Muneishi Ao Santoku 170mm (Blade Only)
SPECIFICATIONS
Knife Style: Santoku
Steel Type: Carbon Steel
Blade Material: Aogami Blue #2
Blade Finish: Kurouchi
Blade Hardness: 62HRC (+/-1)
Bevel: Double
Handle: None ➛ Choose yours
Blade Size: 170mm
Heel Height: 48mm
Spine Thickness: 3.20mm
Weight: 108g
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.