Yoshimi Kato VG-10 Suminagashi Bunka 170mm

Yoshimi Kato has recently inherited the business from his father Hiroshi. Along with his experienced crew he is coming out with several new lines with a focus on quality stainless steels and nice damascus finishes. This Bunka is a perfect example. With this new line of VG-10 blades he has managed to these build these principles into his most affordable line of kitchen knives.

VG-10 is a cutlery grade stainless steel produced in Japan. The name stands for V Gold 10 ("gold" meaning quality), or sometimes V-Kin-10 (kin means "gold" in Japanese). It is a stainless steel with a high carbon content containing 1% carbon, 15% chromium, 1% molybdenum, 0.2% vanadium, 1.5% cobalt, and 0.5% manganese. All of these relatively small amounts of other metals give the VG-10 steel its most important properties, such as its ability to hold an edge coupled with great durability. It is one reason why the VG-10 label has been so highly prized among so many people, ranging from chefs to knife collectors.

This bunka is a good choice for lovers of shorter blades or those with very restricted board space. It is also a great choice for prepping garnishes and other smaller items. This knife will appeal to rock and push cutters alike. Its 50/50 grind will also be useful to both left- and right-handed users. It has a nice thin spine that tapers towards the tip and it also exhibits a fairly thin grind behind the edge.

Its great aesthetics and functionality are further enhanced by a well-balanced Western style rosewood color handle. This a very well made knife at a great price.

Blacksmith: Yoshimi Kato

Location: Echizen Japan

Construction: Hammer Forged, San Mai

Grind: Even Edge Grind

Weight: 5.6 ounces

Blade Length: 170 mm

Blade Height: 47 mm

Spine Thickness at Base: 1.9 mm

Edge: 50/50

Steel: VG-10

HRC: 61-62

Cladding: Nickel Damascus

Handle: Yo Rosewood