Takamura Gyuto VG-10 Tsuchime 180mm (7.1")
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✔︎ No import fees & duties - worldwide |
- Description
- Specifications
- Knife Care
- Shipping
Takamura Gyuto VG-10 Tsuchime 180mm (7.1") is a perfect pick for professional chefs and home enthusiasts and, above all, an ideal choice for budding chefs who are just venturing into their craft. Why? It excels at easy maintenance, boasts superior sharpness, it’s easy to sharpen and retains an edge for a very long time.
| The core of the knife is made of VG-10 steel, currently the most popular steel in Japan. It is produced by Takefu Special Steel Company, a relatively small company that 60 years ago managed to strike the right balance between various elements that today constitute the most widespread Japanese steel. VG-10 is a stainless steel with a relatively high content (1%) of carbon (C), 15% of chromium (Cr), 1% molybdenum (Mo), 0.3% vanadium (V) and 1.5% cobalt (Co). The combination of Cr, Mo and V forms many hard carbides that make the steel resistant to abrasion, which in turn also means better edge retention. |
Gyuto is the Japanese version of the classic Western Chef’s knife. It can be used with a variety of different cutting techniques to take on a wide range of kitchen tasks. Gyuto stands for “beef sword” in Japanese and was initially used to cut meat. Today, gyuto is one of the most indispensable knives in a kitchen and can do just about everything, obviously also cut a large chunk of beef.
Hammer imprints (tsuchime) are visible on the top part of the blade. In addition to the aesthetic, the recesses/dimples on the blade also have a practical function: the air in the clefts acts as an anti-stick coating between the knife and the food and reduces the drag during cutting.
A subtle line is visible on the bottom part of the blade, marking the transition point between the hard core and external, softer layers.
The knife was fitted a western-style (Yo) ergonomic handle made of durable laminated pakka wood, secured to the tang with three stainless rivets. The bolster gives the knife a gentle transition from the handle to the blade and provides a comfortable and firm grip during use. Because of its symmetrical shape, the handle fits perfectly in both palms. It makes the knife slightly heavier, but the distribution of weight between the handle and the blade enables extremely comfortable work and easy handling of the knife.
Takamura Hamono:Takamura Hamono is a smithy located in Echizen (Fukui Prefecture) owned by the Takamura family for over 60 years. It is now headed by the eldest son Terukazu Takamura, who took over from his father Toshiyuki (who took over from his father, the smithy’s founder Isamu Takamura-san). The knives Terukazu-san has been making since 1985 are known for their outstanding geometry, sophistication in design, and sharpness. Their quality was recognized in a consumer test report Smartson in Sweden, where they beat the competition. Takamura Hamono has gained notoriety since the knives became the #1 choice of world-renowned chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, René Redzepi, Mark Best, Hiromi Yamada, and the TV personality Martha Stewart (just to name a few!).
All of this makes Takamura knives very difficult to obtain and the wait time is very long due to a limited production capacity. Nevertheless, the craftsmanship and sophistication of their products make the wait well worthwhile.
Blade shape: Gyuto
Steel type: VG-10
Blade construction: San-mai / migaki
Hardness (HRC scale): 61
Overall length: 310mm (12.2")
Blade length: 180mm (7.1")
Blade height: 42mm (1.7")
Spine thickness: 1.6mm (0.06")
Weight: 150g (5.3 oz)
Handle length: 120mm (4.7")
Handle type / wood: Western / Black Micarta
Kanji on the blade:
Blacksmith: Takamura Hamono
Location of the smithy: ECHIZEN - TAKEFU KNIFE VILLAGE / Fukui Prefecture / Japan
☝️ Japanese kitchen knives in our store are handmade from natural materials. Slight variations in color, texture, weight and other dimensions are possible. We try to give a good photographic representation of our products, however computer screen resolution and colors do vary, so products might not look exactly as they are seen on screen.
Blade wear depends on the quality of steel, usage and maintenance of the blade. Japanese knives are made of high-quality steels. Follow these tips to keep your Japanese knife in top-notch shape:
✔ Use a wooden, plastic or rubber cutting board.
✔ After use, wash the knives and wipe them dry.
✔ For storage, use a knife holder or a protective knife sheath (saya).
✔ A good cutting technique is your best bet to prolong sharpness.
✔ Use sharpening stones to sharpen the knife.
❗️Don’t leave the knife in the sink. Wash it by hand.
❗️Don’t wash the knife in the dishwasher.
❗️Don’t use the knife on glass, ceramics, marble or steel surfaces.
❗️Don’t scrape the food off the cutting board with the edge of the blade. Use the spine of the knife instead.
❗️Knife is a tool intended for specific use - cutting food. It is not a can opener, screwdriver, trowel, wire cutter, hammer etc.
→ For more details, read our guide
on Maintenance of Kitchen Knives.
🤙 Contact us if you need some help. We reply within 1 business day.
SHIPPING RATES:
- €10 - flat worldwide rate with DHL Express (express delivery, 2-5 business days).
- FREE - all orders over €300 (DHL Express).
EXCEPTIONS:
- United Kingdom - shipping to UK costs €15. All orders are shipped with UPS Express (2-3 business days). Free shipping on orders over €300.
- Russia (currently not available) - shipping to Russia costs €40. All orders are shipped with EMS postal service.
DUTIES AND IMPORT TAXES:
We ship all orders DDP (duties & taxes paid). This means you will not be charged for any import fees and taxes (including VAT). All our prices are final. The price you see at checkout is the final price, no hidden costs.
DELIVERY TIME:
- Europe: 1-2 business days
- US & Canada: 2-4 business days
- Rest of the World: 3-5 business days
RETURNS:
Our return policy lasts 30 days. If more than 30 days have gone by since the day you received your order, unfortunately we can’t offer you a refund or exchange.
→ Read our SHIPPING & RETURNS policy for more info. We strive to solve any issues fast and with as little hassle for you. If you have some additional questions, please contact us.
Each knife comes with:
✔️ Instructions and knife care leaflet.
✔️ A preventive Band-Aid – the knives are very sharp! 😉
✔️ Original box from the blacksmith, which we wrap in an old Japanese newspaper sheet – so every knife is ready to be passed on as a gift as soon as it hits your doorstep!
✔️ We also offer a special gift wrapping option with the traditional Japanese washi paper.
QUIZ
Still doubting which type of Japanese knife should best fit your needs?
We created a 5-steps quiz to help you find the perfect knife based on your cooking skills and the type of food you prepare.
