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 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 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. Weighing 160 grams, and with a blade length of just over 210mm, this gyuto is light and well-balanced with a center-weighted feel that suits extended prep sessions. The octagonal rosewood handle with an 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 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. Weighing 160 grams, and with a blade length of just over 210mm, this gyuto is light and well-balanced with a center-weighted feel that suits extended prep sessions. The octagonal rosewood handle with an 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 Stainless Damascus
- HRC: 60 +/- 1
- Finish: Damascus
- Edge Grind: Double Bevel, Even
- Handle: Octagonal Rosewood
- Ferrule: Ebony
- Weight: 5.6 oz (160 g)
- Blade Length: 215 mm
- Total Length: 363 mm
- Spine Thickness at Base: 2 mm
- Blade Height: 47 mm
