Kanehide is a respected manufacturer in Seki City, Japan. We asked them to make a line of knives using their proprietary TK semi-stainless steel, and the result has become one of our most consistent recommendations for cooks who want genuine Japanese cutting performance at an accessible price. TK steel sits between a true carbon steel and a full stainless alloy - it takes and holds a nice edge, resharpens easily, and is more forgiving of moisture than a reactive carbon steel while still benefiting from basic care.
This 210mm gyuto is the flagship of the TK line and one of the first knives we recommend to people new to Japanese knives. The mono steel TK construction means no san mai layering and no cladding to worry about - just one material, ground thin and even. The blade runs to 212mm length and 46mm height, a practical everyday size for all cutting styles, from rocking to slicing to push cutting. At 61 HRC it holds an edge noticeably longer than most German knives at a fraction of the price.
What Customers Are Saying: Five reviewers, consistently enthusiastic. One says it outperforms all their German knives while being balanced and scalpel-like sharp, with the one reminder that it needs to be wiped and dried within a few minutes after use. A professional cook calls it a great price for a workhorse. A third describes it as a great introduction to Japanese knives - thin, light, and surprisingly capable across all the tasks they threw at it.
Care Instructions: TK steel is semi-stainless, sitting between a true stainless and a reactive carbon steel. It is more forgiving than carbon but still benefits from wiping and drying after use, especially after cutting acidic foods. Avoid the dishwasher. Hand wash only.
This 210mm gyuto is the flagship of the TK line and one of the first knives we recommend to people new to Japanese knives. The mono steel TK construction means no san mai layering and no cladding to worry about - just one material, ground thin and even. The blade runs to 212mm length and 46mm height, a practical everyday size for all cutting styles, from rocking to slicing to push cutting. At 61 HRC it holds an edge noticeably longer than most German knives at a fraction of the price.
What Customers Are Saying: Five reviewers, consistently enthusiastic. One says it outperforms all their German knives while being balanced and scalpel-like sharp, with the one reminder that it needs to be wiped and dried within a few minutes after use. A professional cook calls it a great price for a workhorse. A third describes it as a great introduction to Japanese knives - thin, light, and surprisingly capable across all the tasks they threw at it.
Care Instructions: TK steel is semi-stainless, sitting between a true stainless and a reactive carbon steel. It is more forgiving than carbon but still benefits from wiping and drying after use, especially after cutting acidic foods. Avoid the dishwasher. Hand wash only.
- Maker: Kanehide
- Location: Seki City, Japan
- Construction: Mono Steel
- Steel: TK Semi-Stainless
- HRC: 61
- Edge Grind: Double Bevel
- Handle: Black Pakka Wood
- Weight: 6.6 oz (186 g)
- Blade Length: 212 mm
- Total Length: 338 mm
- Spine Thickness at Base: 2 mm
- Blade Height: 46 mm
Reviews
5 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) SuperbPosted By: John David - verified customer
19 people found this review helpful
Balanced and scalpel-like sharp, it outperforms all my german knives. The most important thing to remember is to clean and wipe dry within a few minutes after use. Overall, very pleased.
19 people found this review helpful
Balanced and scalpel-like sharp, it outperforms all my german knives. The most important thing to remember is to clean and wipe dry within a few minutes after use. Overall, very pleased.
Great price for a workhorsePosted By: Rick - verified customer
11 people found this review helpful
Got the paring knife from the tk line for my girlfriend and we both loved it. Got her this 210mm gyuto for Christmas and its one of the best cutters I've ever used. Very light but stiff and sturdy. Can't wait to get the nakiri
11 people found this review helpful
Got the paring knife from the tk line for my girlfriend and we both loved it. Got her this 210mm gyuto for Christmas and its one of the best cutters I've ever used. Very light but stiff and sturdy. Can't wait to get the nakiri
Sure winner!Posted By: Ramon Walle - verified customer
15 people found this review helpful
I wrought a more detail review, but it got eaten by the server and wasted my time. So I will make this one short and sweet, but hopefully capture the essence. For $99 dollars you can't miss with this knife. It came nice and sharp. the intial edge seemed a hair chippy. I had some minor micro chips, but I also cut some candied peanuts with it. After the initial sharpening I never had any issues. I used it as a line knife for about a year and love it. I will say it initially reacted quite strongly. It is definetly not stainless, and I would hope someone would not expect it to be. I had never had a semi stainless and kind of thought it would be the same. For this particular knife it wasn't. Initially I cut garlic and onions. It fumed tremendously. It turned a blotchy gray with specs of black. It even discolored some of the first onions. I washed the knife and put it in my bag. I never had any reaction after that. I used it on the line sometimes leaving it moist. I never had any issues with rust or problems. It didn't shine or shimmer, but it was a heck of a cutter. I sold it to upgrade and made somebody very happy. It cut somethings better than my new knife, like the end of a brussell sprout. I could just flick chop it with this knife. For a home used I would highly recommend it. For a pro on budget I would also highly recommend it. It sharpens well and is easy to touch up. You will have to upkeep it more often, but that is to be expected with this heat treat. I wouldn't even think of getting something like a shun classic, global, or even a tojiro over this knife. Nevermind about the short and sweet part.
