The Japanese word Gyuto (牛刀) literally translates to ox sword. The gyuto is the equivalent of a Western chef's knife and is designed to cut everything from vegetables to meat and fish. It is designed to be used with the push-cut method, lifting the blade between each cutting motion, or with the swing method. It is important that the blade is straight upon impact with the cutting board to avoid damage to the knife's edge.
VG-10 is a stainless steel produced by Takefu Special Steel in the early 1960s and is still used today more than 60 years later. This steel was specifically designed for knife making and is used by several master blacksmiths in Japan. Despite the 15% chromium in the composition, which provides high corrosion resistance, VG-10 can reach an HRC of 60-61. This is due to the addition of 1.5% cobalt, which gives the steel higher hardness with a high-temperature quenching treatment.
The Hitohira brand is a hallmark of excellence and you can be assured that every knife sold under this name will meet rigorous quality standards.