Aoki Hamono has been producing kitchen knives in Sakai, Japan for generations - and Sakai is to kitchen knives what Napa is to wine. The region has supplied roughly 90 percent of the professional Japanese knife market for over 600 years, and the specialist system that developed there - separate blacksmiths, grinders, and handle fitters each contributing their expertise - is what makes Sakai knives worth seeking out. The Hamon Damascus line represents Aoki Hamono at their most visually striking: 45 layers of hammered stainless Damascus wrapped around a Swedish Bohler N685 stainless steel core, hand sharpened before leaving the factory.
N685 is a high-quality stainless alloy from Bohler-Uddeholm in Austria - the same European metallurgy that supplies precision tool and cutlery manufacturers worldwide. At 60 HRC it holds a keen edge well and responds to careful sharpening on quality water stones. The hammered Damascus cladding gives the blade road a textured, layered appearance that shifts across the steel as the knife moves - each knife slightly different from the next given the hand-forged nature of the Damascus construction. At 210mm blade length and 156g this gyuto is light and well-balanced with a center-weighted feel that suits extended prep sessions. The half-rounded octagonal rosewood handle with ebony ferrule is a refined combination - warm, traditional, and comfortable across a range of grip styles.
Care Instructions: N685 is a fully stainless steel - hand wash and dry after each use. Avoid the dishwasher, bones, and frozen foods to protect the edge at 60 HRC. Sharpen on quality water stones and strop regularly between sessions. Use wood or rubber cutting boards only.
N685 is a high-quality stainless alloy from Bohler-Uddeholm in Austria - the same European metallurgy that supplies precision tool and cutlery manufacturers worldwide. At 60 HRC it holds a keen edge well and responds to careful sharpening on quality water stones. The hammered Damascus cladding gives the blade road a textured, layered appearance that shifts across the steel as the knife moves - each knife slightly different from the next given the hand-forged nature of the Damascus construction. At 210mm blade length and 156g this gyuto is light and well-balanced with a center-weighted feel that suits extended prep sessions. The half-rounded octagonal rosewood handle with ebony ferrule is a refined combination - warm, traditional, and comfortable across a range of grip styles.
Care Instructions: N685 is a fully stainless steel - hand wash and dry after each use. Avoid the dishwasher, bones, and frozen foods to protect the edge at 60 HRC. Sharpen on quality water stones and strop regularly between sessions. Use wood or rubber cutting boards only.
- Brand: Sakai Takayuki
- Maker: Aoki Hamono
- Location: Sakai, Japan
- Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
- Edge Steel: Bohler N685 Stainless
- Cladding: 45-Layer Hammered Stainless Damascus
- HRC: 60 +/- 1
- Finish: Hammered Damascus
- Edge Grind: Double Bevel - Even
- Handle: Half-Rounded Octagonal Rosewood
- Ferrule: Ebony
- Weight: 5.5 oz (156g)
- Blade Length: 210mm
- Total Length: 363mm
- Item Code: 10609
