Utility knife with a 153 mm blade and an ebony handle with a blue spacer.

The core steel is Aogami #2, a pure carbon steel capable of taking an incredibly sharp edge while also being easy to sharpen. Surrounding the core steel is a layer of blackened iron that has been hammered to create a rustic surface and then polished to a glossy finish.

Blade length: 153 mm
Blade height: 34 mm
Weight: 109 grams
Thickness at heel: 3.7 mm
Spine thickness at midpoint: 2 mm

Kisuke Manaka is a fifth-generation blacksmith who forges his blades in the city of Kasukabe, Japan. Manaka-san makes everything from scratch and even laminates the steel by hand using the hon-warikomi method. Quality and finish are extremely important to Manaka, which is why he sharpens and finishes every blade by hand on Japanese natural stones. This gives the knives their beautiful kasumi finish, with a distinct contrast between the core steel and cladding, known as hongasumi.

This is a truly beautiful knife that we highly recommend. Handmade from scratch!

PLEASE NOTE: Carbon steel is not stainless! Always wipe the knife dry after use to prevent rust from developing. Over time, the carbon steel will develop a patina in various shades. This is completely normal, but it can be polished away with polishing paste if desired.