Masuda Yoshihide AO1 Damascus Kurouchi Gyuto 210mm (Blade Only)
The Workshop (Knife Builder)
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SPECIFICATIONS
Knife Style: Gyuto
Steel Type: Carbon Steel
Blade Material: Aogami Blue #1
Blade Finish: Kurouchi Damascus
Blade Hardness: 63HRC (+/-1)
Bevel: Double
Handle: None ➛ Choose yours
Blade Length: 210mm
Heel Height: 55mm
Spine Thickness: 3.70mm (Tapered)
Weight: 163g
This one is not your everyday knife — it’s a true collector’s piece tied to a small, traditional workshop with real history behind it.
Masuda Yoshihide comes from the Masuda Hamono / Kiridashi Factory in Sanjo, Niigata, one of Japan’s main blacksmithing regions. The workshop dates back to the early Showa period (1930s), originally producing kiridashi tools for woodworking. Today, Yoshihide represents the third generation, continuing a fully in-house process where everything — forging, heat treatment, and finishing — is done under one roof.
This piece reflects that level of control and attention. The core is Aogami #1 carbon steel, known for taking an extremely fine edge and delivering a very direct, precise cutting feel. It’s clad in Damascus with a kurouchi finish, giving it a darker, more understated look — not flashy, but full of depth and variation. Each blade is unique.
What really sets this one apart is the build. A tall 60mm heel gives it serious presence on the board and extra knuckle clearance, while the spine starts thick around 3.7mm at the handle and tapers down to roughly 2.0mm toward the tip. That distal taper gives you both power and precision in the same blade. The spine and choil are nicely polished with softened edges — small details, but exactly what you expect at this level.
At 210mm, this is a full-sized Gyuto with the height, weight, and presence serious cooks tend to appreciate. Offered as a blade-only piece, it was made with custom builds in mind — the kind of knife that deserves a handle chosen specifically for the person using it.
This is not an entry-level knife. Forged by hand in a small Sanjo workshop, it represents the level of craftsmanship that has made the region legendary among knife enthusiasts worldwide. From the refined grind and precise geometry to the attention given to every detail throughout the forging and finishing process, the quality is immediately apparent the moment it is picked up.
Kakushin can handle the blade-to-handle assembly for you at our shop. If you're new to the custom knife world and want to confirm the fit and sizing of a handle with a specific blade, feel free to reach out!
