Kiri Cleaver with a 195 mm long blade

• Blade height: 84 mm
• Thickness at blade root: 3.5 mm
• Thickness at mid spine: 2 mm
• Weight: 223 grams
• Steel: Aogami#2 with stainless cladding (warikomi)
  
  

 These knives have a raw and powerful appearance. The spine of the blade is tapered, and the edge is extremely thin, making it perfect for those seeking a knife with substantial feel and delicate precision. The core of Aogami#2 carbon steel is hand-laminated with stainless steel (warikomi), meaning only the edge is exposed carbon steel while the sides are stainless.

Tanaka Kama Kogyo is the owner of Matsubara’s knife forge in Nagasaki. He is the 4th generation blacksmith in his family and forges the blades by hand with great precision. For example, he hand-laminates the steel (warikomi) following traditional methods. This time-consuming process involves cutting a slot in the softer metal and inserting the core steel by hand. Aogami is a very hard carbon steel that takes an incredibly thin and sharp edge. The quality of the edge heavily relies on the hardening and heat treatment. We have personally used Matsubara’s knives and can attest to the superior quality of the steel. The sharpness retention and cutting efficiency of Matsubara’s knives are exceptional.

Note: Carbon steel is not stainless! Always dry the knife thoroughly after use to prevent rust. Over time, the carbon steel will develop a patina in various tones. This is normal and can be polished off with polishing paste if desired.