Blacksmith Shindo san is working in the Tosa region of Japan and produces these excellent knives. This hotbed of knife making is one of several centers around the country that have been forging and making metal tools and knives for hundreds of years. Recently the regional industry members in Tosa have decided to do something similar to Takefu Village by instigating a training program to encourage young blacksmiths to enter the field. One such smith is Shindo san, a young, up-and-coming blade maker who has been making knives for just three short years. We are most impressed by his skills and energy!
The Enjin SRK8 Santoku 165mm is pretty standard
santoku fare regarding shape and proportions. These versatile cutters are becoming more popular in home kitchens due to their compact length, tall height, and general edge profile.
These blades are made with SRK8 steel, which is an alloy that boasts some similarity to Hitachi Shirogami #2. In the case of SRK8, chrome and nickel are added for extra toughness and resilience. The steel is heat-treated to HRC 63+. It should therefore hold a good edge and be easy to sharpen.
Enjin is a name derived from two Japanese words: “en” means flame, and “jin” means blade. We really like the connotation and to emphasize it we asked for a burnt handle finish for these blades!
Brand: Enjin
Blacksmith: Shindo San
Location: Kami City, Kochi Prefecture, Japan
Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
Edge Steel: SRK8 Carbon Steel
Cladding: Soft Iron
Finish: Kurouchi/Sand Blast/Polished
Edge Grind: Even
HRC: 63 +-
Handle: Oak Octagonal Burnt Finish
Weight: 4.7 oz (134 g)
Edge Length: 169 mm
Total Length: 312 mm
Spine Thickness at Heel: 4.9 mm
Blade Height at Heel: 46.5 mm