VG-10 stainless steel is the core of this 240mm gyuto, chosen for its ability to take and hold a very fine edge while staying easy to maintain. Masakage operates out of Takefu Knife Village, a small enclave of blacksmiths, sharpeners, and other craftsmen in Echizen, part of the Fukui Prefecture, founded so leading blacksmiths could share knowledge, skills, and equipment for the benefit of the whole cooperative.
The VG-10 core is covered with a multilayer cladding of a softer stainless steel forge welded into a Damascus billet, with the fine details of the layers revealed through grinding and etching. The resulting pattern reminds people of clouds, which is where the Kumo name comes from. Like the rest of the blades from Ikeda san, this gyuto has beautifully executed grinds that get very thin behind the edge, with a fairly gentle, continuous curve and very little flat spot, suiting cooks who favor a rocking style of cutting. The handle is a finely crafted octagonal rosewood with a black pakka wood ferrule.
Care Instructions:VG-10 is a low maintenance stainless steel, so hand wash and dry the blade after use rather than running it through a dishwasher. Avoid cutting through bones or frozen foods, since the edge can still chip on hard contact, and sharpen on quality water stones when it needs attention.
The VG-10 core is covered with a multilayer cladding of a softer stainless steel forge welded into a Damascus billet, with the fine details of the layers revealed through grinding and etching. The resulting pattern reminds people of clouds, which is where the Kumo name comes from. Like the rest of the blades from Ikeda san, this gyuto has beautifully executed grinds that get very thin behind the edge, with a fairly gentle, continuous curve and very little flat spot, suiting cooks who favor a rocking style of cutting. The handle is a finely crafted octagonal rosewood with a black pakka wood ferrule.
Care Instructions:VG-10 is a low maintenance stainless steel, so hand wash and dry the blade after use rather than running it through a dishwasher. Avoid cutting through bones or frozen foods, since the edge can still chip on hard contact, and sharpen on quality water stones when it needs attention.
- Brand: Masakage
- Line: Kumo
- Blacksmith: Ikeda San
- Region: Echizen, Japan
- Construction: San Mai
- Edge Steel: VG-10
- Cladding: Stainless Damascus
- HRC: 61-62
- Engraving: Hand Engraved
- Handle: Rosewood Octagonal
- Ferrule: Black Pakka Wood
- Weight: 6.0 oz (170 g)
- Blade Length: 244 mm
- Total Length: 410 mm
- Spine Thickness at Base: 3 mm
- Blade Height: 52 mm
