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These are in high demand. Limit 2 per customer. Masutani is a new line of knives we are beginning to carry, and are we excited! We get particularly excited about knives that break the price performance barriers and provide a high level of quality.
The Masutani Santoku is constructed with a core of VG1 stainless steel. VG1, or V Gold 1, is a high carbon, molybdenum stainless steel manufactured by Takefu Special Steel Company. It is a steel that is often compared to AUS-8 or VG10. Overall, VG1 is less wear resistant, and a bit tougher than either AUS-8 or its high end cousin, VG10. Masutani covers the core in a san-mai style of cladding using a softer stainless steel which receives a very attractive hammered finish. The knife is ground with a deep blade path which exposes the VG1 steel at the edge resulting in a nice hamon-like appearance.
The knife has a yo-style Western handle made from rosewood and features a stainless bolster, both of which add to the great looks of the blade. We are stunned by the quality and performance of this budget priced knife. It might need a touch on your favorite stone before realizing its full potential, but after that it will perform as well as many blades costing twice the amount. This is a perfect choice for a beginner looking to sample an easy to maintain Japanese knife. It would also make a wonderful gift for a student chef or home cook.
Simply one of the best values on our site!Blacksmith: Masutani
Location: Echizen, Japan
Construction: Laser cut, San Mai
Cladding: Hammered Stainless
Edge Steel: VG1 Stainless
Edge Grind: Even
Handle: Yo (Western) Single Piece Rosewood
Edge Length: 170mm
Blade Height: 47mm
Weight: 4.7oz
Spine Thickness at Base: 1.6mm
The Masutani Santoku is constructed with a core of VG1 stainless steel. VG1, or V Gold 1, is a high carbon, molybdenum stainless steel manufactured by Takefu Special Steel Company. It is a steel that is often compared to AUS-8 or VG10. Overall, VG1 is less wear resistant, and a bit tougher than either AUS-8 or its high end cousin, VG10. Masutani covers the core in a san-mai style of cladding using a softer stainless steel which receives a very attractive hammered finish. The knife is ground with a deep blade path which exposes the VG1 steel at the edge resulting in a nice hamon-like appearance.
The knife has a yo-style Western handle made from rosewood and features a stainless bolster, both of which add to the great looks of the blade. We are stunned by the quality and performance of this budget priced knife. It might need a touch on your favorite stone before realizing its full potential, but after that it will perform as well as many blades costing twice the amount. This is a perfect choice for a beginner looking to sample an easy to maintain Japanese knife. It would also make a wonderful gift for a student chef or home cook.
Simply one of the best values on our site!
Reviews
25 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) Punching above its weightPosted By: Matt Freeman
You get so much for your money here. I'm a sucker for a rosewood handle, and the tsuchime finish reminded me of the Takamura Chromax line, not bad! Add to that a great geometry and grind, very nice fit and finish, and a good steel that will hold an edge well and be good and tough. Beautifully sharp OOTB, which is no surprise with this nice thin edge. If you find it attractive, there's no reason to hesitate.
You get so much for your money here. I'm a sucker for a rosewood handle, and the tsuchime finish reminded me of the Takamura Chromax line, not bad! Add to that a great geometry and grind, very nice fit and finish, and a good steel that will hold an edge well and be good and tough. Beautifully sharp OOTB, which is no surprise with this nice thin edge. If you find it attractive, there's no reason to hesitate.
Superb Kitchen Tool Transcendent Best purchase of 2020Posted By: Best purchase of 2020 - verified customer
I bought this as a gift, and they loved it! I'm amazed that a knife this quality is offered at this price. Chefknivestogo is the only place I will knives, whetstones, etc, because service is outstanding and I have never had the slightest problem in the past 6 years.
I bought this as a gift, and they loved it! I'm amazed that a knife this quality is offered at this price. Chefknivestogo is the only place I will knives, whetstones, etc, because service is outstanding and I have never had the slightest problem in the past 6 years.
