Shinka AO2 Kurouchi Hakata 180mm (Blade Only)
The Workshop (Knife Builder)
Need a visual? Try our newly launched Custom Kitchen Knife Builder — see your blade and handle combination come to life in real time.
SPECIFICATIONS
Knife Style: Hakata
Steel Type: Carbon Steel
Blade Material: Aogami Blue #2
Blade Finish: Kurouchi
Blade Hardness: 61HRC (+/-1)
Bevel: Double
Handle: None ➛ Choose yours
Blade Length: 180mm
Heel Height: ~47mm
Spine Thickness: ~3.40mm tapered to ~2.00mm
Weight: 91g
The Shinka series — shaped by tradition, refined through generations, and brought forward with purpose. Forged in Japan from Aogami Blue #2 carbon steel, it delivers the kind of edge that feels immediate and alive on the board. At 61 HRC (+/-1), it strikes an ideal balance between edge retention and ease of sharpening, giving you a knife that performs while keeping that forged, rustic character front and center. The dark kurouchi finish keeps things raw and honest, a visible reminder of the forging process on every blade. It’s the kind of knife made for those who want that true, brut handmade Japanese look and feel — without stepping into overly inflated price points.
Each knife is completely hand-forged for our shop in Tosa by a fourth-generation workshop with roots going back to 1920. What started with agricultural tools has evolved into a focused pursuit of kitchen knives, where geometry, taper, and balance are dialed in with intent. The result is a blade that moves cleanly through food, with a grind that supports both precision and everyday versatility. It’s not about overengineering — it’s about getting the fundamentals right.
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!
