A kiritsuke blends the reach of a gyuto with an angled, pointed kiri tip, and this 270mm version from Sukenari brings that versatile profile to a longer, more serious length. The fine blade and thin grind keep the knife nimble despite its size, with a sizable sweet spot for chopping, a gentle belly for rocking motion, and a thin tip for detail work.
The core is ZDP189, made by Hitachi Metals and hardened here to about 65 HRC, a steel that not every blacksmith can heat treat properly, though the smiths at Sukenari have built a reputation for doing it well. The blade carries a symmetrical 50/50 edge, and these knives are finished with a rosewood octagonal handle and a buffalo horn ferrule.
Care Instructions:ZDP189 is stainless but very hard and can chip at this hardness level, so use only wood or soft plastic cutting boards and avoid bones, frozen foods, or other hard materials. Hand wash and dry the blade after use, and strop the edge regularly between full sharpenings to keep this high hardness steel performing at its best on quality water stones.
The core is ZDP189, made by Hitachi Metals and hardened here to about 65 HRC, a steel that not every blacksmith can heat treat properly, though the smiths at Sukenari have built a reputation for doing it well. The blade carries a symmetrical 50/50 edge, and these knives are finished with a rosewood octagonal handle and a buffalo horn ferrule.
Care Instructions:ZDP189 is stainless but very hard and can chip at this hardness level, so use only wood or soft plastic cutting boards and avoid bones, frozen foods, or other hard materials. Hand wash and dry the blade after use, and strop the edge regularly between full sharpenings to keep this high hardness steel performing at its best on quality water stones.
- Brand: Sukenari
- Blacksmith: Hanaki
- Location: Toyama, Japan
- Construction: San Mai
- Edge Steel: ZDP189
- HRC: 65-66
- Cladding: Stainless Steel
- Finish: Hairline
- Edge Grind: 50/50
- Handle: Rosewood Octagonal
- Ferrule: Buffalo Horn
- Weight: 7.7 oz (218 g)
- Blade Length: 265 mm
- Total Length: 423 mm
- Spine Thickness at Heel: 3 mm
- Blade Height: 52 mm
