Most of the Yoshikazu Tanaka knives at CKTG are forged from Blue #1, but this 165mm bunka uses White #2, sometimes called Shirogami #2, a purer carbon steel without the chromium and tungsten additions found in the Blue family. Many sharpening enthusiasts prefer White steels for how easily they can be brought to an extremely keen edge, even if the tradeoff is somewhat shorter edge retention than Blue #1.
The core is set into a soft iron jigane, finished in kurouchi with the dark upper blade contrasting against a sand blasted lower face along the shinogi. Tanaka is known for a wider, more visible clad line between the core and cladding than most other makers leave exposed, along with excellent heat treatment. The handle on this knife is an octagonal oak, a change from the rosewood handles found on the rest of the Tanaka lineup at CKTG.
Care Instructions:White #2 is an even more reactive carbon steel than Blue #1, and the soft iron cladding is reactive as well, so wipe and dry the blade immediately after every use rather than letting it sit. Avoid leaving acidic foods against the blade for long stretches, and apply a light coat of camellia oil for longer term storage. Hand wash only, and sharpen on quality water stones, since White steel responds especially well to a careful, patient sharpening technique.
The core is set into a soft iron jigane, finished in kurouchi with the dark upper blade contrasting against a sand blasted lower face along the shinogi. Tanaka is known for a wider, more visible clad line between the core and cladding than most other makers leave exposed, along with excellent heat treatment. The handle on this knife is an octagonal oak, a change from the rosewood handles found on the rest of the Tanaka lineup at CKTG.
Care Instructions:White #2 is an even more reactive carbon steel than Blue #1, and the soft iron cladding is reactive as well, so wipe and dry the blade immediately after every use rather than letting it sit. Avoid leaving acidic foods against the blade for long stretches, and apply a light coat of camellia oil for longer term storage. Hand wash only, and sharpen on quality water stones, since White steel responds especially well to a careful, patient sharpening technique.
- Blacksmith: Yoshikazu Tanaka
- Sharpener: Tsuyoshi Yauchi
- Location: Sakai, Japan
- Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
- Edge Steel: White #2 (Shirogami #2)
- Cladding: Soft Iron
- Finish: Kurouchi
- Hardness: 62 HRC
- Handle: Oak Octagonal
- Weight: 6.6 oz (188 g)
- Blade Length: 170 mm
- Total Length: 315 mm
- Spine Thickness at Heel: 3 mm
- Blade Height: 51 mm
