Masakage "Koishi" Aogami Super Kurouchi Tsuchime 130mm Bunka

This Masakage "Koishi" Bunka is handcrafted by Yoshimi Kato using Aogami Super steel, and hand-sharpened by Takayuki Shibata. The Kurouchi Tsuchime finish is aesthetically pleasing, and the awesome edge geometry and distal tapering ensure a sleek cutting performance. The blade is paired with an octagonal-shaped wa-handle made of Cherry Wood, with a Kuchiwa made of Pakkawood.

Spec:

• Origin (Made in): Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
• Brand: Masakage
• Craftsman: Yoshimi Kato
• Sharpener: Takayuki Shibata
• Knife Type: Bunka
• Blade
• Construction: San Mai
• Grind: Double-edged Blade (50/50 Grind)
• Hagane (Core Steel): Aogami Super (Blue Super)
• Jigane (Cladding): Stainless Steel
• Hardness: 63-64 HRC
• Hand-forged, hand-ground, hand-sharpened
• Blade Finishes:
• Kurouchi
• Tsuchime (Hammered)
• Kasumi Polish
• Blade Length: 130mm (5.1")
• Blade Height (at heel): 34mm
• Spine Thickness
• Above heel: 1.9mm
• Middle: 1.8mm
• Handle
• Shape: Hachikaku (Octagonal)
• Material: Cherry Wood
• Kuchiwa: Pakkawood
• Length: 115mm
• Overall Length: 260mm
• Weight: 70g (2.47oz)
• Engraved Mark: In Japanese Kanji "Masakage" (昌景)

About Masakage 昌景

Masakage Knives was founded in 2007 by Takayuki Shibata, one of the top knife sharpeners in Japan. His goal was to help the legendary artisans in Takefu Knife Village to showcase their talent as well as their handcrafted knives.

About Yoshimi Kato 加藤 義実

Yoshimi Kato (aka. Yoshimi Katou) is a renowned blacksmith in Echizen, Fukui Prefecture, and the 3rd generation Kato. Head of Kato Uchihamono, formerly known as Kintaro, Mr. Kato has apprenticed under his father - 2nd generation blacksmith - Hiroshi Kato for many years before taking over the family business. Mr. Kato is a master of heat-treating high-end steels such as SG2 and Aogami Super. His hand-forged Damascus is mesmerizing and his tsuchime finish aesthetically pleasing. Kato knives have a great reputation for being the finest example of Echizen craftsmanship.

Care:

Aogami Super (Blue Super) steel is considered the most superior Japanese high carbon steel for knife making. It is not stainless, therefore you must wipe your knife dry after each use, in particular the core steel not covered by the stainless cladding. Patina will develop over time, which will appear as “discoloration” on the cutting edge, but that is the nature of carbon steel - not a defect. The stainless cladding covers a large part of the blade, making maintenance easier but still preserving the cutting and sharpening pleasure of the Aogami Super core. 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.