The Yoshimitsu Fugen White #1 Kiritsuke 210mm is an unusual blade. It combines the general proportions of a sujihiki with the overall shape of a classic kiritsuke. Kiritsuke knives are regarded as general purpose kitchen blades that were originally made with a single bevel. More recently, double bevel examples are finding favor with many chefs as they are easier to use and care for. But unlike most kiritsuke knives, this one has a very short blade height and is thus more a cousin to a sujihiki than a gyuto. The reverse tanto profile makes the pointed tip very nimble but also delicate, while the flat and thin profile lends itself to most slicing tasks.
White #1 steel is the material of choice for the core for several reasons. It is a very resilient steel that resists chipping while being relatively easy to sharpen. The steel also takes a really refined edge when put to the stones. We think Shirogami #1 is a perfect choice when balancing performance and budget.
The inner core of White #1 is covered, san-mai style, with a soft iron cladding which features a kurouchi finish. This aids in protecting the blade from corrosion and shocks while aiding food release. It also makes this sword-like knife even better looking. Considering all it has to offer, we think this attractive and versatile kitchen knife represents the highest level of price-to-performance ratios.
We have recently upgraded the handle to octagonal oak with a burnt urushi (lacquer) finish.Knife Brand: Yoshimitsu Fugen
Blacksmith: Yoshida San
Location: Shimbara, Japan
Construction: Hammer Forged, San Mai
Cladding: Soft Iron
Finish: Kurouchi
Edge Steel: White #1 Reactive
HRC: 61
Edge Grind: Even (see choil shot)
Weight: 4.4 oz (124 g)
Blade Length: 209 mm
Total Length: 355 mm
Spine Thickness at Base: 3.7 mm
Blade Height: 39 mm
Handle: Burnt Urushi Octagonal
White #1 steel is the material of choice for the core for several reasons. It is a very resilient steel that resists chipping while being relatively easy to sharpen. The steel also takes a really refined edge when put to the stones. We think Shirogami #1 is a perfect choice when balancing performance and budget.
The inner core of White #1 is covered, san-mai style, with a soft iron cladding which features a kurouchi finish. This aids in protecting the blade from corrosion and shocks while aiding food release. It also makes this sword-like knife even better looking. Considering all it has to offer, we think this attractive and versatile kitchen knife represents the highest level of price-to-performance ratios.
We have recently upgraded the handle to octagonal oak with a burnt urushi (lacquer) finish.
Reviews
1 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval) Great for the price Posted By: Alexander - verified customer
3 people found this review helpful
For the price, this is an exactly what you'd expect. The fit and finish is good, smoother than I was expecting, but not bad. The handle does have a plastic ferrule, but it's flush enough that it doesn't feel weird to hold in a pinch grip. The handle is also fairly porous and will pick up stuff on your hand. Will probably replace the handle at some point, but it's comfortable enough. The out of the box edge was quite poor, but being White
3 people found this review helpful
For the price, this is an exactly what you'd expect. The fit and finish is good, smoother than I was expecting, but not bad. The handle does have a plastic ferrule, but it's flush enough that it doesn't feel weird to hold in a pinch grip. The handle is also fairly porous and will pick up stuff on your hand. Will probably replace the handle at some point, but it's comfortable enough. The out of the box edge was quite poor, but being White
