Shiro Kamo Blue #2 Kurouchi
Yoru means night in Japanese - and the kurouchi (black forge finish) on this line earns that name. The dark, rough-textured surface left from the forging process gives each blade a direct, unpolished character that stands apart from both the polished migaki finish and the flowing Damascus lines in Kamo-sans catalog. This is what the steel looks like closest to how it left the forge - and for a significant number of knife enthusiasts, that aesthetic is exactly what they are looking for.
Shiro Kamo works Blue #2 carbon steel at Takefu Village in Echizen with a small crew of two workmen, keeping all production in-house under the standard of craft that earned him the Dento-Kogei-shi title at 47. The Blue #2 core at 62-63 HRC takes a fine edge and holds it well through kitchen use - the chromium and tungsten additions give it real wear resistance. The kurouchi finish on the upper blade protects the cladding and adds a layer of character that develops further with use and handling over time. A petty, santoku, nakiri, bunka, and gyutos from 180mm to 240mm - the full Yoru range for cooks who want Kamo-sans Blue #2 performance with night-dark aesthetics.
- Blacksmith: Shiro Kamo
- Title: Dento-Kogei-shi
- Location: Takefu Village, Echizen, Japan
- Edge Steel: Blue #2 (Aogami #2) Carbon Steel
- Finish: Kurouchi (Black Forge Finish)
- Line Name: Yoru (Night)
- HRC: 62-63
