Samura Blacksmith Nakiri Knife 168 mm

The Samura Blacksmith nakiri knife is a Japanese-style vegetable knife with a 168 mm hammered blade. Its straight blade with a squared tip lets you cut straight down through vegetables, without pushing or pulling, for even slices. If vegetables and fruit make up most of your prep, this is a dedicated knife for the job.Blade and steelThe blade is a single layer of AUS-8 stainless steel at 58–59 HRC. That hardness suits everyday vegetable prep: the edge copes well with regular use and is not difficult to restore on a whetstone. AUS-8 is a corrosion-resistant stainless steel, and washing and drying the knife after use helps keep it that way.Like every Blacksmith knife, this nakiri is made in line with traditional forging technology and goes through extensive manual processing. Its hammered finish gives the 54 mm high blade a hammering pattern of its own. The edge is sharpened by hand on a whetstone to a convex profile, so the sides of the blade curve gently into the cutting edge rather than meeting in a flat V-shaped bevel.Handle and balanceThe black Micarta handle is durable and has a classic oval shape, so you keep a confident grip and comfortable hold when there is a lot to chop. A stainless steel bolster sits between blade and handle. Expect more weight in the hand than with other SAMURA knives, as is typical of the Blacksmith series: this nakiri weighs 247 g and is 312 mm long overall.Best uses Cutting vegetables into even slices Chopping and dicing vegetables, such as onions Cutting vegetables into strips and cubes Slicing and cutting fruit Care and sharpeningRinse the knife with hot water and wipe it dry before first use. After that, wash it by hand with non-abrasive materials and wipe it dry; a dishwasher is not recommended, and do not leave the knife in the sink for long. Cut on wooden or plastic boards, never on glass, leave bones to a SAMURA cleaver and frozen food to a double-sided saw knife with a serrated blade, and store the knife in a brush block or knife holder where the blade does not touch metal items. Use a honing rod between sharpenings and resharpen on a whetstone at the original factory bevel angle of 15–17°.About the Blacksmith seriesThe Blacksmith series pays homage to traditional forging, and each hand-made blade has its own hammering pattern. Every knife is wrapped in a decorative Japanese-style chef-roll and packed in a gift box, and like all SAMURA knives it comes with a 2-year warranty.