Takayuki Shibata is a young blacksmith who lives and works out of his shop in Fukuyama City, a suburb of Hiroshima, Japan. Shibata-san is becoming very well known in the knife world for his laser thin, hammer forged knives that boast some excellent grinds and outstanding out-of-the-box sharpness.
The Shibata AS Santoku is made from Aogami Super steel with a soft stainless steel cladding that has a really nice, smooth finish. Shibata-san hammer forges these knives using the san-mai technique of laminating. San-mai roughly translates to three flat objects. The outer layer, or jigane, is only applied to each blade face. It does not wrap over the spine. While the hagane (inner core) is reactive, the stainless cladding reduces the work needed to maintain the blade and prevent corrosion.
The santoku knife is probably the Japanese knife that is most established in the western marketplace. Santoku knives are prized for their handy, user friendly size and chef knife versatility. These particular knives are endowed with a beautifully formed profile and razor sharp cutting edge. The fit and finish are also of the very highest standards.Maker: Takayuki Shibata
Location: Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Brand: Shibata AS
Construction: San Mai, Hammer Forged
Cladding: Stainless
Edge Steel: AS (Aogami Super Steel)
HRC: 62+
Type: Santoku
Edge Grind: Even (See Choil Shot)
Handle: Rosewood Octagonal
Ferrule: Black Pakka Wood
Weight: 4.2 oz (118 g)
Edge Length: 168 mm
Total Length: 308 mm
Spine Thickness at Base: 2.0 mm
Blade Height: 46.2 mm
The Shibata AS Santoku is made from Aogami Super steel with a soft stainless steel cladding that has a really nice, smooth finish. Shibata-san hammer forges these knives using the san-mai technique of laminating. San-mai roughly translates to three flat objects. The outer layer, or jigane, is only applied to each blade face. It does not wrap over the spine. While the hagane (inner core) is reactive, the stainless cladding reduces the work needed to maintain the blade and prevent corrosion.
The santoku knife is probably the Japanese knife that is most established in the western marketplace. Santoku knives are prized for their handy, user friendly size and chef knife versatility. These particular knives are endowed with a beautifully formed profile and razor sharp cutting edge. The fit and finish are also of the very highest standards.
Reviews
2 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) Incredible knife!Posted By: Steven
4 people found this review helpful
This is my first Japanese chef's knife. Before, I had only used a Henckels 8 inch chef knife. This knife absolutely blows that one out of the water. It looks incredible, flies through food, feels great in the hand and it's a breeze to sharpen. I am incredibly satisfied with this knife.
4 people found this review helpful
This is my first Japanese chef's knife. Before, I had only used a Henckels 8 inch chef knife. This knife absolutely blows that one out of the water. It looks incredible, flies through food, feels great in the hand and it's a breeze to sharpen. I am incredibly satisfied with this knife.
Shibata Kotetsu AS SantokuPosted By: Tom Doughten - verified customer
2 people found this review helpful
This is my third Shibata Kotetsu knife in my collection and this Santoku is the perfect knife to round out my collection. It is still extremely sharp after many uses with only an occasional stropping. It has a beautiful wave at the bottom of the blade where the metals join giving it a nice visual look. As usual my order was processed and shipped quickly by CKTG including the finish sharpening service. What more could I say, great products and great service!!
2 people found this review helpful
This is my third Shibata Kotetsu knife in my collection and this Santoku is the perfect knife to round out my collection. It is still extremely sharp after many uses with only an occasional stropping. It has a beautiful wave at the bottom of the blade where the metals join giving it a nice visual look. As usual my order was processed and shipped quickly by CKTG including the finish sharpening service. What more could I say, great products and great service!!