15 people found this review helpful
I wrought a more detail review, but it got eaten by the server and wasted my time. So I will make this one short and sweet, but hopefully capture the essence. For $99 dollars you can't miss with this knife. It came nice and sharp. the intial edge seemed a hair chippy. I had some minor micro chips, but I also cut some candied peanuts with it. After the initial sharpening I never had any issues. I used it as a line knife for about a year and love it. I will say it initially reacted quite strongly. It is definetly not stainless, and I would hope someone would not expect it to be. I had never had a semi stainless and kind of thought it would be the same. For this particular knife it wasn't. Initially I cut garlic and onions. It fumed tremendously. It turned a blotchy gray with specs of black. It even discolored some of the first onions. I washed the knife and put it in my bag. I never had any reaction after that. I used it on the line sometimes leaving it moist. I never had any issues with rust or problems. It didn't shine or shimmer, but it was a heck of a cutter. I sold it to upgrade and made somebody very happy. It cut somethings better than my new knife, like the end of a brussell sprout. I could just flick chop it with this knife. For a home used I would highly recommend it. For a pro on budget I would also highly recommend it. It sharpens well and is easy to touch up. You will have to upkeep it more often, but that is to be expected with this heat treat. I wouldn't even think of getting something like a shun classic, global, or even a tojiro over this knife. Nevermind about the short and sweet part.
Outstanding valuePosted By: Joe - verified customer
14 people found this review helpful
Great great value blade! At first, I wasn't sure this was a semi-stainless steel as it refused to take on even a mild patina. However, the patina started after my first wash with Barkeeper's Friend. Usage of this knife confirms the impression that the steel hardness is above HRC60. It's a very nice hardness that gets sharp with very good edge retention! For the price, this knife can't be beat. The fit and finish are good with nicely smoothed out spine and choil. The handle scales are flush with the tang, but since this knife is new, I do expect possible scale shrinkage in the future. This competes very well with the Kikuichi TKC as well as the similar semistainless 'clone' from other sellers. I don't mind that the kanji is screened on rather than engraved. The knife surface is much easier to wipe down this way. Get one at this price while you can! I think this would make a fabulous recommendation for an introduction Japanese knife or for a thin workhorse in any professional kitchen.
14 people found this review helpful
Great great value blade! At first, I wasn't sure this was a semi-stainless steel as it refused to take on even a mild patina. However, the patina started after my first wash with Barkeeper's Friend. Usage of this knife confirms the impression that the steel hardness is above HRC60. It's a very nice hardness that gets sharp with very good edge retention! For the price, this knife can't be beat. The fit and finish are good with nicely smoothed out spine and choil. The handle scales are flush with the tang, but since this knife is new, I do expect possible scale shrinkage in the future. This competes very well with the Kikuichi TKC as well as the similar semistainless 'clone' from other sellers. I don't mind that the kanji is screened on rather than engraved. The knife surface is much easier to wipe down this way. Get one at this price while you can! I think this would make a fabulous recommendation for an introduction Japanese knife or for a thin workhorse in any professional kitchen.
Bang for the BuckPosted By: Jeff B - verified customer
14 people found this review helpful
This knife has a very nice grind to be so thin. Just glides through produce. Is a proprietary semi-stainless steel that has a great feel on the stones and takes a spectacular edge. Very versatile profile and nimble feel. An excellent general purpose knife.This is a whole lot of knife for the money, one of the best deals on the site!
14 people found this review helpful
This knife has a very nice grind to be so thin. Just glides through produce. Is a proprietary semi-stainless steel that has a great feel on the stones and takes a spectacular edge. Very versatile profile and nimble feel. An excellent general purpose knife.This is a whole lot of knife for the money, one of the best deals on the site!
