Shiroichi Steel Multilayer Steel

The custom-made Shiroichi Steel Multilayer Steel yanagiba that was ordered is set to depart tomorrow.

This time, there wasn’t a request for honbazuke, so technically it should have been shipped as is, but I was curious, so I decided to touch up the edge a bit. It cuts through paper effortlessly, without any resistance. Yet, it doesn’t slip.

It slices smoothly while maintaining grip.

I used the SUISIN #6000 INOX dedicated finishing whetstone.

You might think Shiroichi Steel is super hard, but the feel of this whetstone on it is just perfect, making sharpening stress-free.

(From what I’ve felt just on the edge, it seems to fall into the easy-to-sharpen category!)

So, is it soft, you might wonder? Not really, it’s sharp and crisp just like white steel! Once it’s hammered and tempered, it gains durability akin to blue steel or white steel.

It’s subjective, but when it comes to sharpness, I feel like white steel has the upper hand.

Hibishugyo

• 2008-06-23