Hinokuni san is a 31-year-old blacksmith from Kumamoto prefecture who recently became independent after apprenticing for Nishida san (whose knives we also sell). The steel he uses is Shirogami #1. The sign of a good knife is the manner in which it is ground and you can see on the 4th photo the exquisite grind this blade has which makes for outstanding cutting action and ease of sharpening.
Shirogami (White) #1, a very pure carbon steel alloy, is almost identical to Blue #1 steel except for the absence of chromium and tungsten. Also known as Shiro-ko, this is a very popular steel for high-end Japanese cutlery, especially in Honyaki blades. These knives take an extremely fine edge and are easy to sharpen. It is very reactive so wiping down and drying should be done after every use.
Maker: Hinokuni
Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
Edge Steel: Shirogami #1
Cladding: Iron
Finish: Kurouchi
Edge Grind: Even, Double Bevel
Handle: Cherry Oval
Ferrule: Black Plastic
Weight: 6.3 oz (178 g)
Edge Length: 211 mm
Total Length: 355 mm
Spine Thickness at Base: 3.9 mm
Blade Height: 45.3 mm