Takayuki VG-10 Hammered Damascus Santoku 180mm

Sakai Takayuki is a name that is synonymous with blades of all kinds, and more recently with kitchen knives. They have been making these for over 600 years starting in Sakai during the 16th century. The first blades they produced were made to trim and cut tobacco. The company is now owned by Aoki-Hamano Seisakusho, whose aim is to pass on traditional techniques while incorporating modern methods and materials. They truly want the world to know that their knives are not tools, but rather crafted items filled with the spirit of blade smiths and sharpening artisans.

This santoku combines many attributes of a gyuto and western chef knife with a blade geometry incorporating the sheep's foot tip. A sheep's foot design essentially draws the spine ("backstrap") down to the front, with very little clearance above the horizontal cutting plane when the blade is resting naturally from heel to forward cutting edge. This results in a knife that favors less of a rocking motion as compared to a gyuto or chef knife. "Santoku" translates to Three Virtues. This is a perfect descriptor of the three cutting tasks which the knife performs well: slicing, dicing, and mincing.

The blade is clad with a fine looking soft stainless steel damascus layering that receives a tsuchime or hammered finish. It is coupled to a dyed pakka wood partial tang handle that features a stainless bolster and three stainless rivets. The complete package is of a high standard in both looks and performance, especially given its very attractive price.

Steel: Damascus 33 layers with VG10

Hardness: RC 60 (special tempered to provide ease of sharpening)

Bevel: 50/50 (good for both right- and left-handed users)

Weight: 6.4 ounces

Blade Length: 180 mm (7")

Overall Length: 310 mm (12.25")

Spine Thickness at Base: 1.9 mm

Blade Height: 47.2 mm