Muneishi Ao Gyuto 210mm
SPECIFICATIONS
Knife Style: Gyuto
Steel Type: Carbon Steel
Blade Material: Aogami Blue #2
Blade Finish: Kurouchi
Blade Hardness: 62HRC (+/-1)
Bevel: Double
Handle: Walnut
Blade Size: 210mm
Heel Height: 48mm
Spine Thickness: 3.40mm
Weight: 177g
Muneishi Hamono, established in 1955, continues this legacy. Hirotaka Muneishi, a second-generation blacksmith, specializes in crafting tools for woodcutting, such as the ax knife. His son, Kosuke Muneishi, a third-generation craftsman, focuses on forging kitchen knives. Together, they skillfully carry out each step by hand, from tempering and forging to hammering and sharpening.
Tosa, a city in Kochi Prefecture, Japan, is renowned for its knife-making heritage. The region's mild climate and abundant rainfall fostered the growth of high-quality wood, fueling the production of knives for forestry workers as well as for the military commanders, or busho, of the Sengoku period. Records from 1590 indicate that Tosa was home to as many as 399 blacksmiths.
While some aspects of knife production have become mechanized over time, traditional handcrafting techniques are still widely used.