Best Price Kyohei Shindo Aogami Kurouchi Santoku

First Impressions

This is an impressive knife.Out of the box, it’s got a good thin edge that’s ready to go but there’s definitely scope to refine and polish it a little more with minimal effort on your whetstone.

At this price point, it’s quite the knife and an easy entry point into learning about just how sharp and fun Japanese knives are.

Beauty

There are lots of different looks, styles and finishes for Japanese knives and the kurouchi (blacksmith) finish you see here is one of the most common, it’s a traditional looking knife you’d see in many Japanese homes.

In Hand

Light and well balanced, and exceptional value for money ifyou’re happy to accept that there might not be quite consistency of grind and overall shape to match more expensive knives then this is both fun and great value for money without doubt!

As you might expect at this price point, the handle is very much secondary to the blade and there is a small ridge/gap where the black plastic ferrule meets the handle. This is quite typical for cheaper handles which are often used because this is where blacksmiths can save money which is better invested in the steel.

If you were minded, it’s easy to replace handles on Japanese knives and we offer a range of alternative handleoptions should you wish.

Durability

Blue #2 and soft iron cladding is widely used because it’s robust and retains an edge well and at this price point it’s a great pairing that’s going to serve you well.

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 our normal care instructions as well as learn a little more about carbon steel care too.

Our Verdict

If you’re looking to jump into the world of Japanese knives and carbon steel, this range offers an excellent introduction combining traditional construction and an impressive finish and edge right out of the box at a price tag that’s extremely competitive.

Obviously there must be compromise to reach such a great price point and the handle is an obivous one but this is also a knife that unsurprisingly doesn’t have the exacting consistency of grind you’d find on more expensive knives or knives from more senior blacksmiths.

The edge however is very thin and well done and it’s undoubtedly a great value and sharp knife that’s fun to use!