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ZDP-189 Gyuto Damascus Snake Blond Buffalo 240mm (9.4") [limited]
✔︎ No import fees & duties - worldwide |
The blade and handle arrive separately from Japan. Once ordered, assembly takes an additional 2-3 days, and the shipment will be sent with a slight delay.
- Description
- Specifications
- Knife Care
- Shipping
Powder steel knives are next level and we have something limited and rare on deck. Introducing the ZDP-189 Gyuto Damascus Snake Blond Buffalo 240mm (9.4”) [limited]. Limited stock—only 9 available!
This limited edition gyuto is made from premium powder steel, ZDP-189, and features a traditional octagonal handle of snakewood with a blonde buffalo horn ferrule. Its perfect length makes it ideal for all kitchen tasks, from slicing steaks to chopping vegetables.
BLADE SHAPE:
Gyuto is the most versatile and useful blade shape in the modern kitchen. It has a wide profile for easy food transfer and tends to be fairly flat towards the heel, enabling easy and fast chopping on the cutting board. A pointed tip allows piercing and precise, delicate work. A slight curve between the tip and the midsection makes the belly great for rocking the blade back and forth when cutting. It can be used for cutting meat, fish, and vegetables.
STEEL:
This knife was forged out of ZDP-189 steel, which falls into the powder steel category. The ZDP-189 steel has gained a reputation as one of the most technologically advanced steels in Japanese knife making, due to its unique characteristics. The steel contains as much as 3% Carbon (C), which is one of the main elements contributing strength and typically found in amounts of up to only 1% in other types of solid steel, while the Chromium (Cr) content, which prevents corrosion, amounts to nearly 20%. It also features 0.60% Tungsten (W), which considerably increases the abrasion resistance of steel, 1.4% Molybdenum (Mo), which helps to preserve the strength and power of steel under variable temperatures, and 0.10% Vanadium (V), the key element in increasing steel strength. Heat treatment produces steel with a hardness of 65-67 HRC.
Because of its composition, though, it can be hard to treat and forge, so it can only be trusted to the most experienced blacksmiths.
ZDP-189 composition: C 3.00 % | Cr 20.00 % | W 0.60 % | Mo 1.40 % | V 0.10 % | Mn 0.50 % | Si 0.40 %
LAMINATION:
The knife’s core was laminated using the san-mai method to improve its structural integrity and subsequent ability to withstand impacts and 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. → Read more on Blade Construction: Lamination.
GEOMETRY:
It has a double bevel (symmetrical) blade (50/50) with a v-edge grind. The blade has a distal taper - at the tang, the blade is 2.3mm (0.09") thick and narrows towards the tip, where it is 1.8mm (0.07") thick. This gives it more strength and weight at the handle (meaning we can exert more pressure with the heel) and more precision at the tip, allowing for smooth and precise cuts.
BLADE FINISH:
The entire surface of the blade is polished to a clean, highly polished mirror finish that is adorned by a unique spotted (63 layers) damascus pattern. Among the sports, you can see your reflection! On one side of the blade, a very light, minimalistic laser-etched kanji signature can be seen, while on the opposite side, the type of steel (ZDP-189) is imprinted on the blade.
HANDLE:
This limited edition gyuto features a traditional octagonal Japanese handle made from snakewood, paired with a blonde buffalo horn ferrule. Designed for both left- and right-handed users, it offers a balanced and comfortable grip.
Snakewood is prized for its rich deep red color and unique undulating patterns resembling snakeskin. This beautiful wood not only stands out visually, but is also very hard and moisture-resistant. This ensures that the handle will look good for many years.
THE SMITHY:
Yoshida Hamono is a family-owned Japanese company with an age-long tradition in manufacturing state-of-the-art tools and Japanese swords (katanas) by hand. The company has a workshop in the Japanese town of Saga. It is well-known for manufacturing metal products in tested corrosion-resistant materials, such as VG-10, Ginsan and Swedish steel. You can learn more about them and our visit to their workshop here.
Blade shape: Gyuto
Steel type: ZDP-189
Blade construction: san-mai/ v-edge / migaki
Hardness (HRC scale): 65-67
Overall length: 395mm (15.6")
Blade length: 240mm (9.4")
Blade height: 47mm (1.9")
Spine thickness: 2.3mm (0.09") > 1.8 (0.07")
Weight: 195g (6.9 oz)
Handle length: 140mm (5.5")
Handle type / wood: Japanese / Snakewood, Blond Buffalo
Kanji on the blade:
Blacksmith: Yoshida Hamono
Location of the smithy: SAGA / Saga Prefektura / 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.
Powder steel knives - limited
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.