We are very fond of knives with character, and this beauty from the Miyazaki san screams character from every angle. The knife looks a bit like a regular
bunka but it is better classified as a Hakata bocho. These are essentially bunkas that originated on the southern island of Kyushu. They feature a very pointed triangular tip and an almost totally flat blade. The curved spine is what also differentiates them from their bunka brethren. Hakata knives have tall blades, and this one is no exception coming in at about 48mm.
Blacksmith Miyazaki-san hammer forges his blades from Hitachi Blue Paper #2 carbon steel and adds a fire-forged kurouchi cladding for extra protection. This endows the already cool looks with a very interesting rustic appearance which complements the weapon-like aesthetic perfectly.
It has a fairly thick spine which tapers down a bit towards the tip. The fine extended tip affords the user plenty of opportunities to process the smallest ingredients and prepare intricate garnishes. To add to the great looks, this knife is finished off with a beautiful custom handle made of stabilized burl wood.
Blacksmith Miyazaki-san
Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
Edge Steel: Blue #2
Cladding: Soft Iron
Finish: Kurouchi
Handle: Custom Octagonal Burl
Weight: 5.6 ozs/ 606g
Blade Length: 178 mm
Overall Length: 325 mm
Spine Thickness at Heel: 3.4 mm
Blade Height at Heel: 49.7 mm