Masamoto Sohonten
Masamoto KS 240mm Gyuto (KS3124)
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Little introduction is needed for this highly sought-after gyuto from Masamoto. The KS series is Masamoto's premium Gyukuhaku-ko line. All knives in the the KS series are made of Shirogami #2 steel (White No. 2) and gone through the highest level of hand polishing and sharpening.
Optional Saya: the optional saya is custom made by Masamoto specifically for your knife, and is not a generic Masamoto saya. Because of this, the saya is snugly fitted, and no pin is needed to secure the saya.
Spec:
- Origin (Made in): Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
- Brand: Masamoto Sohonten
- Knife Type: Gyuto
- Blade
- Construction: Monosteel
- Grind: Double-edged Blade (50/50 Grind)
- Steel Type: Shirogami #2 (Gyukuhaku-ko / White #2)
- Hardness: 62 HRC
- Hand-forged, hand-grinded, hand-sharpened
- Blade Length: 240mm (9.4")
- Blade Height (at heel): 49mm
- Spine Thickness
- Above heel: 2.8mm
- Middle: 2.2mm
- Handle
- Shape: Marushinogi (D-shaped)
- Material: Japanese Magnolia (Ho Wood)
- Kuchiwa: Buffalo Horn
- Length: 138mm
- Overall Length: 403mm
- Weight: 176g (6.20oz)
- Mark: In Japanese Kanji "Trademark Masamoto Sohonten" (登錄 正本 総本店)
- Optional: Custom fitted Magnolia Saya (no pin needed!) made by Masamoto with Masamoto logo
About Masamoto Sohonten 正本 総本店
Masamoto Sohonten is a legendary brand with over 150 years of history. The name is perhaps one of the most well known and well-respected knives brands in Japan, with a well-deserved status as No.1 sushi knife maker. Born in 1845, the first generation Masamoto - Minosuke Matsuzawa - went to Osaka as an apprentice at a young age of 17. Four years later he returned to his home town in Kanto and began making honyaki chef knives. After 5 generations tirelessly pursuing the art of knife craftsmanship, Masamoto has earned its status as the premier brand for professional Japanese Kitchen knives. The Masamoto flagship store (sohonten) that opened in Tokyo in the year 1890, is still welcoming visitors at the same spot after 130 years.
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. This knife has a 70/30 ground double bevel edge. You should sharpen at the same angle for both sides, but follow the same grind ratio of 70/30.
So, definitely sad that it is already staining but it also makes it mine-mine. My fingerprints from my pinch grip are already showing. The fact that my fingerprints are on it is really cool. I thought it was sharp out of the box but I finally gave it a strop and it became screamingly sharp. I couldn't believe that a knife could get so sharp! I also treated the handle and the saya with some Burrfection All-Natural Wax for Cutting Boards and it is so much nicer to handle. It's definitely one hell of a knife :)
Absolutely beautiful knife. Noticeably light. I believe its around the same weight, if not lighter, than my miyabi birchwood sg2 210 mm gyuto. Whilst having 30 mm's on it. Very sharp out of the box. I used it today at work and sliced right down my middle finger on my claw. I foolishly looked up while cutting onions. Sliced right through me before I could even realize what happened. Im excited to polish it and hopefully I can get a beautiful patina on it. It may be a controversial opinion, but I would pay the price any day for this knife. I love it already.
The Masamoto KS is a plain looking blade in the Japanese knife world. Mine came out of the box with blemishes to the mirror finish probably from abrading the packaging during transit. The knife cuts beautifully. The blade glides through food with ease. However, even with careful drying and tsubaki oil conscientiously applied after each use, the white carbon steel is incredibly reactive to food. I will no doubt be using a rust eraser on the blade eventually. Is the stamped knife worth $400? (BTW Burrfection had the lowest price for the Masamoto KS, I could find on the internet.) No, I think the Masamoto KS is overpriced compared to some of the handforged beauties that can be purchased for under $400 from the wonderful small shops in Japan that keep the art of blacksmithing fine blades by hand alive. However, the Masamoto KS, even in its revamped format that is now available after its production hiatus for a few years, is still a very fine knife that will not disappoint in performance. I bought mine purely to satisfy my curiosity and to have the bragging rights of saying I own a Masamoto KS. It is not my daily cutter. I only break it out when I plan to do a lot of cutting and want to feel a zen satisfaction during my work. Buy this knife if you have the cash to splurge on experiencing what all the hype about this legend is personally. Just as a final note, shipping from Burrfection is amazing. I've gotten my orders in two days from Hong Kong even thought I live in North Carolina.
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