Best Price Hatsukokoro Shirahama White #2 Petty 120mm

First Impressions

A nicely consistent flat grind and fairly straight distal taper across the different sized knives with athin edge out of the box and a light feel in hand despite the initial appearance of a thicker knife the Shirahama is a well balanced and nimble collection.

Beauty

The soft iron cladding features a subtle diagonal brushed finish running down to a migaki finish at the shinogi line and an eye catching wave line of the exposed white #2 core steel which over time will look great as it develops its patina.

This line is available fitted with either an octagonal teak and black buffalo or walnut and resin striped wa handle.

Durability

The white #2 core at around 60-61HRC offers a good level of edge retention and is a little more forgiving than some of the significantly harder treated steels so won’t take long to get an edge on it when sharpening either.

Ease of Care

This is a fully reactive knife so both the core steel and soft iron cladding will react with food and moisture as you work so you will need to follow ournormal care instructionsas well as learn a little more aboutcarbon steel caretoo.

Our Verdict

A well made and finished range, the Shirahama is a great choice for someone who is looking for a carbon steel that’s easy to work with and maintain without too much worry. It’s well enough finished out of the box and boasts a good edge although there’s plenty of scope to really get that edge screaming sharp on a polishing stone with minimal effort if you wish.