Hitohira Tanaka Kyuzo Aogami #1 Damascus Gyuto 270mm Ebony from Taihei
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Store availability
*Transfer available between stores, contact us at info@staysharpmtl.com or 514-503-1185 (MTL) / 418- 440-7770 (QC)
Please note
Each handle is unique and may feature distinct variations, such as different shades or colors in the buffalo horn, which is part of its authentic, handcrafted character.
Description
Considered one of the best blacksmiths in the region, Yoshikazu Tanaka has been a blacksmith for over half a century. He now works with his son and an apprentice. He is a traditionalist, but he is always looking to improve his process and skills. He uses the traditional method of quenching with pine charcoal and then uses straw ash. It is a very old way of making knives. He does not use a thermometer for quenching; he manually calculates the temperature of the steel by examining its color. Tanaka-san is always looking to improve. He uses a temperature-controlled furnace for quenching, which only a few blacksmiths in the region use. He and his team only forge 30 knives a day between the three of them. For reference, some blacksmiths forge as many as 100 blades in a single day. The reason he only forges 30 is that he takes his time, carefully forging at very low temperatures. At lower temperatures, the steel does not stretch as quickly, but it will retain the grain size of the steel much better. Stretching the grain size will make the steel brittle, which he tries to avoid. He frequently moves the steel in and out of the furnace to check the color, then when the entire blade is a specific shade of color, he quenches the steel in water. Water tempering (Mizu) is the most difficult to achieve and requires very careful handling.
Kyuzo:
His father, Heihachi, was one of the busiest sharpeners in Sakai. Heihachi's workshop and hallway were always filled with knives waiting to be sharpened. Although Kyuzo initially worked under his father to learn the basics of rough sharpening, he eventually became a student of Kambei, known as one of Sakai's finest sharpeners because he best knew how to sharpen wide, double-beveled knives. After a few years of training, he developed his own style based on his father and Kambei. Today, Kyuzo is one of the few people who can sharpen a wide, double-beveled knife with a very good Shinogi line in Sakai, one of the most difficult sharpening techniques.
Tips for best results
Make sure your knife will deliver its absolute best by having it professionally sharpened at least once a year. Please note that our meticulously handcrafted Japanese knives are – unless otherwise noted – carbon steel and not stainless steel. To prevent rust, make sure the blades are patted dry – especially when cutting acidic items. Never cut frozen foods, hard products, bone, or twist the blade when using. Never soak in water after use or put in the dishwasher. After use, store in a cool, dry place and avoid high temperature fluctuations.
Our commitment to you – our customers
Warranty
Every knife we carry has a lifetime warranty from manufacturing defects and errors. For example, if the handle becomes detached or cracks appear after a few weeks of proper use. Or if there are any blade cracks from the edge to the spine. While such defects are indeed rare, they can occur. In such cases, we will exchange the knife in question or give you a refund. Each warranty case is different depending on the criteria, and we reserve the right in each and every case to evaluate the applicability of our lifetime warranty in the event of any manufacturing defects and errors.
After-Sales service
Do you get the feeling that your knife just can’t “cut it”?
Each knife we carry is supplied with a so-called “factory edge”. Our chef knife range comprises more than 200 different products. While all our handcrafted Japanese knives ship with a “factory edge”, ultimate blade sharpness can vary. If you feel that your knife’s blade edge is not performing to its full potential, feel free to contact us and we will provide you with professional sharpening for free!
Oops! What about the truly Unthinkable?
Was it just through a slight slip of the hand that your knife accidentally fell on the floor and damaged its tip and blade, or it was used to cut a hard, frozen product and chipped? Don’t despair, get in touch with us and we will solve the problem through our in-house, professional sharpening and repair service.
Simply contact us or visit our store to get a free estimate.
