After 50 years, Anryu san has retired and given over his business to his longtime, trusted apprentice, Ikeda san.
The Anryu Kurouchi Damascus Santoku is constructed from Shirogami #2 high carbon steel with a multilayer soft iron cladding. The steel is hardened to 61-62 HRC. Shirogami #2 or White #2 is a high carbon steel that is liked for its high level of edge retention and relative ease of sharpening. The outer layer, or jigane, is finished with a rustic kurouchi coating. The kurouchi finish fades into a nice layered or suminagashi blade road. This is a good-looking knife—but it is reactive and will require care with cleaning and drying during and after use.
This hand-hammered santoku is thin at the edge and comes out of the box fairly sharp. A few strokes on a fine stone will reveal a razor-like edge. The choil and neck area are nicely finished, as is the basic but well-made oval rosewood handle.
There is a lot of knife here for the money. Lovely looks, a light, well-balanced feel, and excellent fit and finish sum up this high-value santoku. Check out this great performer. You’ll be glad you did.Workshop: Anryu Hamono
Lead Blacksmith: Ikeda san
Location: Echizen, Japan
Factory: Takefu Village
Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
Edge Steel: Shirogami #2
Cladding: Iron Damascus
Finish: Kurouchi
HRC: 61
Handle: Rosewood Oval
Ferrule: Black Pakka Wood
Weight: 5.0 oz (142 g)
Edge Length: 172 mm
Total Length: 310 mm
Spine Thickness at Base: 3.6 mm
Blade Height: 46.4 mm
The Anryu Kurouchi Damascus Santoku is constructed from Shirogami #2 high carbon steel with a multilayer soft iron cladding. The steel is hardened to 61-62 HRC. Shirogami #2 or White #2 is a high carbon steel that is liked for its high level of edge retention and relative ease of sharpening. The outer layer, or jigane, is finished with a rustic kurouchi coating. The kurouchi finish fades into a nice layered or suminagashi blade road. This is a good-looking knife—but it is reactive and will require care with cleaning and drying during and after use.
This hand-hammered santoku is thin at the edge and comes out of the box fairly sharp. A few strokes on a fine stone will reveal a razor-like edge. The choil and neck area are nicely finished, as is the basic but well-made oval rosewood handle.
There is a lot of knife here for the money. Lovely looks, a light, well-balanced feel, and excellent fit and finish sum up this high-value santoku. Check out this great performer. You’ll be glad you did.
Reviews
3 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) just wonderfulPosted By: Aquila
2 people found this review helpful
I bought this knife after buying the Anryu 270mm damascus gyuto. These really are fantastic knives with great attention to detail. Visually they are works of art, and functionally, very effective with balance point where you would expect. As with the 270, I haven't taken a stone to it yet, just stropping and enjoying. My only complaint, if you can call it that, is that it doesn't sing like the gyuto does, which is a phenomenon that still amazes me.
This one weighed in at about the advertised weight, and like the gyuto, the blade is very thin and flexible. I think the maker, by keeping the hardness around 61-62, is giving us a very durable blade for it's thickness. I doubt that there are going to be problems with the edge, but like the gyuto, I'm respecting that thinness.
Really wonderful.
2 people found this review helpful
I bought this knife after buying the Anryu 270mm damascus gyuto. These really are fantastic knives with great attention to detail. Visually they are works of art, and functionally, very effective with balance point where you would expect. As with the 270, I haven't taken a stone to it yet, just stropping and enjoying. My only complaint, if you can call it that, is that it doesn't sing like the gyuto does, which is a phenomenon that still amazes me.
This one weighed in at about the advertised weight, and like the gyuto, the blade is very thin and flexible. I think the maker, by keeping the hardness around 61-62, is giving us a very durable blade for it's thickness. I doubt that there are going to be problems with the edge, but like the gyuto, I'm respecting that thinness.
Really wonderful.
Great santoku knife Anru Kurouchi Damascus Santoku 165mmPosted By: Roy - verified customer
2 people found this review helpful
Accurately described and only exceeded by the customer service. This is a light weight, precision crafted tool that is exactly what I was looking for: a custom made, purpose built, easily sharpened blade that will provide years of satisfaction. I've used knives for over 60 years for a variety of reasons and you get what you pay for. In this case you get more!
2 people found this review helpful
Accurately described and only exceeded by the customer service. This is a light weight, precision crafted tool that is exactly what I was looking for: a custom made, purpose built, easily sharpened blade that will provide years of satisfaction. I've used knives for over 60 years for a variety of reasons and you get what you pay for. In this case you get more!
