Migaki Chef's Knife - Kamagata Usuba, 195mm (7-2/3 in.) - Aogami 2

Product Description for Migaki Chef's Knife - Kamagata Usuba, 195mm (7-2/3 in.) - Aogami 2

Maker: Yoshikazu Ikeda (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 96606
Blade length: 8.10 in.
Cutting edge length: 7.60 in.
Total length: 13.40 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.90 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.16 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.14 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.06 in.
Item weight: 10.20 oz.
Shipment weight: 7.6 oz.
Blade: Hand forged Aogami 2 (blue) carbon steel with satin finish
Bolster: Buffalo horn
Handle: Octagonal ho wood
Description: Yoshikazu Ikeda is one of the finest smiths in Sakai, Japan. Ikeda has been making knives and swords for over 40 years, beginning in his early 20s. In 1988, he was recognized as a dentoukougeishi by the Japanese government and since 2001 he has been the chairman of the association of dentoukougeishi. Dentoukougeishi are highly skilled master artisans recognized by the Japanese government for their commitment to protecting traditional arts and techniques.
Kamagata Usuba are used for cutting meats and vegetables into thin slices typical of Japanese cuisine. Usuba are quite thin and should not be used on hard rind vegetables. The Kamagata style combines a sharp tip that can be used for detail work with a long, keen edge for slicing.
Yoshikazu-san is very close to retirement. I was very pleased to recently get several presentation grade pieces that he made for an exposition in Tokyo. This is one such knife.
This knife was completely hand forged by Yoshikazu - a true master. The hard Aogami 2 cutting edge is laminated with mild steel, resulting in a keen, long lasting, and durable edge. Blue steel provides an extremely sharp edge with a longer lasting edge than shirogami. A distal taper ensures a perfect balance.
The octagonal handle is formed from ho wood, the traditional wood for Japanese knife handles. Ho wood holds up extremely well in the harsh environment of the kitchen. A buffalo horn ferrule completes the handle. Like other kitchen knives, this knife should not be put in a dishwasher. We recommend using camellia oil to avoid rust.


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