Hayabusa Petty HAP-40 120mm (4.7″)

The Hayabusa Petty HAP -40 120mm is a small Japanese kitchen knife that comes in handy when a larger chef’s knife is too unwieldy for the task. Its HAP -40 steel blade is thin and precise. The knife stands out for its sharpness, edge retention and ease of maintenance. HAP -40 steel is one of the most technologically advanced steels, known for its extreme hardness, excellent sharpness and edge retention that it gives to knives. With this knife, frequent sharpening is a thing of the past, as its exceptional edge retention ensures long-lasting performance. If you prefer a low-maintenance knife that doesn’t compromise on quality and performance, the Hayabusa Petty HAP -40 120mm is the perfect choice for you.

Fun fact: Hayabusa petty 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.

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.

STEEL:
This knife’s hard core is made of a somewhat exotic and currently one of the most mysterious and attractive steels produced in Japan (at least as far as kitchen knives are concerned): Hitachi’s HAP-40 steel that fits into the category of modern and technologically advanced steels. HAP-40 is fine-grained enough to sharpen very well, and knives from this steel keep their sharpness 3-5 times longer than traditional knives. An interesting fact is that, considering it is a powder steel, it has an extremely small content of chromium (around 4%) and can react as a high-carbon steel in specific circumstances.

LAMINATION:
The core layer consisting of the harder HAP-40 steel was sandwiched between two layers of softer 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.

BLADE FINISH:
The minimalistic-looking, highly polished (also called migaki finish – see article Blade Construction: Blade Finish for more) blade is extremely thin, which allows the user to work precisely even with the smallest pieces of ingredients. 

HANDLE:
The knife features an octagon Japanese (Wa) style handle made out of wenge wood, complemented by an epoxy ferrule. The octagon shape of the handle provides a comfortable and secure grip, allowing for precise control during use. Wenge wood is known for its durability and attractive grain pattern, making it a popular choice for knife handles. The epoxy ferrule adds strength and stability to the handle, ensuring long-lasting performance.