Good value knifePosted By: CP - verified customer
I got this as an upgrade to an old Wusthoff santoku. I wanted a santoku that has more hand room and an extra bit of pretty, without busting the budget. This knife is handsome, light and fairly thin as you'd expect from a Japanese knife, and very sharp out of the box. I've only been using it a few weeks so I can't say much about how it keeps an edge. The extra hand room is nice (taller than my Wusthoff).
The one disappointment is that the bolster is a wrap-around piece of metal, not an integral part of the blade like on my Wusthoff or Shun. As such, there are tiny gaps between the blade and bolster. It's not a big practical or aesthetic problem, but detracts a bit from the overall finish. Well, at this price, you can't have everything.
I got this as an upgrade to an old Wusthoff santoku. I wanted a santoku that has more hand room and an extra bit of pretty, without busting the budget. This knife is handsome, light and fairly thin as you'd expect from a Japanese knife, and very sharp out of the box. I've only been using it a few weeks so I can't say much about how it keeps an edge. The extra hand room is nice (taller than my Wusthoff).
The one disappointment is that the bolster is a wrap-around piece of metal, not an integral part of the blade like on my Wusthoff or Shun. As such, there are tiny gaps between the blade and bolster. It's not a big practical or aesthetic problem, but detracts a bit from the overall finish. Well, at this price, you can't have everything.
Fantastic all around knife for a great price Great little knife Posted By: David Roldan - verified customer
Item arrived promptly as always! Out of the box sharp. Light weight with a bit of finishing to do in the handle but the overall presentation of the knife is excellent. I'm a professional chef and this little knife has been a beast from dicing, slicing, chopping, to a useful tip to do more intricate cuts. The only one draw is that during my first day someone used it and damaged the heel. Luckily I had our knife guy coming out next day and he was able to restore it. So blade is very delicate. But overall very happy with this little working machine.
Item arrived promptly as always! Out of the box sharp. Light weight with a bit of finishing to do in the handle but the overall presentation of the knife is excellent. I'm a professional chef and this little knife has been a beast from dicing, slicing, chopping, to a useful tip to do more intricate cuts. The only one draw is that during my first day someone used it and damaged the heel. Luckily I had our knife guy coming out next day and he was able to restore it. So blade is very delicate. But overall very happy with this little working machine.
Excellent knife for excellent pricePosted By: Great knife - verified customer
For the price, I can't imagine you can get a better stainless knife. F&F is great, ootb sharpness is good and edge retention as well. It also doesn't hurt that this knife is nice to look at and use. New go-to knife for my family.
For the price, I can't imagine you can get a better stainless knife. F&F is great, ootb sharpness is good and edge retention as well. It also doesn't hurt that this knife is nice to look at and use. New go-to knife for my family.
A Great Performing BargainPosted By: M. Bradley
Upon opening the box, I found the item description and positive customer reviews to be spot on. This knife is a looker! The hammered blade and rosewood handle are all the more impressive when held in hand. Grabbing a sheet of notebook paper, I touched the top edge with the blade. The knife just dropped through — an effortless push cut. Edges of spine and choil could use a bit more relief, but a little sanding should take care of that.
Upon opening the box, I found the item description and positive customer reviews to be spot on. This knife is a looker! The hammered blade and rosewood handle are all the more impressive when held in hand. Grabbing a sheet of notebook paper, I touched the top edge with the blade. The knife just dropped through — an effortless push cut. Edges of spine and choil could use a bit more relief, but a little sanding should take care of that.
Great knife for the money Excellent Small and SharpPosted By: David - verified customer
The knife is a great starter knife. The size is perfect for a small kitchen and have not had any issues cutting through even the hardest veggies. The hammered design on the knife is beautiful. It is VERY light! If you've held larger knifes you'll be surprised at how light this feels in the hand.
The knife is a great starter knife. The size is perfect for a small kitchen and have not had any issues cutting through even the hardest veggies. The hammered design on the knife is beautiful. It is VERY light! If you've held larger knifes you'll be surprised at how light this feels in the hand.
