Nigara Hamono 360mm Sakimaru Yanagi Aogami 2 Mizu Honyaki Karin Burl Double Horn

Hand made in Aomori prefecture, mizu honyaki (water quenched) Aogami #2  yanagi with karin wood handle with buffalo horn spacers.

Nigara Hamono in Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture is a 350 year old metalworking company with swordmaking roots. Blacksmith Go Yoshizawa has expanded Nigara's range to include kitchen knives including the very demanding honyaki forging and differential heat treatment.  

Honyaki heat treatment relies on a single steel blade as opposed to a clad steel / mild steel or iron construction. Water quench honyaki makes for the hardest possible edge but due to the rapid heat loss during the quenching has a high failure rate even for experienced smiths. This knife has been etched to bring out an additional contrast at the hamon, the result is a very lively and vibrant pattern pulled from the steel. 

Aogami is rated at 2,1 & Super increasing in carbon and alloy content as the number gets smaller, typically aogami 2 is tough with a shorter edge life than aogami 1 and saogami super has the best edge life with potentially the least toughness all though this is a gernalization and greatly depends on the way the steel is forged. Honyaki aogami 2 will have longer edge life than a mass produced aogami super so this is a general view. When heat treated using the honyaki technique the result is a steel that cuts very well as it slowly dulls and works very well at very fine finishes. This is definitely a sharpener's steel, great for a huge variety of finishing stones, especially many natural stones. 

Not for the first time user of a yanagi, this knife will demand greater skill in sharpening and use to preserve the proper geometry and to avoid damage, in addition the etched surface will be removed with sharpening. 

Brand: Nigara Hamono
Producing Area:    Hirosaki City
Profile: Yanagi
Size: 360mm
Steel Type: Mizu Honyaki (water quenched)Aogami #2
Handle: Karin burl wood with double buffalo horn & 3 nickel spacers
Total Length: 526mm
Edge Length: 366mm
Handle to Tip Length: 368mm
Blade Height: 45mm
Thickness: 5.3mm
Handle Length: 160mm
Weight: 407g
Hand Orientation: Right Handed