Ryusen Damascus Santoku Knife 17.5 cm Poplar Handle Oukokuryu MT OK-203

Among to the premium Ryusen knife ranges, the "Oukokuryu MT" series was created to represent the highest grade and be in the absolute top of handmade Japanese kitchen knives. The Oukokuryu, or black dragon, series aspires to brilliant beauty and refinement, embodying the spirit of Japanese tradition.

The blade is made of extremely high quality stainless steel "Super Gold 2" for unsurpassed sharpness and durability. In addition, the Damascus nickel base metal, which has been layered 99 times, is hand-forged by skilled Japanese craftsmen and transformed into a beautiful dragon cloud pattern that resembles the clouds in a sumi-e painting, creating a blade of even greater grandeur and beauty. Thanks to the hand-forged treatment, each knife has a unique depth pattern.

The variation expressed in the boundary between the blade and the handle was designed with the image of a "flame" that connects the two emotions of "the manufacturer's passion for manufacturing" and "the user's passion for cooking".

The handle is made of solid poplar wood, which has an imposing mysterious pattern that makes the charm of the natural wood shine in the deep dark colour. Solid wood is a stable material that is resistant to water and temperature changes by penetrating resin into the wood and hardening it.

The range features the well known unique hybrid grip: surfaces on the bolster side, leading to a round "o" grip on the back. In addition to comfort, this also gives a unique hand feel that inspires confidence from the first cut. The blade is slim, with a strong design thanks to the kiritsuke point. The knife steers easily and does exactly what it is asked to do. The combination of the handle, weight, balance and the extremely thin and sharp cutting surface provide excellent comfort when cutting.

This is the newest version ("MT") of Ryusen's Oukokuryu series, which now features a hand-engraved kanji logo, two black handle spacers and further enhancement of the damascus steel finish.

Key Features:

• 99 layer damascus stainless steel blade with Super Gold 2 (SPG2) steel core • Hardness 62HRC • Extremely high sharpness and hardness • Highly durable, long edge life • Handmade and hand-ground for excellent performance from the first use • Traditional stabilized poplar wood handle • Double-angled cutting edge • Authentic Japanese workmanship

The Santoku knife is a utility knife that in Japanese means "three virtues", since it can be used for meat, fish, and vegetables. Its tip is sharper than the chef's knife, and its blade length is ideal for chopping even on the home kitchen counter, where space is usually narrower. Its light weight makes it comfortable and relaxing even after long hours of use.

Thin and extremely sharp blade The blade of the knife is made of stainless steel "Super Gold 2" Extremely sharp knife with high durability and resistance. It consists of 99 layers of plum steel which adds to the blade a unique and stunning beauty.

Octagonal handle with unique grip The first part of the knife you come into contact with is the handle. The handle of the Oukoku Ryu MT series is made of stabilized poplar wood. The wood of the handle is resistant to water and temperature changes, thanks to the resin that has been used. The combination of the damascus steel blade together with the poplar wood make the knife stand out and show off its quality.

Made In Japan The Japanese tradition in knife making goes back many years, drawing on the techniques perfected making samurai knives. Today, tradition blends harmoniously with the most modern and innovative techniques for making metal alloys and knives.

Ryusen has devoted a great deal of time to research in the field of construction (forging, hardening, grinding and finishing), as well as to receiving feedback from the professional end user. Their dedication, perseverance and determination only for the best ensure that every knife is perfectly finished and meets the highest requirements of a completely handmade chef knife.

Additional features:

• Weight: 170 gr • Rockwell Hardness: HRC 62 • Blade length: 17.5 cm • Total length: 31 cm • Special gift box

Master of Blades recommends avoiding a dishwasher on any good knife. Hand washing in warm water and quick wiping is enough for any stainless knife. Whatever knife you use, it will eventually need to get sharpened to remain in high performance. Soft steel knives need stone grinding more often, but they can also revert to their previous condition temporarily with the use of a sharpener steel.