The Kumokage collection is made from high-quality Aogami #2 high-carbon steel. Due to its high carbon content, the core and outer layers are not corrosion-resistant, meaning the blade can develop a patina and may rust if exposed to water or other corrosive substances for extended periods.

Blade finish is excellent, but because the knife is completely handmade, be prepared to see some small imperfections on the surface.

BLADE SHAPE:

Kumokage Petty Aogami #2 Kuro-uchi Damascus 80mm is a small Japanese kitchen knife. A petty is an essential tool in any kitchen, serving purposes such as peeling, mincing, paring, and food decoration. With its distinctive triangular knife shape, this small and wide blade excels at filleting small freshwater and saltwater fish.

This small kitchen knife, also called a petty, is used for fine work in the kitchen where a larger knife would be too bulky. Because of the triangular deba knife shape, this petty is also great for filleting and preparing smaller fish.

STEEL:

Aogami #2 is a very popular steel in Japanese knife making and one of the finest high-carbon steels, meaning the knives forged from it will have excellent edge retention and also sharpen very easily. At the same time, it is less resistant to corrosion, meaning the blade can develop a patina, while longer exposure to water or other corrosives could also lead to rusting. This is improved to some extent with the addition of chromium and tungsten, but it’s still a high-carbon steel that should be maintained accordingly (⚠️ read more about knife maintenance here). Aogami #2 steel is composed of carbon (C) 1.1 %, chromium (Cr) 0.5 %, manganese (Mn) 0.3%, and tungsten (W) 1.5%.

LAMINATION:

The blade was laminated with soft iron, which is iron with only a small amount of carbon added to it. Laminating the blade improves its structural integrity, as the knife’s core is made of hard—and therefore brittle—high-carbon Aogami #2 steel that is prone to breakage on its own.

GEOMETRY:

It has a double bevel (symmetrical) blade.

BLADE FINISH:

Kuro-uchi (kuro meaning “black”) finish and a misty damascus finish create a rustic appearance.

The raw, untreated blade finish with a misty damascus pattern give the knife a distinct rustic appearance, summed up perfectly by the name kumokage 雲 影, which translates to “cloud shadow”. The blade will glide through food with ease and deliver incredibly smooth cuts, thanks to Aogami #2 steel’s extremely fine sharpness. This knife feels and cuts like a true Japanese blade, and definitely looks the part as well.

HANDLE:

Octagon Japanese (Wa) style handle made out of wenge wood with a buffalo horn ferrule.