Hatsukokoro Nakagawa 330mm Sakimaru Yanagi Aogami 1 Damascus Ebony Buffalo Horn

 Beautifully hand forged suminagashi damascus over aogami 1 carbon steel with horn ferruled ebony handle.

Nakagawa-san's knives are characterized by excellent heat control during forging and a very thorough heat treatment creating knives that have superb edge formation and edge life with good toughness. His carbon steels are usually easy to sharpen across most steel types. Nakagawa-san reputation as one of a few blacksmiths in Sakai to forge Ginsanko and VG10 stainless steels that results in excellent edge life and toughness is well earned.

The sharpener on this series is credited as Kawakita Hamono operated by Kazumi Kawakita. Kawaita-san is a famed master sharpener who lists many notable and well-respected Sakai sharpeners as former students. Notably Morihiro who pioneered putting traditional Sakai wide bevels on double bevel wa-hochos. He was the sole sharpener of the Konosuke Fujiyama line (until 2018) and also works on the Sakai Kikumori Choyo series as well as a credited grinder for Nakagawa and other projects from Sakai.

This knife has a hard carbon steel core with iron cladding for added durability. The entire blade will develop a patina with use, especially with acidic foods. Special attention is needed to keep from rusting. Do not leave wet. Hand wash & dry, no dishwasher. Hardwood-end grain or softwood long grain cutting boards are preferred; avoid bamboo and plastic cutting boards. Rust can be removed with a light abrasive.