Masashi Yamamoto is a highly respected blacksmith from the city of Sanjo in Japan. His knives are forged entirely by hand and are of very high quality.
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Masashi Aogami #1
Masashi Yamamoto
Masashi-san is one of the most popular blacksmiths from Sanjo. His blades are forged in the classic Sanjo style, with substantial spines that taper down to become very thin towards the tip.
Great emphasis is placed on the finish of the knives, and during his most recent visit to Cleancut he explained that the secret lies in the heat treatment. The core has to become very hard, while the cladding must remain soft.
Hand forged blades
The knives are completely hand-forged. The picture shows Masashi-san beginning to forge out a billet of laminated steel. Every knife starts this way.
Shaping the knives
After forging, the blades are shaped by being cut to the right size. They are then heat-treated and finally sharpened.
The grinding process
After heat treatment, the blades are ground on large wheels. Each wheel has a different grit, and Masashi polishes his blades to a high level.
The result
A beautiful and authentic piece of craftmansship shaped by generations of knowledge