All-purpose knife with 140 mm blade

Blade length: 140 mm
Blade height: 32 mm
Weight: 100 grams
Spine thickness at base: 3.5 mm
Spine thickness at middle: 1.5 mm
Steel: Shirogami#2 with a stainless steel cladding

Wakui is a highly skilled blacksmith known for crafting beautiful carbon steel knives. The core steel used is Shirogami#2, which is clad in stainless steel with a ‘hairline finish.’ The handle is octagonal, made from ebony with a blond buffalo horn bolster. Wakui hails from the city of Sanjo in western Japan, a place renowned for its blacksmiths, including Yoshikane and Shigefusa. You can see clear similarities between Wakui’s and Shigefusa’s blades, particularly in the meticulous forging. Wakui expertly tapers the blades, and the spine is rounded for comfort in the hand. Most importantly, the edge is extremely thin and sharp.

Note: Shirogami#2 is a carbon steel that is not stainless. Although the blade is laminated with stainless steel, the edge remains exposed. Be sure to dry the blade after each use. Also, take care when using the knife, as the thin and very hard edge can be damaged if it comes into contact with harder particles.