Nigara Hamono carries 350 years of blacksmithing history from northern Japan, where the workshop once served as noble swordsmiths to the shogunate. Master swordsmith Nigara Kunitoshi earned wide recognition during the Showa period, and when the US military banned traditional swordmaking after World War II, Nigara adapted rather than disappear, building a reputation as one of the finest kitchen cutlery makers in Northern Japan under blacksmith Yoshizawa-san.
This 240mm gyuto is built from SG2 powdered stainless steel hardened to 62-63 HRC, delivering 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 that gives the blade real visual character. 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 from SG2 powdered stainless steel hardened to 62-63 HRC, delivering 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 that gives the blade real visual character. 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: Kurouchi
- Edge Grind: Even
- Handle: Wenge Octagonal
- Ferrule: Buffalo Horn
- Weight: 6.5 oz (184 g)
- Blade Length: 228 mm
- Total Length: 379 mm
- Spine Thickness at Base: 2 mm
- Blade Height: 48 mm
