Sakai Takayuki Damascus Chef's Knife, 180mm / 7.1"
A beautiful and high performance smaller chef's knife at a great price! This size is perfect for someone who likes the smaller standard size of a santoku but wants a traditional chef's knife shape (which works better with the old-school rocking cutting action). And a Japanese knife performs so well that it really doesn't feel "small" at all -- I'd have no problem using this knife as my main everyday home kitchen knife.
These knives really are very sharp, with excellent construction quality and they just look spectacular with the layered steel, hammered finish and gorgeous wood-grain handle (NOT plastic or molded like so many low-cost knives you'll see in stores). The handle is made of Pakkawood, which has that nice wooden feel and look, but it is impregnated with resin/epoxy so it won't absorb water or warp or crack -- an excellent material!
If you like the damascus layered steel look but don't like the artificially high prices by domestic knives and kitchen stores, this is a truly excellent choice. You get a super sharp and long-lasting VG-10 steel cutting core (this is a very hard steel, with a Rockwell hardness of approximately 60), with a 17-layer hammered stainless steel surface and a beautifully finished natural wood handle. This makes an excellent choice as an all-around knife.
Comes in a beautiful textured yellow papered gift box.
I'd recommend the fine ceramic hone (see below) for regular/daily maintenance of the edge. As with any knife, use the hone regularly and you'll keep the edge in good shape for a LONG time before you need to think about doing any serious "re-sharpening" or real grinding and refinishing of the edge.
NOTE: This knife is sharpened 50/50 (equally on each side of the edge), so it will work just fine for right or left-hand use. |
|
