Our regular customers and followers know that we enjoy bringing outside-the-box knives, makers, materials, and methods to the CKTG store. It is one of the things that defines us, and in the case of this extraordinary blade, sets yet another high mark in this quest for the unusual!
While at first glance the Shibata AS Tank is as different a knife as we have seen, it is in fact more of a melding of a couple of classic blade designs. Obviously, a cleaver is the first that comes to mind. While the Tank appears to be extra tall, it follows the average blade length to height ratio normally found on this popular knife. The second knife of this marriage is of course the bunka. The tip is the most obvious design element and this is what has been transferred to the Tank. Like the bunka, but unlike the cleaver, it has a pronounced belly towards the reverse tanto tip. This knife is a collaboration between Shiba and Ikeda who both bring their unique expertise to the knife. Ikeda does the forging and Shiba does the sharpening.
So, while this might have some people scratching their heads over what and why, we think this is a very interesting cross pollination of two incredibly versatile knife types.
The Tank is made from Aogami Super steel with a soft stainless steel cladding that has a kurouchi finish. Lest we forget, this knife caries all of the outstanding attributes that Shibata-san endows in his knives, in this case a beautifully executed grind and wonderful behind the edge thinness. Lastly, the uniqueness of the knife is further enhanced with the inclusion of a hand engraved date stamp on each blade, attesting to the date of manufacture. A lovely octagonal handle made from rosewood completes this compelling and unusual package.Blacksmith: Ikeda San
Sharpener: Shibata San
Location: Hiroshima, Japan
Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
Edge Steel: Aogami Super
Cladding: Stainless Steel
Rockwell Hardness: 63-64
Handle: Rosewood Octagonal
Blade Length: 182mm
Weight: 10.7oz
Height: 88mm
While at first glance the Shibata AS Tank is as different a knife as we have seen, it is in fact more of a melding of a couple of classic blade designs. Obviously, a cleaver is the first that comes to mind. While the Tank appears to be extra tall, it follows the average blade length to height ratio normally found on this popular knife. The second knife of this marriage is of course the bunka. The tip is the most obvious design element and this is what has been transferred to the Tank. Like the bunka, but unlike the cleaver, it has a pronounced belly towards the reverse tanto tip. This knife is a collaboration between Shiba and Ikeda who both bring their unique expertise to the knife. Ikeda does the forging and Shiba does the sharpening.
So, while this might have some people scratching their heads over what and why, we think this is a very interesting cross pollination of two incredibly versatile knife types.
The Tank is made from Aogami Super steel with a soft stainless steel cladding that has a kurouchi finish. Lest we forget, this knife caries all of the outstanding attributes that Shibata-san endows in his knives, in this case a beautifully executed grind and wonderful behind the edge thinness. Lastly, the uniqueness of the knife is further enhanced with the inclusion of a hand engraved date stamp on each blade, attesting to the date of manufacture. A lovely octagonal handle made from rosewood completes this compelling and unusual package.
Reviews
1 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) An absolute unitPosted By: Andrew
5 people found this review helpful
This knife is immense and I love it! It's quite heavy--mine comes in at almost 321gm--but it has great balance that puts the weight two or three cm forward of the heel, meaning the weight works for you when you drop it on an unsuspecting vegetable. It feels most comfortable in a really aggressive pinch grip, with a couple of fingers and the thumb on the blade and the other fingers on the handle. It probably wouldn't be a great fit for folks with smaller hands due to the size and weight distribution.
As you'd expect from Shibata, the F&F, grind, and OOB edge are all top-notch, and the tip is breathtakingly thin. The KU finish seems unlacquered but has a fine, slightly sandy texture that feels really nice in the hand. The spine is, of course, pretty thick to keep things rigid, but it's quite thin behind the edge and slips easily through food. The lamination line on mine is quite faint, though I imagine it will become a bit more visible once the core steel develops some patina.
Overall, this is a really interesting knife and one I'm delighted to own!
5 people found this review helpful
This knife is immense and I love it! It's quite heavy--mine comes in at almost 321gm--but it has great balance that puts the weight two or three cm forward of the heel, meaning the weight works for you when you drop it on an unsuspecting vegetable. It feels most comfortable in a really aggressive pinch grip, with a couple of fingers and the thumb on the blade and the other fingers on the handle. It probably wouldn't be a great fit for folks with smaller hands due to the size and weight distribution.
As you'd expect from Shibata, the F&F, grind, and OOB edge are all top-notch, and the tip is breathtakingly thin. The KU finish seems unlacquered but has a fine, slightly sandy texture that feels really nice in the hand. The spine is, of course, pretty thick to keep things rigid, but it's quite thin behind the edge and slips easily through food. The lamination line on mine is quite faint, though I imagine it will become a bit more visible once the core steel develops some patina.
Overall, this is a really interesting knife and one I'm delighted to own!
