Santoku

Santoku with a 17 cm blade (all-purpose knife).

Masutani makes excellent, very affordable knives in the Japanese city of Echizen. What impresses most about this knife is how thin and refined the edge is, something normally seen only on more expensive knives. The steel is VG-1, a relatively hard steel that is hardened to 59–60 HRC. It is stainless and performs very well, although it is less wear-resistant than its bigger brother, VG-10. The core steel is surrounded by one layer of softer steel on each side. This makes the blade slightly more flexible than monosteel, while the transition between the core steel and the cladding creates a spectacular effect. The handles are made of pakkawood and are slim and comfortable, placing the balance point exactly where you want it: a couple of centimetres into the blade. Highly recommended!