HAP40 is what CKTG has been calling Voodoo Steel for years - a powdered high-speed semi-stainless alloy from Hitachi Metals that holds its edge three to five times longer than traditional carbon or stainless steels. At 65-66 HRC, it is harder than Aogami Super and SG2, fine-grained enough to take a razor-sharp edge, and semi-stainless enough to handle daily kitchen use without the reactive surface care that carbon demands. The Kohetsu HAP40 Western line brings that steel into a familiar western handle format, and is made exclusively for CKTG by the Tsukahara family in Seki City, Japan.
The petty at 150mm occupies the versatile middle ground between a pure paring knife and a utility blade - long enough for comfortable board work, compact enough for precise in-hand tasks. The thin grind lets the blade pass through food with minimal resistance, and the 60/40 asymmetric edge works equally well for right- and left-handed cooks. Stainless san-mai cladding over the HAP40 core keeps daily maintenance simple. The mahogany western handle with stainless bolster and three rivets is well executed - full tang construction, comfortable across grip styles, and finished to a professional standard.
What Customers Are Saying: Reviewers new to HAP40 steel report strong first impressions, with one calling the performance excellent for a first HAP40 knife and noting it takes a very sharp edge without staining easily. Another reviewer found the fit and finish faultless, needing only a light touch-up on a fine stone before it was shaving sharp.
Care Instructions: HAP40 is a semi-stainless steel - hand wash and dry after each use. Avoid the dishwasher. Use wood or rubber cutting boards only and avoid bones, frozen foods, and hard materials that could chip the edge at 65-66 HRC. Sharpen on quality water stones; HAP40 sharpens more readily than most powdered steels but rewards a consistent angle and light pressure. Strop regularly between sharpenings to maintain peak performance. The extraordinary edge retention means sharpening sessions are less frequent than with any other steel in the Kohetsu lineup.Brand: Kohetsu
Exclusive - Available Only at CKTG
Blacksmith: Tsukahara Family
Location: Seki City, Japan
Construction: Laser Cut, San Mai
Edge Steel: HAP40 Semi Stainless (Powdered High Speed Steel)
Cladding: Stainless Steel
HRC: 65-66
Edge Grind: 60/40 Asymmetric Double Bevel
Etching: Acid Etched Kanji
Handle: Mahogany Western - Full Tang
Bolster: Stainless Steel
3 Stainless Rivets
Weight: 3.2 oz (90 g)
Blade Length: 148 mm
Total Length: 256 mm
Spine Thickness at Base: 2 mm
Blade Height: 29 mm
The petty at 150mm occupies the versatile middle ground between a pure paring knife and a utility blade - long enough for comfortable board work, compact enough for precise in-hand tasks. The thin grind lets the blade pass through food with minimal resistance, and the 60/40 asymmetric edge works equally well for right- and left-handed cooks. Stainless san-mai cladding over the HAP40 core keeps daily maintenance simple. The mahogany western handle with stainless bolster and three rivets is well executed - full tang construction, comfortable across grip styles, and finished to a professional standard.
What Customers Are Saying: Reviewers new to HAP40 steel report strong first impressions, with one calling the performance excellent for a first HAP40 knife and noting it takes a very sharp edge without staining easily. Another reviewer found the fit and finish faultless, needing only a light touch-up on a fine stone before it was shaving sharp.
Care Instructions: HAP40 is a semi-stainless steel - hand wash and dry after each use. Avoid the dishwasher. Use wood or rubber cutting boards only and avoid bones, frozen foods, and hard materials that could chip the edge at 65-66 HRC. Sharpen on quality water stones; HAP40 sharpens more readily than most powdered steels but rewards a consistent angle and light pressure. Strop regularly between sharpenings to maintain peak performance. The extraordinary edge retention means sharpening sessions are less frequent than with any other steel in the Kohetsu lineup.
Reviews
4 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) Kohetsu HAP40 Petty 150mm Couldn't be happierPosted By: James - verified customer
15 people found this review helpful
My problem was that I had a 120mm petty in VG-10 and a 210 Gyuto in ZDP-189. I love the convenience of the smaller knife but was constantly disappointed with the performance of the VG-10 once it became dull. The ZDP-189 has lasted a year at full performance with no touch-up required but the size wasn't conducive to smaller tasks which I realised make up the bulk of my knife work at home. I needed something with a performance steel at a medium size to be my general purpose knife so I bought the HAP-40 150mm petty.
It's amazing :) I've had it a few weeks now and can tell that it will last just like the ZDP-189. I have to work a little slower at the moment because of how ludicrously sharp it is. I'm worried that I'll lose a finger! Hopefully I can speed up once I get used to the new size.
Fit and finish is flawless and it was beautifully sharp out of the box. The ordering, communication and shipping from CKTG was perfect as well. I did get charged UK customs duty by the shipping company but this was expected so I can't complain.
Overall I am a very happy customer and am now planning another purchase from your wonderful site!
15 people found this review helpful
My problem was that I had a 120mm petty in VG-10 and a 210 Gyuto in ZDP-189. I love the convenience of the smaller knife but was constantly disappointed with the performance of the VG-10 once it became dull. The ZDP-189 has lasted a year at full performance with no touch-up required but the size wasn't conducive to smaller tasks which I realised make up the bulk of my knife work at home. I needed something with a performance steel at a medium size to be my general purpose knife so I bought the HAP-40 150mm petty.
It's amazing :) I've had it a few weeks now and can tell that it will last just like the ZDP-189. I have to work a little slower at the moment because of how ludicrously sharp it is. I'm worried that I'll lose a finger! Hopefully I can speed up once I get used to the new size.
Fit and finish is flawless and it was beautifully sharp out of the box. The ordering, communication and shipping from CKTG was perfect as well. I did get charged UK customs duty by the shipping company but this was expected so I can't complain.
Overall I am a very happy customer and am now planning another purchase from your wonderful site!
New favorite knife for fruit prepPosted By: Peter - verified customer
18 people found this review helpful
This is my first HAP40 knife and the performance is excellent. Takes a very sharp edge, doesn't stain easily, and imparts no flavor to the food. Feels good in the hand; balanced at the bolster and not too thin a blade, which I happen to prefer. Worth it.
18 people found this review helpful
This is my first HAP40 knife and the performance is excellent. Takes a very sharp edge, doesn't stain easily, and imparts no flavor to the food. Feels good in the hand; balanced at the bolster and not too thin a blade, which I happen to prefer. Worth it.
Nice little pettyPosted By: ciscok1d - verified customer
15 people found this review helpful
Very good knife. Fit and finish was faultless. I touched it up using only a 4000 grit stone and it was shaving hair off my arm. Too soon to tell if hap 40 retains sharpness better than my blue steel knives, but I have not felt any decrease in sharpness after a week of use.
15 people found this review helpful
Very good knife. Fit and finish was faultless. I touched it up using only a 4000 grit stone and it was shaving hair off my arm. Too soon to tell if hap 40 retains sharpness better than my blue steel knives, but I have not felt any decrease in sharpness after a week of use.
