Yoshimi Kato has recently inherited the business from his father Hiroshi. Along with his experienced crew he is coming out with several new lines with a focus on quality stainless steels and nice Damascus finishes. This bunka is a perfect example.
VG-10 is a cutlery-grade stainless steel produced in Japan. The name stands for V Gold 10 ("gold" meaning quality), or sometimes V-Kin-10 (kin means "gold" in Japanese). It is a stainless steel with a high carbon content containing 1% carbon, 15% chromium, 1% molybdenum, 0.2% vanadium, 1.5% cobalt, and 0.5% manganese. All of these relatively small amounts of other metals give the VG-10 steel its most important properties, such as its ability to hold an edge coupled with great durability. It is one reason why the VG-10 label has been so highly prized among so many people, ranging from chefs to knife collectors.
This bunka is a good choice for lovers of shorter blades or those with very restricted board space. It is also a great choice for prepping garnishes and other smaller items. This knife will appeal to rock and push cutters alike. Its 50/50 grind will also be useful to both left- and right-handed users. It has a nice thin spine that tapers towards the tip and it also exhibits a fairly thin grind behind the edge.
Its great aesthetics and functionality are further enhanced by a well-balanced Western style rosewood color handle. This a very well made knife at a great price.Blacksmith: Yoshimi Kato
Location: Echizen, Japan
Construction: Hammer Forged, San Mai
Grind: Even Edge Grind, 50/50
Weight: 5.6 oz (159 g)
Edge Length: 170 mm
Total Length: 298 mm
Spine Thickness at Base: 2 mm
Blade Height: 46 mm
Steel: VG-10
HRC: 61-62
Cladding: Nickel Damascus
Handle: Yo Rosewood
VG-10 is a cutlery-grade stainless steel produced in Japan. The name stands for V Gold 10 ("gold" meaning quality), or sometimes V-Kin-10 (kin means "gold" in Japanese). It is a stainless steel with a high carbon content containing 1% carbon, 15% chromium, 1% molybdenum, 0.2% vanadium, 1.5% cobalt, and 0.5% manganese. All of these relatively small amounts of other metals give the VG-10 steel its most important properties, such as its ability to hold an edge coupled with great durability. It is one reason why the VG-10 label has been so highly prized among so many people, ranging from chefs to knife collectors.
This bunka is a good choice for lovers of shorter blades or those with very restricted board space. It is also a great choice for prepping garnishes and other smaller items. This knife will appeal to rock and push cutters alike. Its 50/50 grind will also be useful to both left- and right-handed users. It has a nice thin spine that tapers towards the tip and it also exhibits a fairly thin grind behind the edge.
Its great aesthetics and functionality are further enhanced by a well-balanced Western style rosewood color handle. This a very well made knife at a great price.
