Santoku knife, VG10, damascus and tsuchime finish - Masutani

A fantastic all-rounder with the performance of Japanese steel.

SHAPE: Santoku. Named after the three best things to do with this knife - slicing, dicing and mincing. It is the classic veg prep knife with both good breadth and width.

STEEL: VG10. A premium high carbon Japanese stainless steel capable of impressive hardness. This is the premier product in the V Gold series made by Takefu steel.

FINISH: Damascus or suminagashi. This type of finish is made by creating a Kitaeji; which is produced by repeatedly folding/stacking then compressing two different steels until they create a laminated pattern. This can then be manipulated in various ways to produce the maker’s desired pattern effect. This material is then clad around the core metal of the blade as an elaborate protective layer for the core steel - thus giving the knife a beautiful and striking appearance.

Tsuchime. This is a hand hammered finish that is not only beautiful but also functional. The small depressions stop food sticking to the knife. This finishes comes in many different forms from the traditional round hammer marks to more modern patterns.

HANDLE: Western pakkawood handle dyed blue

LENGTH: 165mm in length.

MAKER: Masutani - Echizen, Japan

BEST FOR: Anyone wanting a knife made from one of the best cutting steels on the planet at an acceptable price.

SAUNDERS SAYS:"This is a great first Japanese knife for a keen cook at a fantastic price. The fit and finish is up there with knives at twice the price while the steel means it is easy to care for."

Also take a look at the VG10 Gyuto and VG10 Nakiri, also from Masutani.