Hideo Kitaoka has been making knife blades for over 30 years, concentrating his craft on perfecting a handful of traditional knife styles in just a couple of steel types rather than spreading himself across every blade and alloy. This 180mm deba - the longest in the Kitaoka Blue #2 line - is a quintessential rendition of the classic blade shape, ground specifically for left-handed users.
The blade is built in the traditional steel jacketed awase method, with a core hagane of Blue #2 for the cutting edge and a jigane of soft iron protecting the spine and upper blade body. Blue #2 is made by Hitachi from Japanese pure sand iron at their Yasugi plant in Shimane Prefecture, and is highly regarded by blade makers and knife users alike. The blade carries a single bevel with a mild concave backside and a lovely primary bevel on the front that reveals the core hagane steel just shy of the edge - the genuinely great ability of Blue #2 to take and hold a sharp edge shows clearly here. The handle is rosewood octagonal.
Care Instructions: Blue #2 is a reactive carbon steel and will develop a natural patina with use - this is normal and helps protect the steel. Wipe the blade dry immediately after each use and avoid leaving it wet or in contact with acidic foods. Hand wash only. Apply a light coat of camellia oil for long-term storage.
Each knife is made by hand so measurements may vary.Blacksmith: Hideo Kitaoka
Location: Echizen, Japan
Construction: Hammer Forged, Left-Handed Grind
Edge Steel: Blue #2
HRC: 62-63
Handle: Rosewood Octagonal
Weight: 10.9 oz (310 g)
Blade Length: 181 mm
Total Length: 326 mm
Spine Thickness at Base: 7 mm
Blade Height: 52 mm
Please Note: We only ship Kitaoka knives within the USA
The blade is built in the traditional steel jacketed awase method, with a core hagane of Blue #2 for the cutting edge and a jigane of soft iron protecting the spine and upper blade body. Blue #2 is made by Hitachi from Japanese pure sand iron at their Yasugi plant in Shimane Prefecture, and is highly regarded by blade makers and knife users alike. The blade carries a single bevel with a mild concave backside and a lovely primary bevel on the front that reveals the core hagane steel just shy of the edge - the genuinely great ability of Blue #2 to take and hold a sharp edge shows clearly here. The handle is rosewood octagonal.
Care Instructions: Blue #2 is a reactive carbon steel and will develop a natural patina with use - this is normal and helps protect the steel. Wipe the blade dry immediately after each use and avoid leaving it wet or in contact with acidic foods. Hand wash only. Apply a light coat of camellia oil for long-term storage.
Each knife is made by hand so measurements may vary.
