Nigara Hamono Ltd makes some of the most stunning kitchen knives we have seen anywhere. The city of Hirosaki was a castle town during the early Edo period, home to over one hundred forging shops, and Nigara Forging is one of those historical Tsugaru blacksmith shops that has kept traditional forging techniques alive for centuries.
This kiritsuke is built from SG2 powdered stainless steel hardened to roughly 62 HRC, capable of taking and holding a genuinely keen edge. The stainless cladding carries a tsuchime, or hammered, finish with real depth, and the wenge wood octagonal handle with buffalo horn ferrule completes the package - the knife is a real beauty.
What Customers Are Saying: One reviewer who has had this knife over a month now finds himself reaching for it most of the time, calling it gorgeous and scary sharp, thanks to a hand-sharpening from Mark before it shipped. He notes it felt a bit heavy at first, but a pinch grip on the blade made the adjustment quick, and he has not needed to sharpen it since, calling it a beautiful tool for all sorts of kitchen work and praising the overall craftsmanship of the brand.
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 roughly 62 HRC, capable of taking and holding a genuinely keen edge. The stainless cladding carries a tsuchime, or hammered, finish with real depth, and the wenge wood octagonal handle with buffalo horn ferrule completes the package - the knife is a real beauty.
What Customers Are Saying: One reviewer who has had this knife over a month now finds himself reaching for it most of the time, calling it gorgeous and scary sharp, thanks to a hand-sharpening from Mark before it shipped. He notes it felt a bit heavy at first, but a pinch grip on the blade made the adjustment quick, and he has not needed to sharpen it since, calling it a beautiful tool for all sorts of kitchen work and praising the overall craftsmanship of the brand.
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.
- Maker: Nigara
- Blacksmith: Yoshizawa San
- Location: Aomori Prefecture, Japan
- Construction: Hammer Forged, San Mai
- Edge Steel: SG2 Stainless Steel
- HRC: 62-63
- Cladding: Stainless Tsuchime
- Handle: Wenge Octagonal
- Ferrule: Buffalo Horn
- Weight: 6.8 oz (194 g)
- Blade Length: 228 mm
- Total Length: 380 mm
- Spine Thickness at Base: 2 mm
- Blade Height: 52 mm
Reviews
1 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) Gorgeous knife!Posted By: Lawrence Connell
18 people found this review helpful
I've had this knife for over a month now, and find myself using it most of the time. It's gorgeous and scary sharp, thanks to Mark's hand-sharpening before sending it! Initially, it felt heavy, but with a pinch-grip on the blade, I quickly became used to it. I haven't yet had to sharpen it and it is a beautiful tool for all sorts of work in the kitchen. I'm very impressed by the quality of Nigara's craftsmanship.
18 people found this review helpful
I've had this knife for over a month now, and find myself using it most of the time. It's gorgeous and scary sharp, thanks to Mark's hand-sharpening before sending it! Initially, it felt heavy, but with a pinch-grip on the blade, I quickly became used to it. I haven't yet had to sharpen it and it is a beautiful tool for all sorts of work in the kitchen. I'm very impressed by the quality of Nigara's craftsmanship.
