Dieter Schmid - Fine Tools
	Georg-Wilhelm-Str. 7 A - 10711 Berlin - Germany Tel ++49 (0)30 342 1757 - Fax ++49 (0)30 342 1764 Website: www.fine-tools.com

Dieter Schmid - Fine Tools Georg-Wilhelm-Str. 7 A - 10711 Berlin Tel ++49 30 342 1757 - Fax ++49 30 342 1764 Website: www.fine-tools.com

Overview Knives How to sharpen Japanese Kitchen Knives

Japanese Handmade Kitchen Knives made by Hideo Kitaoka

Handmade Kitchen Knives "Kitaoka Series" made by Hideo Kitaoka Knifesmith Hideo Kitaoka in Takefu, Fukui Province specializes in the production of high-quality kitchen knives. With all his knives, the cutting edges are forged from "white paper steel", a high-carbon steel that is very hard but not so brittle as one would expect. The outer layers of the blades are formed of many-layered Damascus steel, which is called "Suminagashi" in Japanese. The blades’ hardness is more than 60 HRC. These knives are not stainless steel! The elegant handle is made of sandalwood, and the ferrule is Asian buffalo horn. Take a look into the knife smithy of Hideo Kitaoka and watch him at work (with video). Click pictures for enlargements!

	Matsuba Hocho A nice and small kitchen knife for universal use. Blade is sharpened only on right side and therefore only for righthanders. The cutting edge, in white paper steel, is laminated on one side to 12 layers of Damascus steel. The handle is of sandalwood, the ferrule of buffalo horn. Blade length 120 mm Blade width 3 mm Tang width 3.5 mm Order nr. 312716 Price € 139.00

Deba Hocho Chopping knife and cleaver. The blade is sharpened on one side. The cutting edge, in white paper steel is laminated on one side to 12 layers of Damascus steel. The handle is of sandalwood, the ferrule of buffalo horn. Picture: Righthander knife For Righthanders Blade length 120 mm Blade width 5 mm Tang width 6 mm Order nr. 312708 Price € 149.00 For Righthanders Blade length 150 mm Blade width 6 mm Tang width 7 mm Order nr. 312702 Price € 189.00 For Righthanders Blade length 180 mm Blade width 6 mm Tang width 8 mm Order nr. 312709 Price € 239.00 For Lefthanders Blade length 150 mm Blade width 6 mm Tang width 7 mm Order nr. 312710 Price € 229.00

Sashimi Hocho Fish knife. Blade is sharpened on one side. The cutting edge, in white paper steel, is laminated on one side to 12 layers of Damascus steel. The handle is of sandalwood, the ferrule of buffalo horn. Picture: Righthander knife For Righthanders Blade length 240 mm Blade width 3.7 mm Tang width 4 mm Order nr. 312704 Price € 239.00 For Righthanders Blade length 300 mm Blade width 3.7 mm Tang width 4 mm Order nr. 312706 Price € 369.00 For Lefthanders Blade length 240 mm Blade width 3.7 mm Tang width 4 mm Order nr. 312707 Price € 249.00

	Mioroshi Hocho It is a pleasure to cut with this big, thick, and sharp knife! Blade is sharpened only on right side and therefore only for righthanders. The cutting edge, in white paper steel, is laminated on one side to 12 layers of Damascus steel. The handle is of sandalwood, the ferrule of buffalo horn. Blade length 210 mm Blade width 6 mm Tang width 8 mm Order nr. 312715 Price € 269.00

Handmade Kitchen Knives "Kitaoka Series" made by Katsushige Anryu In Takefu too, next door to Hideo Kitaoka master blacksmith Katsushige Anryu has his forge. Beyond his own knife program he makes the Santoku and the Nakiri of the "Kitaoka Series". The outer layers of the blades are formed of 5 layered Damascus steel each side, the cutting edges are forged from "white paper steel". The blades’ hardness is more than 60 HRC. These knives are not stainless steel! The elegant handle is made of sandalwood, and the ferrule is Asian buffalo horn. Click pictures for enlargements!

	Santoku Hocho All-purpose kitchen knife. Both sides of blade are sharpened. The cutting edge, in white paper steel, is middle of three-layer laminate. The outer laminates are in 6-layer Damascus steel, the handle in sandalwood, and the ferrule in buffalo horn. Blade length 165 mm Blade width 1.7 mm Tang width 4.7 mm Order nr. 312700 Price € 129.00

	Nakiri Hocho Vegetable knife. Both sides of blade are sharpened. The cutting edge, in white paper steel, is middle of three-layer laminate. The outer laminates are in 6-layer Damascus steel, the handle in sandalwood, and the ferrule in buffalo horn. Blade length 165 mm Blade width 1.7 mm Tang width 4.7 mm Order nr. 312701 Price € 129.00