Nigara Hamono carries 350 years of blacksmithing history from Hirosaki, in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan - a region whose smiths once forged weapons and tools for the shogunate as noble swordsmiths. Master swordsmith Nigara Kunitoshi rose to prominence during the Showa period, and when the US military banned traditional swordmaking after World War II, the workshop adapted to kitchen cutlery rather than disappear. Today Nigara is regarded as one of the premier makers of fine kitchen cutlery in Northern Japan, with blacksmith Yoshizawa-san carrying that legacy forward.
This 240mm gyuto is built around SG2 powdered stainless steel, hardened to 62-63 HRC for exceptional edge retention and a fine, keen edge. The stainless cladding carries a tsuchime, or hammered, finish with real depth and visual texture, and the wenge wood octagonal handle with buffalo horn ferrule is comfortable and well balanced at this length.
Care Instructions: SG2 is a stainless steel but is hard and somewhat chip-prone at this hardness level. Use wood or rubber cutting boards only. Avoid bones, frozen foods, and hard materials. Hand wash and dry after use. Strop regularly between sharpenings and use quality water stones for a full sharpening.
This 240mm gyuto is built around SG2 powdered stainless steel, hardened to 62-63 HRC for exceptional edge retention and a fine, keen edge. The stainless cladding carries a tsuchime, or hammered, finish with real depth and visual texture, and the wenge wood octagonal handle with buffalo horn ferrule is comfortable and well balanced at this length.
Care Instructions: SG2 is a stainless steel but is hard and somewhat chip-prone at this hardness level. Use wood or rubber cutting boards only. Avoid bones, frozen foods, and hard materials. Hand wash and dry after use. Strop regularly between sharpenings and use quality water stones for a full sharpening.
- Brand: Nigara
- Blacksmith: Yoshizawa San
- Location: Aomori Prefecture, Japan
- Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
- Edge Steel: SG2 Stainless Steel
- HRC: 62-63
- Cladding: Stainless Tsuchime
- Finish: Tsuchime
- Edge Grind: Even
- Handle: Wenge Octagonal
- Ferrule: Buffalo Horn
- Weight: 6.6 oz (188 g)
- Blade Length: 228 mm
- Total Length: 380 mm
- Spine Thickness at Heel: 2 mm
- Blade Height: 49 mm
