Ashi Hamono Ginga 240mm Wa-Sujihiki Shirogami 2 with Saya

Ashi Hamono Ginga 240mm Wa-Sujihiki knife with a shirogami 2 carbon steel blade and an octagonal magnolia wood handle with water buffalo horn ferrule. Saya cover is included.

Ashi’s Shirogami 2 knives are some of the lightest, thinnest and easiest to sharpen knives we have come across. Their cutting feel is excellent due to top quality hand grinding, creating convexity on the side of the knife, and making them extra thin behind the edge. They hold their edge quite a bit longer than their stainless counterparts, but will require more maintenance to prevent rusting. Ideal for a home cook or professional that needs a high performance blade with good sharpen-ability.

Shirogami is a reactive carbon steel. It should be dried immediately after use to avoid rusting. It will patina with normal use. Rust can be removed with a light abrasive.

Ashi Hamono was established in 1948 in Sakai City Japan; a major center of traditional knife making. Ashi makes knives utilizing a one piece of steel (rather than forge laminated 2/3 layer blade), called zenkou construction. Ashi’s Ginga line is famous for it’s thinness and precision, utilizing top quality carbon and stainless steels. These knives have an excellent fit and finish, from their grinding, to heat treatment and hafting.

Sakai Kikumori ‘Choyo’ 270mm Yanagi. Single bevel ginsanko stainless core with mirror polish stainless cladding. Octagonal magnolia wood and water buffalo ferrule handle. Comes with saya.

These have a light blade with a thin, low beveled kireba so the yanagis — that usually rely on weight to help propel a pull cut — slice just as easily as heavier ones.

Ginsanko is a fine grained, high carbon content (1% + carbon), low chromium (13%) stainless steel. It has the cutting and sharpening feel of a carbon steel but is less maintenance with regard to reactivity. These knives are ideal for the individual that is looking for a Japanese knife that’s easy to sharpen and also rust-resistant.

Choyo series knives represent some of the best of Sakai’s knife making. They are made by craftspeople who are highly respected for preserving demanding traditional techniques while contributing their own refinements and creativity to the trade.

Choyo ginsanko is forged by Nakagawa Hamono (previously Shiraki Hamono). Nakagawa-san’s top level forging and heat treatments make for an unusual ease of sharpening and superb edge life. This application of ginsanko is also very easy to sharpen and has really good edge life.

Choyo grinder and polisher is Morihiro Hamono. Morihiro-san's grinding is superb; he pioneered this low kiriba grind on wa-gyuto. The characteristic result of this grinding and polishing are the even, wide bevels, chamfered spine and brilliant mirror polish.

Sakai Kikumori was started in 1926 and draws on Sakai's 600 year history as the major center of traditional Japanese cutlery manufacturing. They work with a large variety of Sakai's best smiths, sharpeners and small factories to offer a wide variety of knives ranging from traditional to modern.

These knives come from the maker with lacquer on the blade for corrosion protection during shipping. It can be removed using acetone or lacquer thinner (follow manufacturers instructions for use).

We can remove the lacquer prior to shipping for an additional charge. Please add the suggested “Lacquer Removal” to your cart and proceed with checkout. Please note that lacquer removal can delay your order by up to one week.