This 150 mm petty in SLD steel by Takahiro Nihei brings together the precision of a compact format and the assertive character of hand-forged craftsmanship. Designed for detail work, it performs equally well on the board and in-hand: peeling, brunoise, fresh herbs, small cuts of meat or fish. Its profile, tapering toward a fine tip, and its moderate blade height provide natural finger clearance without adding weight to the gesture.
Takahiro Nihei forges and grinds his knives in his workshop in Fukushima Prefecture, a practice rooted in his years of training in Sanjo, Niigata, where forging and grinding are traditionally carried out under the same roof. This end-to-end control of the process is reflected in the consistency of the geometry: every step, from shaping to finishing, passes through the same hands.
SLD is a tool steel forged in Sanjo, used here in a sanmai construction with a stainless cladding. Its core, at approximately 5% chromium, offers better corrosion resistance than pure carbon steel without behaving like a standard stainless. It sharpens like a carbon steel and responds well to the stone in a few passes. The forge finish left on the body contrasts with the polished edge, the visual signature of this construction.
Care
Rinse and dry after each use. No patina expected, no camellia oil required. Never put in the dishwasher. Regular sharpening on water stones maintains the edge.