Excellent home knifePosted By: Saulo Paulino - verified customer
Out of the box it has an acceptable edge, altough i'd recommend a pass or two on the stones as it tends to lose sharpness fast in several random parts. I own 3 of these and happened with all of them. After the first injtial sharpening everything is ok. Edge is durable and is a robust knife for every day in a home kitchen
Out of the box it has an acceptable edge, altough i'd recommend a pass or two on the stones as it tends to lose sharpness fast in several random parts. I own 3 of these and happened with all of them. After the first injtial sharpening everything is ok. Edge is durable and is a robust knife for every day in a home kitchen
impressed Super Duper Bang for Your BuckPosted By: Tim Gilbert - verified customer
3 people found this review helpful
Love this little knife. Bought it mainly for home use. My wife has been using my petty knife for most prep work (I think she is a little intimidated by my 210 mm Kurosaki Gyuto). Bought this for her to use to make her life a little easier. Plus, any excuse to buy a new knife is welcomed. She loves it and and I love it. Its quite the little powerhouse. Nice performer for the price, thin and precise. Would highly recommend.
3 people found this review helpful
Love this little knife. Bought it mainly for home use. My wife has been using my petty knife for most prep work (I think she is a little intimidated by my 210 mm Kurosaki Gyuto). Bought this for her to use to make her life a little easier. Plus, any excuse to buy a new knife is welcomed. She loves it and and I love it. Its quite the little powerhouse. Nice performer for the price, thin and precise. Would highly recommend.
Matsutani SantokuPosted By: Stephen Song - verified customer
This is my first VG1 knife. It came razor sharp out of the box and is beautiful to look at. I did put it on the stone to sharpen it but now it cuts as well as my Misono UX10 at less than half the price. I have several Masutani Knives and they never disappoint. I partially like them for their balance and lightweight.
This is my first VG1 knife. It came razor sharp out of the box and is beautiful to look at. I did put it on the stone to sharpen it but now it cuts as well as my Misono UX10 at less than half the price. I have several Masutani Knives and they never disappoint. I partially like them for their balance and lightweight.
Astonishing value First Japanese KnifePosted By: Michael - verified customer
I have been a home cook for the past 2 years and have gotten by on a set of cheaper knives. I bought this knife after doing some research and have yet to go a day without using it. The jump to professional cutlery is such a shock and I find the Masutani brand is a great place to start. The price point is fantastic for someone just getting into the field and the quality is incredible. The knife is very comfortable, beautiful, and scary sharp OOTB. I have used it almost everyday since I got it and it held the same edge for 2 or 3 weeks, and after that a quick trip to the honing rod, it was good as new. I have yet to find a complaint about this knife and I am looking into purchasing their nakiri in the near future.
I have been a home cook for the past 2 years and have gotten by on a set of cheaper knives. I bought this knife after doing some research and have yet to go a day without using it. The jump to professional cutlery is such a shock and I find the Masutani brand is a great place to start. The price point is fantastic for someone just getting into the field and the quality is incredible. The knife is very comfortable, beautiful, and scary sharp OOTB. I have used it almost everyday since I got it and it held the same edge for 2 or 3 weeks, and after that a quick trip to the honing rod, it was good as new. I have yet to find a complaint about this knife and I am looking into purchasing their nakiri in the near future.
Beautiful gifts and wonderful servicePosted By: Chris Pulsifer - verified customer
These knives made beautiful gifts for my groomsmen. As far as fit and finish go, there was a bit of sharpness near the bolster, but overall the hammered detail, the laser-etched brand, and the shaving-sharp factory edge really impressed everyone, I know there are nicer knives on this site, but as Mark says, I don't know if there will be anything of better value for the money. And Sue provided legendary customer service, answering every question cheerfully and going the extra mile to help me find the perfect gift. Many thanks, can't wait for the next excuse I have to do business with CTG.
These knives made beautiful gifts for my groomsmen. As far as fit and finish go, there was a bit of sharpness near the bolster, but overall the hammered detail, the laser-etched brand, and the shaving-sharp factory edge really impressed everyone, I know there are nicer knives on this site, but as Mark says, I don't know if there will be anything of better value for the money. And Sue provided legendary customer service, answering every question cheerfully and going the extra mile to help me find the perfect gift. Many thanks, can't wait for the next excuse I have to do business with CTG.
