Dao Vua V4 Classic Santoku 165mm
SPECIFICATIONS
Knife Style: Santoku
Steel Type: Carbon Steel
Blade Material: 52100 (Mono Steel)
Blade Finish: Kurouchi
Blade Hardness: 60HRC (+/-1)
Bevel: Double
Handle: Ebony / Padauk
Blade Length: 165mm
Heel Height: 48mm
Spine Thickness: 2.00mm (tapered)
Weight: 130g
The new Dao Vua V4 Series is what happens when a handmade favourite keeps leveling up — especially when we keep poking the makers for improvements year after year. It still looks like the classic Dao Vua everyone recognizes, but under the hood, it’s a very different knife.
After a ton of real-world feedback (and a few “please change this” conversations), we asked Dao Vua to move away from their old leaf-spring 5160 steel and switch this batch to 52100 carbon steel. It’s more stable, holds an edge longer, sharpens beautifully, and reacts more consistently. Same rustic charm… just way more reliability.
One of the biggest changes in the V4 is the taper. Gone is the old “feather-thin but no taper” vibe. The new blades actually transition properly — thicker at the spine and gradually thinning out toward a precise, finer tip. The result? A knife that feels more nimble, cuts cleaner, and performs at a level earlier Dao Vua generations simply didn’t reach.
Still handmade — still perfectly imperfect. Even with the upgrades, Dao Vua hasn’t lost who they are. Every V4 is still forged by hand, one at a time. Expect light hammer marks, small inconsistencies, minimal machine finishing, and handle wood variations. Because of that, we don’t usually recommend them as gifts unless the person already understands what a handmade knife should look like.
These quirks aren’t flaws — they’re the signature of a maker working with real tools, real heat, and real hands. Some people want that character; others love that these knives make fantastic carbon-steel “platforms” for thinning, polishing, tuning, or sharpening.
If you want to try carbon steel without jumping straight into high-end Japanese pricing, the V4 series is one of the best entry points out there. The blade is reactive and will patina quickly — but that’s part of the charm and part of learning how a real carbon-steel knife behaves.
The Santoku is the classic all-purpose Japanese kitchen knife — perfect for everyday cutting, slicing, and chopping. Its shorter, well-balanced blade and gentle curve make it easy to control for veggies, meat, and general prep. Simple, versatile, and comfortable to use… it’s the go-to “do-everything” knife in most kitchens.
*Handmade, it's wrapped for transport with no gift box included. Optional blade guards are available: Click Here!
◻️ Additional Information
Please note that colours, shading, and overall appearance may vary slightly between photos and the product you receive. Lighting, camera exposure, and reflections on materials like steel, epoxy, and wood can all create subtle differences.
Many of our items are handmade, which means each piece has its own character. Minor variations in pattern, texture, or finish are normal and part of the craft.
If you’d like to see additional photos or close-ups of any item, feel free to request them before or after placing your order—especially for one-of-a-kind pieces. We’re always happy to help you choose the perfect knife or handle.
◻️ Sharp Certified
Before our knives are shipped, each one undergoes a rigorous sharpness test to ensure they meet the highest standards of quality. Our BESS Certified sharpness scale will guarantee that your knives deliver the smoothest cuts.
This commitment to sharpness not only guarantees that you receive a product that's ready to perform at its best but also reflects our dedication to delivering excellence in every aspect of our field.
◻️ Shipping & Returns
Every product listed on our website is physically in stock at our shop and typically ships within 24 hours — giving us enough time for sharpening and proper packaging.
The only exceptions are custom knife assemblies or engraving, which may require 3-5 days before shipping. Everything is done in-house, so even with the extra steps, it’s still exceptionally fast.
Canadian orders can say goodbye to unexpected duties, additional customs fees and exchange rate fluctuations; all our prices are clear and upfront.
For international orders, we take care of providing the declarations documents on items from foreign countries.
We know choosing a knife online isn’t always easy. To make things stress-free, we offer a flexible 30-day Return Policy on regular-priced items. Take a look at our full policy for all the details!
◻️ Contact Us
We are at your service through email, social media, or even by phone, where you can have a direct conversation with one of our team members during our business hours.
Whether you require assistance with your existing product, have inquiries about a potential purchase, need more specific details, additional photos, or even a video to get a better sense of the product in a real human hand, we've got you covered.
Don't hesitate to get in touch.
