We are very pleased to be able to offer this new line of knives from talented young blacksmith Takayuki Shibata. His first efforts use the popular stainless steel powdered alloy known as R-2.
R-2 steel is a proprietary powdered alloy made by the Kobelco Steel Company primarily for use in the manufacturing of tools. It is a perfect steel for kitchen knives as it is easy to maintain and can be hardened to a reasonably high rating, in this case 62-63 HRC.
All of Shibata-san’s R-2 knives feature an elegant and useful tip design inspired by the bow of the first ironclad fighting ship in the Japanese Navy, called the Kotetsu (literal translation of ironclad). The core R-2 steel is covered in a softer stainless steel, the sides of which have a rough finish, to minimize friction between the food and the blade. This is especially noticeable with foods that have a high water content.
The 80mm petty is a really unusual looker. It is primarily intended for in-hand detail work and garnish production. It is super thin and finished to a very high standard. The octagonal rosewood and black pakka wood handle is large for the size of blade but gives the knife a very controlled feel and great balance. This is a fun knife that will find many uses around the kitchen.
Steel: R-2 Stainless
Cladding: Stainless
Edge Grind: 50/50
Handle: Rosewood
Blade Length: 80 mm
Spine Thickness at Base: 1.5 mm
HRC: 62-63
Please note the small name change to "Koutetsu" as of 6/11/2021.
Reviews
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Excellent Knife
Posted By: Forrest York - verified customer
Really couldn't be happier, the unique shape is beautiful and it cuts wonderfully. Probably be looking into getting more of the Shibata Kotetsu knives