Seki Kanetsune
Kanemasa Shirogami #2 Kurouchi 165mm Nakiri
$64.95
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This Shirogami #2 Nakiri by Kanemasa offers an entrance to hand-forged Shirogami steel blade at an incredibly affordable price. While the fit and finish is rough, the essence of a hand-forged blade is not lost in this entry-level nakiri with a coated kurouchi finish. This knife is an ultra-affordable introduction to hand-forged Shirogami blades.
Spec:
- Origin (Made in): Seki, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
- Brand: Kanemasa (part of Kanetsune Seki)
- Model No.: KC-440
- Knife Type: Nakiri
- Blade
- Construction: San Mai
- Grind: Double-edged Blade (50/50 Grind)
- Hagane (Core Steel): Shirogami #2 (White #2)
- Jigane (Cladding): Soft Iron
- Hardness: 60-61 HRC
- Hand-forged, hand-grinded, hand-sharpened
- Blade Finishes:
- Kasumi Polish
- Kurouchi (Coated)
- Blade Length: 165mm (6.5")
- Blade Height (at heel): 53mm
- Spine Thickness
- Above heel: 3.7mm
- Middle: 1.5mm
- Handle
- Shape: Marugata (Oval-shaped)
- Material: Japanese Magnolia (Ho Wood)
- Length: 129mm
- Overall Length: 309mm
- Weight: 136g (4.80oz)
Note: the softwood inside kuchiwa (ferrule) expands and crack when the nakago (tang) was inserted during installation. This is normal for this handle and not a defect.
About Kanetsune Seki 関兼常 / Kitasho 北正
The owner of Kanetsune Seki brand — Kitasho — has been making knives in pre-war Japan, in Seki City (関市) which has over 800 years of blade-making history. After the war, they established the Kitamura Shoten, which led to the current Kitasho company. The Kanetsune (兼常) brand is named after a famous sword-smith who lived in the Muromachi period around 14-15 century. Making different series of knives under brands including Kanemasa (兼正作), Honsho Kanemasa (本匠兼正作), and Minamoto Kanemasa (源兼正), Kitasho Company is on the mission of passing down Seki’s 8 centuries long knife-making techniques and traditions.
Care:
Shirogami #2 (white #2) steel is one of the most popular types of high carbon steel found in Japanese kitchen knives (Wa Knives). It is not stainless, therefore you must wipe your knife dry after each use. Patina will develop over time. Rust may develop if left in prolonged contact with water or acidic food. Use a rust eraser to clean if rusts develop. Avoid cutting into bones, frozen foods, hard fruit pits.
Cutting Surface:
Recommended cutting surface: wood, rubberized boards and high-end composites, and quality plastics such as polyethene make acceptable cutting surfaces, and will help protect and prolong knife’s edge. AVOID glass, metal, countertops, and other rigid, non-forgiving surfaces.
Sharpening:
We recommend sharpening all quality Japanese knives on whetstones, as we believe they yield the best results for your knives.
Customer Reviews
Based on 3 reviews
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R
It comes super sharp but needs work which I expected for the price. Needed filing and straightening all which I was able to do with Burrefection's helpful videos. Well balanced and cuts through thick fruits and vegetable effortlessly. High carbon knives take more knowledge and care than the typical stainless steel knife but well worth it. I planned down the wood handle to match the ferrule and sides to a semi octagonal shape to give it that extra Japanese feel.
H
Blade is ground thin near the edge and dipped in a polymer that likes to shed over time but does help with rust prevention. The white no.2 steel is baked a bit soft but very easy to sharpen. Great value over all and I wont feel bad about wear and tear at this price.
N
My first nakiri, I wanted an entry-level japanese knife and was pleasantly surprised at the price point. Especially for a Shirogami#2 core steel. I know I'm not supposed to judge a knife based on "out-of-the-box sharpness", but holy heck is it sharp. Fit & Finish is to be expected for a knife at this price point. Choil & Spine is rough, but nothing a dremel couldn't handle. Handle is larger than ferrule, so there is a step but sandpaper & mineral oil took care of that. I happen to like the rustic kuroichi finish as this will be my workhouse, but they have other finishes as well.
Cool story - I was chopping some air-fried veggies, and it chopped the parchment paper underneath as well! I've never seen a knife that chopped paper while laying flat on the cutting board.
