Sakai Kikumori Nakagawa 210mm Gyuto Aogami 1 Kurouchi Burnt Chestnut with Saya

We are proud to introduce as the sole North American retailer, knives done as a collaboration between Sakai Kikumori and Nakagawa Hamono. Inspired by a conversation with Bernal Cutlery’s Lisa and Josh with Sakai Kikumori, Kawamura-san at Kikumori asked what we would like to see, and shirogami 1 and aogami 1 kurouchi gyutos from Nakagawa Hamono came to mind. 

These knives represent a blend of the rustic and the refined. They have a dark forge-scale ‘kurouchi’ finish and exceptionally thin grinds to support the superb forging. Nakagawa-san's smithing is characterized by thorough heat treatment with excellent heat control during forging.  The result are knives that have remarkable edge formation and edge retention while remaining tough. 

Aogami 1 is a low contaminate carbon steel with tungsten as a main alloy ingredient. Sometimes, Aogami 1 is overshadowed by its sibling, aogami super, which has a higher alloy content that includes vanadium for long edge life. However, aogami 1 has better edge formation and typically works better at finer finishes than the busier aogami super. Nakagawa-san’s aogami 1 has a nice blend of edge life, toughness for a hard steel and most of all, excellent edge formation. Nakagawa-san’s aogami 1 has a bitey feeling even at finer finishes that can often leave aogami steels feeling sterile or slidey. Nakagawa’s aogami 1 also works very nicely with a variety of natural stones.

These have a natural (as opposed to chemically applied) kurouchi finish which will include some hammer marks and rougher cosmetic grinder marks. When cared for properly, the kurouchi will gradually fade and be replaced with a patina from use. 

When new, the burnt chestnut handle may transfer to your hands.

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 easy to sharpen across most steel types. Nakagawa-san's 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.

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.

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 the blade from rusting. Do not leave wet; hand wash & dry. Never use a dishwasher. Rust can be removed using a light abrasive. Hardwood end-grain or softwood long-grain cutting boards are preferred; avoid bamboo and plastic cutting boards to reduce edge damage. 

 *Actual weights and measurements may vary piece to piece