True quality...incredible pricePosted By: Fred 1928
When Mark recommended this as a top notch example of a quality Japanese santoku I was a bit uncertain because of the price. No longer! This knife measures up in every way: really sharp out of the box, perfect weight and balance, feels good in the hand and cuts beuatifully. Nice looking too. Recommended without exception.
When Mark recommended this as a top notch example of a quality Japanese santoku I was a bit uncertain because of the price. No longer! This knife measures up in every way: really sharp out of the box, perfect weight and balance, feels good in the hand and cuts beuatifully. Nice looking too. Recommended without exception.
Really great cutterPosted By: DunninLA - verified customer
Well it seems that spine thinness matters in cutting through material. I have an Anryu 130mm petty, a Gihei 165mm Santoku (both 3.5-4mm at spine, and aggressively ground), and this one that I bought as a gift. This cuts as well or better than either, though I expect the edge to last only about half as long... won't get to test that out as it was gifted. VG1 doesn't get the respect it deserves. From what I've extensively read, it is easier to sharpen than VG10, and that was enough for me to want to try it out.
Well it seems that spine thinness matters in cutting through material. I have an Anryu 130mm petty, a Gihei 165mm Santoku (both 3.5-4mm at spine, and aggressively ground), and this one that I bought as a gift. This cuts as well or better than either, though I expect the edge to last only about half as long... won't get to test that out as it was gifted. VG1 doesn't get the respect it deserves. From what I've extensively read, it is easier to sharpen than VG10, and that was enough for me to want to try it out.
AmazingPosted By: Greg Kocal - verified customer
So it's been a week since I've gotten the knife and man do I love this thing. Honestly I think this is better than my chef's knife despite his being much more expensive and what not. Masutani snapped with this knife and I can honestly say if I ever need another knife I will definitly be ordering from them again
So it's been a week since I've gotten the knife and man do I love this thing. Honestly I think this is better than my chef's knife despite his being much more expensive and what not. Masutani snapped with this knife and I can honestly say if I ever need another knife I will definitly be ordering from them again
A lot of knifePosted By: Dan - verified customer
I first bought this santoku for a newlywed friends of mine, and it quickly replaced a whole block-set of Cuisnart knives. They were so happy with it - and my wife was so impressed with it - that I got another one for us, and she loves it. Fact is, whenever I don't care to pull out one of the longer gyutos or chefs, I reach out for this one. The handle, though thin, sits just right in my large hands, in either a pinch-grip or a handle grip. The 170mm is a versatile medium length, and the tip is thin and very useful. This lil' baby can do a little choppin', a little rocking, and a little slicin', and even a little paring. It's a jack of all trades, and a looker, too! Great value, easy gift option, and easy entry into Japanese knives.
I first bought this santoku for a newlywed friends of mine, and it quickly replaced a whole block-set of Cuisnart knives. They were so happy with it - and my wife was so impressed with it - that I got another one for us, and she loves it. Fact is, whenever I don't care to pull out one of the longer gyutos or chefs, I reach out for this one. The handle, though thin, sits just right in my large hands, in either a pinch-grip or a handle grip. The 170mm is a versatile medium length, and the tip is thin and very useful. This lil' baby can do a little choppin', a little rocking, and a little slicin', and even a little paring. It's a jack of all trades, and a looker, too! Great value, easy gift option, and easy entry into Japanese knives.
for the value?Posted By: Dan - verified customer
Absolutely I'd give this knife five stars for the value. It's a solid knife overall in its own right too, but for the price? I feel like this is a steal. Easily outperforms knives well above this price tag. Edge takes a little more effort to sharpen up, but so far it has been holding its edge rather well.
Absolutely I'd give this knife five stars for the value. It's a solid knife overall in its own right too, but for the price? I feel like this is a steal. Easily outperforms knives well above this price tag. Edge takes a little more effort to sharpen up, but so far it has been holding its edge rather well.
