Nigara Kiritsuke-Nakiri VG-XEOS 180mm (7.1") - BLADE

Looking for a knife that will impress you both in functionality and looks? Look no further.

The look and feel of these knives will leave no one indifferent. Finished with a stunning damascus pattern and a hammered tsuchime texture, this Kiritsuke-Nakiri is a striking example of Japanese craftsmanship and a testament to modern steel innovation.

Available without a handle, this knife lets you craft a custom look—or choose a handle separately—to create a one-of-a-kind tool tailored to your style and needs.

BLADE SHAPE:
When you hold this knife, you'll feel like you're rocking a mini cleaver packed with a whole lot of oomph. That's what makes this blade so darn charming. The slightly thicker blade geometry perfectly matches the handle, creating a sweet balance that just feels right.

This Nakiri knife is characterized by a special tip called the reverse tanto or kiritsuke tip ("K-tip" for short). The profile of the spine slopes down sharply towards the end of the blade, making the knife thin and narrow at the tip. The thin tip is excellent for trimming and chopping paper-thin pieces of garlic, shallots, radishes, etc.

STEEL:
VG-XEOS is a high-quality stainless steel produced by Takefu Special Steel, known for steels such as VG-10 and VG-5. It is an alloy that combines strong corrosion resistance with high hardness and wear durability. The blade hardness is approximately 62 HRC. The fine microstructure is achieved through a special melting method that improves wear resistance, strength, and quenching properties.

VG-XEOS is designed for high-performance cutting tools, delivering excellent sharpness, good edge retention, and corrosion resistance.

LAMINATION:
The core layer consisting is sandwiched between layers of softer, stainless steel in a technique called san-mai - it is used to improve the blade's structural integrity and subsequent ability to withstand impacts and to prevent chipping. San-mai translates to “three layers” in Japanese, referring to a blade that is composed of a primary, inner layer of harder steel (hagane) and two secondary, outer layers of softer steel (jigane) that protect the prior.

GEOMETRY:
It has a double bevel (symmetrical) blade, so it is suitable for both left- and right-handed users. Based on the ratio between the surfaces (the location of the angle change), this knife's profile is classified as a flat V-edge type, which makes it less brittle and easier to resharpen.

BLADE FINISH:
The blade finish of the knife is a unique fusion of tsuchime hammer indentations, and a complex wavy damascus pattern. The surface of the blade was treated with a special textured hammer. It is a stunning technique that involves skillfully hammering the blade's surface to create captivating indentations, which—aside from the purely aesthetic—also has a distinct practical function of reducing friction and creating air pockets that diminish the sticking of food to the blade during cutting. The tsuchime indentations seamlessly blend into the damascus pattern, which flawlessly transitions into a glossy cutting edge.

BLACKSMITH:
Nigara Hamono is a historic smithy with a 350-year tradition. It has been active in the city of Hirosaki since the early Edo Period, when it started making swords for the Tsugaru clan. With over a hundred forging shops in the region during that era, Nigara Forging stands as a testament to Tsugaru Uchihamono's rich history and artistry.