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R2 is a powdered metallurgical steel that offers some impressive specifications and properties. The steel is a proprietary powdered alloy made by The Kobelco Steel Company primarily for use in the manufacturing of tools. It is a perfect alloy for kitchen knives as it is easy to maintain and can be hardened to a reasonably high rating, in this case 62+ HRC. The core of this knife is covered in a layer of a softer stainless steel for protection and strength. The cladding is given a very unique hammered look, which together with the hand-engraved kanji results in a blade of great aesthetic appeal.
The knife has a very nice profile which presents a long flat portion at the back of the blade and a very well-proportioned belly to the slim tip. A 50/50 symmetrical grind is given a convex geometry that we particularly admire.
Blacksmith Yu Kurosaki is one of our favorite smiths and he has made a blade that looks and performs as well as any we carry. Add in the great strengths of R2 steel and you have a knife that is both easy to maintain and has an ability to hold its razor sharp edge over long sessions.Blacksmith: Yu Kurosaki
Location: Echizen, Japan
Construction: Hammer Forged
Edge Steel: R2
HRC: 62 +-
Cladding: Hammered Stainless
Edge Grind: Even: See Choil Shot
Handle: Rosewood Octagonal
Ferrule: Black Pakka Wood
Weight: 6.2 ounces
Blade Length: 243mm
Overall Length: 408mm
Thickness at Heel: 2.6 mm
Blade Height: 51.7 mm
The knife has a very nice profile which presents a long flat portion at the back of the blade and a very well-proportioned belly to the slim tip. A 50/50 symmetrical grind is given a convex geometry that we particularly admire.
Blacksmith Yu Kurosaki is one of our favorite smiths and he has made a blade that looks and performs as well as any we carry. Add in the great strengths of R2 steel and you have a knife that is both easy to maintain and has an ability to hold its razor sharp edge over long sessions.
Reviews
4 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) Exceptional~!, June 10, 2020Posted By: Brent G
Wow, what an incredible knife. First the aesthetics, absolutely gorgeous blade with a hand hammered pattern to reduce stiction. The knife is light, thin and the R2 steel keeps a fine edge with occasional touch up. I use this primarily to break down large pieces of protein but the profile also lends to finesse work with push and pull cuts executed with ease. Yu Kurosaki has earned a great reputation, using this knife there is no doubt all the praise is well deserved. I've been using it for about a year or so, five stars for Yu Korosaki and five stars for CKTG~!
Wow, what an incredible knife. First the aesthetics, absolutely gorgeous blade with a hand hammered pattern to reduce stiction. The knife is light, thin and the R2 steel keeps a fine edge with occasional touch up. I use this primarily to break down large pieces of protein but the profile also lends to finesse work with push and pull cuts executed with ease. Yu Kurosaki has earned a great reputation, using this knife there is no doubt all the praise is well deserved. I've been using it for about a year or so, five stars for Yu Korosaki and five stars for CKTG~!
Beautiful laser, May 29, 2020Posted By: Ken Krone
After years of using Shun knives (my wife and I are avid home chefs), I wanted to upgrade our knives piece by piece. With Mark, the members of kitchen knives forum, and the internet, I quickly decided to purchase one of Yu Kurosaki's knives because of the reputation, the aesthetics, and Mr. Kurosaki's "story." When it was unboxed, I could hardly believe how light and beautiful it is. The fit and finish are superb with very smooth edges of the choil and spine. That left the function. It is light a light saber. I can work with it for hours without tiring, and I have to say that looking at it gives me great pleasure knowing that it was made by hand. I am sure that there must be better knives, but I cannot say that there is anything lacking in this one that makes me want to consider looking for one! We are happy campers, as you can tell. (We have been using it since August, 2019, so it has been about 8-9 months).
After years of using Shun knives (my wife and I are avid home chefs), I wanted to upgrade our knives piece by piece. With Mark, the members of kitchen knives forum, and the internet, I quickly decided to purchase one of Yu Kurosaki's knives because of the reputation, the aesthetics, and Mr. Kurosaki's "story." When it was unboxed, I could hardly believe how light and beautiful it is. The fit and finish are superb with very smooth edges of the choil and spine. That left the function. It is light a light saber. I can work with it for hours without tiring, and I have to say that looking at it gives me great pleasure knowing that it was made by hand. I am sure that there must be better knives, but I cannot say that there is anything lacking in this one that makes me want to consider looking for one! We are happy campers, as you can tell. (We have been using it since August, 2019, so it has been about 8-9 months).
Excellent knife , March 6, 2020Posted By: Jason
I received this as a very unexpected birthday gift from my girlfriend. The knife feels super light, and delicate, put performs incredibly well. Makes very fast work of mincing herbs with rock chopping, and the hammered finish provides a sense of grip while doing that. The light weight makes it a nice, almost all-purpose knife. I still prefer a single bevel for slicing fish or other proteins, however this was a great knife for a dinner service line cook. The R2 edge did a great job of holding up through and entire service.
I received this as a very unexpected birthday gift from my girlfriend. The knife feels super light, and delicate, put performs incredibly well. Makes very fast work of mincing herbs with rock chopping, and the hammered finish provides a sense of grip while doing that. The light weight makes it a nice, almost all-purpose knife. I still prefer a single bevel for slicing fish or other proteins, however this was a great knife for a dinner service line cook. The R2 edge did a great job of holding up through and entire service.
Beautiful Knife, July 28, 2017Posted By: Jeff B - verified customer
This knife is crazy thin behind the edge and very light. Has the feel of a laser to me. Blade fit and finish is excellent and the chiseled kanji is very nice. The handle is very nice after a little finish work to it, the install was perfect.Absolutely spectacular performance! Just whisperers through most produce and tackles tall root vegetables with no wedging. The tip on this knife is amazing in horizontal cuts. Food release is excellent. The R2 takes a great edge and edge retention is as good as you would expect. The knife feels a little delicate until you get a feel for her. If your looking for a hearty feeling workhorse this is not the knife for you.Another great offering from Kurosaki!
This knife is crazy thin behind the edge and very light. Has the feel of a laser to me. Blade fit and finish is excellent and the chiseled kanji is very nice. The handle is very nice after a little finish work to it, the install was perfect.Absolutely spectacular performance! Just whisperers through most produce and tackles tall root vegetables with no wedging. The tip on this knife is amazing in horizontal cuts. Food release is excellent. The R2 takes a great edge and edge retention is as good as you would expect. The knife feels a little delicate until you get a feel for her. If your looking for a hearty feeling workhorse this is not the knife for you.Another great offering from Kurosaki!
