For more than 350 years, the region around Hirosaki in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan, has been home to skilled blacksmiths who forged weapons and tools for the shogunate as noble swordsmiths. Master swordsmith Nigara Kunitoshi was renowned for his work during the Showa period, and although swordmaking was banned by the US military after World War II, Nigara persevered and adapted to make some of the finest cutlery in Northern Japan today, carried forward now by blacksmith Yoshizawa-san.
This kiritsuke is built from SG2 powdered stainless steel hardened to 62-63 HRC, prized for exceptional edge retention and a fine, keen edge. The stainless cladding carries a kurouchi finish - a darker, more rustic variation on the standard tsuchime hammered texture, giving the blade a moodier, as-forged appearance. The wenge wood octagonal handle with buffalo horn ferrule completes the package.
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 kiritsuke is built from SG2 powdered stainless steel hardened to 62-63 HRC, prized for exceptional edge retention and a fine, keen edge. The stainless cladding carries a kurouchi finish - a darker, more rustic variation on the standard tsuchime hammered texture, giving the blade a moodier, as-forged appearance. The wenge wood octagonal handle with buffalo horn ferrule completes the package.
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: Kurouchi
- Edge Grind: Even
- Handle: Wenge Octagonal
- Ferrule: Buffalo Horn
- Weight: 6.7 oz (190 g)
- Blade Length: 228 mm
- Total Length: 382 mm
- Spine Thickness at Base: 2 mm
- Blade Height: 52 mm
