Hayabusa Petty Aogami #2 Rainbow Damascus 150mm (5.9″)

Some knives impress with looks, some with functionality. The Hayabusa Petty Aogami #2 Rainbow Damascus 150mm (5.9″) from the Rainbow Damascus line impresses with both.

This stunning collector’s item is made from one of the finest high-carbon steels, Aogami #2 steel and has excellent edge retention, while also being easy to sharpen.

But what takes the cake are its visual qualities — the unique rainbow damascus pattern, which was masterfully achieved by carefully layering copper and brass, has a slight matte sheen that transitions into the Aogami #2 core steel with a highly polished mirror finish at the cutting edge.

Hayabusa Petty Aogami #2 Rainbow Damascus 150mm (5.9″) is a small versatile Japanese kitchen knife ideal for all in-hand work as well as use on the cutting board. Its blade, made of Aogami #2 steel, tapers towards the tip, offering additional precision when cutting.

With this knife, frequent sharpening becomes a thing of the past, as its superb edge retention ensures long-lasting performance. A true star of any knife collection, this blade is anything but basic.

Fun fact: Hayabusa shares its name with the peregrine falcon (ハヤブサ), the fastest member of the animal kingdom. This knife may not reach speeds upwards of 350 km/h, but chopping with it will feel just as fast.

To get the full Rainbow Damascus set of knives we offer, also see: 
– Hayabusa Gyuto Aogami #2 Rainbow Damascus 210mm (8.3″) and
– Hayabusa Santoku Aogami #2 Rainbow Damascus 180mm (7.1″)

BLADE SHAPE:
Petty knives are designed for smaller tasks on and off the cutting board. It’s an indispensable knife in any kitchen and can be used for peeling, mincing, paring, and decorating food. Petty or utility knives are basically a smaller version of gyutos or chef’s knives. Due to the length of the blade, it can also be used as a stand-alone knife if you are uncomfortable with longer blades. A must-have knife in every kitchen!
Use for: peeling, trimming, garnishing, carving, chopping herbs, chopping garlic, slicing small pieces of dried meat, trimming meat, filleting small portions of fish, and similar tasks.

STEEL:
Aogami #2 is a very popular steel in Japanese knifemaking 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 that with use, the blade will develop a protective 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 core layer consisting of the harder Aogami #2 steel was sandwiched between two layers of softer stainless steel. This technique is called san-mai and is used to protect the hard (but delicate) core from outside factors and physical impacts, which could lead to breakage.

GEOMETRY:
It has a double bevel (symmetrical) blade. The cutting edge is sharpened to a 50/50 angle and stays sharp even after hours of constant use. Tapering from the handle to the tip, the blade is extremely thin, which allows the user to work precisely even with the smallest ingredients.

BLADE FINISH:
The extravagant rainbow damascus pattern was achieved with masterful layering of copper and brass to achieve a unique play of colors and lines. For an added stark effect, it cuts into a highly polished finish (also called migaki finish – see article Blade Construction: Blade Finish for more) that has a mirror-like effect. 

HANDLE:
The blade is fitted with an octagonal Japanese (Wa) style handle made out of a single piece of luxurious dark ebony wood, renowned for its exceptional hardness and density, which makes it one of the most durable and resistant woods. It is polished to a high gloss, creating a luxurious and elegant appearance and smooth feel that fits into the hand seamlessly. The octagon shape of the handle provides a comfortable and secure grip, allowing for precise control during use.

SMITHY:
Hatsukokoro is a Japanese brand, established in 2019, that aims to be a bridge between Japan and the world. It seeks out the best products Japan has up its sleeve and develops sales channels to distribute them around the world. The meaning of Hatsukokoro comes from the Japanese proverb “do not forget your original purpose”.