ZDP-189 Santoku Silver 180mm (7.1″)

ZDP-189 Santoku Silver is manufactured at the smithy of Yoshida Hamono in Japan, a family company with an age-long tradition in manufacturing state-of-the-art tools and Japanese swords, i.e. katanas, by hand. Yoshida Hamono has a great deal of experience forging ZDP-189 steel in the traditional manner. See the photo story from our visit to their smithy.

BLADE SHAPE:
The Santoku knife, originating from Japan, is a versatile and multipurpose kitchen tool commonly found in Japanese households. It excels at various cutting and chopping tasks on the cutting board. With its rich heritage and versatile design, the Santoku knife is an indispensable tool for any kitchen, catering to a wide range of cutting needs with its three virtues.

The name “Santoku” derives from the Japanese word “San,” meaning “three,” representing the knife’s three virtues. It effortlessly handles three key ingredients: meat, fish, and vegetables. It is equally adept at slicing, chopping, and mincing, making it a versatile companion in the kitchen.

The Santoku knife is divided into three distinct parts. The tip is designed for intricate work, allowing for precise cuts. The cutting edge serves general cutting purposes, accommodating a range of tasks. Lastly, the heel of the knife is perfect for heavy-duty chopping.

STEEL:
The heart of the knife is made of ZDP-189 steel, which we selected because systematic testing has proven its superior qualities and long-lasting sharpness.

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.

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 steel is laminated, meaning that the core is made of very strong steel covered with an external layer of softer stainless steel – also known as warikomi clad. The softer external layer protects the core steel from external factors.

The hard core of a knife is sandwiched between two layers of softer steel, reaching only up to a half of the blade’s width. This specific type of construction is used for steels that are very challenging to forge, for example for certain types of powder steels. A glowing hot piece of iron is split and a piece of steel is inserted. The material is now forged into one piece. This creates a highly durable kitchen knife with a slightly more pliable core. The main advantage of these knives is that they are thin, sharp and retain their edge very well. Warikomi is also called the “split and insert method”. 

GEOMETRY:
Santoku Black has a double bevel (symmetrical) blade with a low profile and a V-edge grind, which gives it a good balance between the ease of cutting and robustness. This kind of grind produces very sharp edges and is wonderful at making very thin slices. 

BLADE FINISH:
The blade is finished with a mirror polish hairline finish, which is suitable for finest cuts. The single hairline, running along the length of the blade (just above the edge of the blade), marks the separation between the softer and the harder, core ZDP-189 steel. 

A small batch of ZDP-189 santoku silver blades from the Yoshida Hamono smithy has been finished with delicate hammer marks, creating a subtle tsuchime finish. With its subtle hammer marks, this knife embodies the Japanese wabi-sabi concept. It celebrates beauty in imperfections, asymmetry, and irregularities, highlighting the uniqueness and authenticity of objects that may not conform to traditional notions of perfection.

HANDLE:
This Santoku was fitted a traditional Japanese wooden handle, called Wa. The wooden handle is made of Walnut wood with an octagonal shape, so it will fit equally well into the hands of right- or left-handed users.

BLACKSMITH:
The knife is manufactured at the smithy of Yoshida Hamono in Japan, a family company with an age-long tradition in manufacturing state-of-the-art tools and Japanese swords (katanas) by hand. Yoshida Hamono has a great deal of experience forging ZDP-189 steel in the traditional manner. See the photo story from our visit to their smithy.

The knife is laminated, forged, and heat treated by the blacksmith in his small smithy in the south of Japan. The migaki finish has a touch of rusticity and robustness that comes with the purely handmade blade. Handles are in different shades of brown, from dark brown to light brown. Therefore, each piece is completely unique.