Yoshikazu Tanaka 240mm Sujihiki Shirogami 1 Damascus Ebony

Tanaka-san’s top level forging and heat treatments make for an unusual ease of sharpening and superb edge life and toughness. Shirogami 1 is the highest carbon content of the shirogami steels.

Shirogmai is rated at 3,2,&1 increasing in carbon content as the number gets smaller, typically shirogami 3 is tough with a shorter edge life than shirogami 2 and shirogami 1 has the best edge life with the least toughness. However in the hands of Tanaka-san shirogami 1 is given better toughness which offsets its more brittle nature. The result is a steel that works very well at very fine finishes. This is definitely a sharpener's steel, it is a real pleasure to sharpen Tanaka-san's shirogami, it is a true blank slate, great for a huge variety of finishing stones, especially natural stones. 

These knives are not stainless and care must be taken to avoid active rust, a dark patina is to be expected with use. No soaking or dishwasher.