1 oz and 208mm this is a light, well-balanced knife - the 2.2mm spine at the heel is thin enough to keep the blade responsive through its length, and the 45.9mm blade height gives it enough surface for comfortable push cutting and scooping without the knife feeling oversized. The kasumi (hazy) finish contrasts gently with the polished edge bevel, giving the blade a traditional, understated character. San Mai construction keeps the ATS34 core performing at its best. The one-piece octagonal ebony handle completes a package that is quiet and considered in its aesthetic - a working knife that earns attention through performance rather than visual drama.
- Brand: Hatsukokoro
- Location: Tosa, Japan
- Construction: San Mai
- Edge Steel: ATS34 Stainless Steel
- Cladding: Stainless Steel
- Finish: Kasumi (Hazy)
- HRC: 61 +/-
- Edge Grind: Even (Double Bevel)
- Handle: Octagonal Ebony
- Weight: 5.1 oz (144 g)
- Blade Length: 208 mm
- Total Length: 351 mm
- Spine Thickness at Heel: 2.2 mm
- Blade Height: 45.9 mm
- Item Number: F34M-K210
Care Instructions: ATS34 stainless is low maintenance - hand wash and dry after each use. Avoid the dishwasher. The ebony handle is dense and durable but benefits from occasional conditioning with food-safe wood wax or oil. Sharpen on quality water stones and strop regularly. Avoid bones, frozen foods, and hard surfaces that could chip the edge at this hardness level.
