{"product_id":"hatsukokoro-mercury-bunka-kurozome-damascus-180mm-mono-olivewood","title":"Hatsukokoro Mercury Bunka Kurozome Damascus 180mm (7.1\") [Mono Olivewood]","description":"\u003cp\u003ePerfectly suited for professional kitchens, this \u003cstrong\u003eHatsukokoro\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eBunka\u003c\/strong\u003e is super lightweight and exceptionally well-balanced at the handle, offering effortless control even during long prep sessions. The laser-thin blade, forged from ultra-hard SG2 powder steel, delivers precise cuts with exceptional out-of-the-box sharpness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short, this knife combines precision, balance, and functionality: laser-thin, excellent food release, ergonomic, and perfectly engineered geometry—truly 10\/10 in feel and performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBLADE SHAPE:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThe \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bunka-knives-multi-purpose\"\u003ebunka\u003c\/a\u003e is a compact Japanese knife, perfect for small kitchens and limited counter space without sacrificing performance. It features a distinctive angled tip, ideal for precise piercing and controlled cutting tasks: slicing, dicing, and mincing a variety of ingredients, including meat, fish, and vegetables, making it a highly functional tool for professional and home kitchens alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe blade is laser thin at the edge with a fair amount of belly toward the tip, making rocking motions smooth, while the flat spot near the heel is ideal for chopping. The tip excels at front-end drawing cuts, though a slightly higher handle lift is needed for maximum control. With a height of almost 50 mm, it offers ample knuckle clearance for safe, comfortable slicing.\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e*The blade measures 175mm (from heel to tip), although the manufacturer’s specifications list it as 180mm.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSTEEL:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eSG2 steel is a powder steel, renowned for its hardness and subsequent edge retention—due to a high carbon (C) content of 1.5%. The steel is also high in chromium (Cr)—around 15%, which adds to corrosion resistance and Molybdenum (Mo) that improves the blade’s wear resistance. SG2 steel blades will be able to achieve a fine sharpness due to the fine microstructure of the steel and will keep it—without having to worry about maintenance and corrosion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLAMINATION:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThe hard SG2 core is sandwiched between 15 layers of softer stainless steel on each side of the blade. This \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003ca title=\"Lamination\" href=\"\/blogs\/knives-101\/blade-construction-lamination\"\u003esan-mai\u003c\/a\u003e construction protects the delicate core from impacts and everyday use while keeping the blade strong, durable, and resistant to breakage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGEOMETRY:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eA \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/knives-101\/blade-construction-geometry\"\u003econvex\u003c\/a\u003e (hamaguri) grind features an outward-curving, clam-shaped edge inspired by traditional katana blades. It improves sharpness, food release, and edge strength by keeping more steel behind the edge.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBLADE FINISH:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe blade features a \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/knives-101\/blade-construction-blade-finish\"\u003eblack-etched kurozome Damascus finish\u003c\/a\u003e, which is slightly raised—\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eallowing you to glide through different ingredients without drag or resistance. The spine and corners are carefully polished, with a flawlessly finished choil and polished edges for a refined, ergonomic feel. The rounded choil and spine prevent hand fatigue, even during extended use.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHANDLE:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThe knife features a Japanese (Wa) \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/knives-101\/understanding-japanese-knife-handle-shapes\"\u003eoctagon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e handle crafted from a single piece of olive wood—an unusual choice for Japanese knives. Its slightly lighter density shifts the balance point subtly toward the handle, so with a pinch grip it feels slightly handle-heavy, but overall remains neutral and well-balanced. The handle is expertly finished with a tight seal and flawless fit. The warm tone of the olive wood beautifully complements the dark, etched Damascus blade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2077\/0683\/files\/Ryuhyo_Kurozome_Damascus_Mono_Olivewood_---2.jpg?v=1771945438\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hatsukokoro","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53645963526490,"sku":"420116101957","price":216.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2077\/0683\/files\/Mercury_Bunka_Kurozome_Damascus_180_mm_Mono_Olivewood__420116101957_1.jpg?v=1774947254","url":"https:\/\/sharpedgeshop.com\/products\/hatsukokoro-mercury-bunka-kurozome-damascus-180mm-mono-olivewood","provider":"SharpEdge","version":"1.0","type":"link"}