Yoshihiro Hongasumi Blue Steel Kama Usuba Traditional Japanese Vegetable Chopping Chef Knife, Rosewood Handle
SKU:
High-Carbon Care
This item is made from high-carbon steel. It offers excellent sharpness but can rust or develop a patina if not kept dry and properly maintained.
- 63-64 HRC
- No
- Free Magnolia Saya Cover Included
Blade Hardness
HRC (Rockwell Hardness) measures how hard the blade's steel is. Kitchen knife steel typically falls in the high-50s to mid-60s on this scale. Harder steel is built to hold a fine edge over long use, while softer steel favors flexibility and easy resharpening. The right HRC depends on the steel and design, not a single higher-is-better number.
Stain Resistant
This steel is not stain resistant. High-carbon steel can rust or develop a patina if not kept dry and cared for, in exchange for the sharper edge it holds.
Saya Cover
This knife comes with its saya cover included at no additional cost, shaped to its exact blade for the same custom fit customers pay extra for on other knives.
Full Specifications
Blade
- Knife Type
- Usuba (Vegetable Knife)
- Primary Use
- Vegetable cutting
- Blade Metal
- Blue Steel #2
- Grade
- Hongasumi
- Construction
- Clad (San Mai)
- Blade Hardness
- 63-64 HRC
- Blade Edge Type
- Single Bevel
- Blade Finish
- Plain
- Stain Resistant
- No
Handle
- Handle Material
- Rosewood
- Handle Shape
- Octagonal
- Bolster Material
- Ebony
- Tang Type
- Partial Tang
Product Details
The Yoshihiro Usuba Kama-gata knife is a masterful blend of tradition and functionality, reminiscent of a small cleaver, and features a sharp tip for intricate tasks. Designed with enough heft to chop through heavy root vegetables, its blade is also adept at slicing delicate tomatoes into paper-thin pieces. Crafted from High Carbon Blue Steel #2, this knife boasts a remarkable hardness of 63-64 HRC, allowing for superior edge retention and the ability to achieve a finer edge compared to the Kasumi knives made from White Steel #2.
Each of our Yoshihiro Hongasumi knives is a testament to the extraordinary skill of our master artisans, who meticulously forge high-quality knives that are indispensable in both craftsmanship and performance. The Blue Steel #2 is expertly forged with iron, creating stunning mist patterns that add to the knife's aesthetic appeal. Our artisans place a strong emphasis on refined forging and polishing, ensuring the highest attention to detail throughout the crafting process.
Complemented by a traditional Japanese-style handcrafted Rosewood handle, this knife is not only a functional tool but also a piece of art. It comes with a protective wooden sheath known as a Saya, which safeguards the blade and enhances its visual appeal when not in use. The Usuba has quickly become a sought-after addition to kitchens, emerging as a new essential companion to the popular chef's knife.
The Usuba is cherished for its versatility, effortlessly transitioning from chopping greens for salads to handling larger vegetable preparations for main dishes. With a handcrafted design that marries beauty and functionality, the Usuba elevates even the simplest culinary tasks, making it an invaluable tool for chefs and home cooks alike.
Care & Origin
- Country of Origin
- Japan
- Care Instructions
- Hand wash only.
Dry immediately.
Avoid the dishwasher. - Sharpening Method
- Sharpen by hand using whetstones. Do not use honing rods.