300mm Takohiki

Today I finished a large amount of Japanese knives.

Among them, there was a knife that I thought was very well made.

Takohiki has become a less popular type of knife, but the finished result on this one turned out really well. The proportions of the HIra, Ura, cutting edge, and Shinogi were perfectly balanced.

Takohiki is a challenging knife to make, whether for a blacksmith or a sharpener. It’s like a long, thin-bladed knife. To ensure the edge is straight and not wavy, a specific construction is needed.

I tried different stones—Kitayama, Arashiyama, G-1—to match the edge, and they all worked great! The potential of White #2 steel is definitely impressive.

• 2016-01-15