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Kintaro  |  SKU: KATO_VGBDA_GY210EB

Yoshimi Kato VG10 Etched Damascus Gyuto 210mm Ebony Handle

$449.95
Tax included Shipping calculated at checkout.

K&S Price: AU $449.95* inc. tax , vs:
Burrfection Store AU $499.0 -11.14%
Hocho Knife AU $479.03 -6.69%

* For overseas buyers you pay no GST (10%) and low shipping rate.
Last Update: 2024-04-28T09:52:24Z

Detailed Specifications
Line Kintaro VG10 Damascus Etched
Profile Gyuto / Chefs Knife
Bevel Type Double Bevel
Weight 169 g        5.96 oz
Edge Length 216 mm   .8.5 inch
Heel Height 48 mm     .1.89 inch
Width @ Spine 2.1 mm     0.08 inch
Width @ Mid 2.1 mm     0.08 inch
Width @ 1cm from Tip 0.9 mm     0.04 inch
Steel VG10 | Stainless
Blade Construction Sanmai - Stainless Damascus Clad
Hardness (HRC) 59 - 61
Surface Finish Etched
Handle Octagonal Ebony
Region Echizen
Best for
  • Pro chefs
  • First-timers
    • Free shipping for knives over AU$200 Australia wide.
    • World-wide shipping via DHL Express, 3 to 5 days.


    The VG10 etched damascus line is one of the classic offerings by Yohsimi Kato. The carefully forged damascus pattern is vibrant and elegant. The state-of-the-art VG10 steel is heat treated to perfection yet offers an excellent value for money. In fact I consider this to be one of the best choices for first time Japanese buyers seeking performance, value and the beautiful damascus look.

    Video Review

    Pros Cons
  • Excellent performance
  • Great artistic
  • Etched damascus can be hard to maintain

  • Care Instruction
    1. Don't cut hard things! Japanese knives are brittle so bone hacking is a NO NO!
    2. Wash with netural detergent after use, and wipe dry;
    3. Please don't wash knife with dishwasher, it will damage the wood handle;
    4. Be careful not to leave the knife close to a heat source for a long time;
    5. It is a lot more dangerous to cut with a blunt knife than a sharp knife!
    6. It is best to sharpen a Japanese knife regularly on a waterstone.

    Yoshimi Kato

    Kato Knife Manufacturing Inc., spearheaded by Yoshimi Kato, is a renowned entity in the Takefu Knife Village, known for its exquisite craftsmanship in knife-making. Yoshimi Kato, a skilled artisan, upholds the legacy of his father, Hiroshi Kato, continuing the tradition of producing high-quality Japanese knives. The company's focus on traditional techniques blended with modern innovations ensures their knives are both functional and beautiful, catering to the needs of culinary professionals and enthusiasts alike. For more detailed information, visit their official websites at Takefu Knife Village and Kato Knife Manufacturing.

    • Profile: Gyuto

      Chefs Knife

      A Japanese chef's knife is known as a gyuto (牛刀 ぎゅうとう) gyūtō?), literally meaning 'beef knife'. Its blade resembles a flatter version of a French chef's knife. Japanese cutlery is known for sharpness due to its acute blade geometry, and the hardness of the steel used, sometimes exceeding 60 HRC on the Rockwell Scale A typical western chef's knife may be sharpened to an edge angle of 20-22°, while a Japanese gyuto generally has a sharper edge angle of 15-18° (or even lower), which requires a harder, more brittle grade of steel. In recent years Japanese gyuto have gained in popularity with western chefs.

      A modern chef's knife is a multi-purpose knife designed to perform well at many differing kitchen tasks, rather than excelling at any one in particular. It can be used for mincing, slicing, and chopping vegetables, slicing meat, and disjointing large cuts.

      Slide for more >>

    • Steel: VG10

      Takefu VG10, is a high-end stainless steel celebrated for its exceptional edge retention and sharpness. It is a popular choice among Japanese kitchen knife makers and widely used in various types of knives, including kitchen knives, folders, and fixed blades.

      VG10 achieves a hardness of around 60-61 HRC, with some makers pushing it to 62 HRC, ensuring good edge holding and stain resistance. The steel's composition includes 15% chromium (Cr) for corrosion resistance, 1% molybdenum (Mo), and 1.5% cobalt (Co) for matrix strengthening, leading to high hardness and durability. The addition of vanadium (V) refines its microstructure and, along with Cr and Mo, produces hard carbides that enhance wear resistance. VG10 is easy to sharpen, has good machinability, and supports secondary hardening with high-temperature tempering, making it suitable for blades that may undergo surface coating treatments up to about 450℃. Its well-rounded attributes make VG10 steel highly versatile, performing excellently in a range of applications from kitchen and general-purpose knives to machine blades.

      Manufacturer:

      • Takefu Special Steel, Japan

      Nature: Stainless

      Hardness: 59- 61

      << Slide for more >>

    • Construction: Sanmai - Stainless Damascus Clad

      Sanmai(Three-Piece) is a common construction for double bevel knives where two pieces of softer cladding steel are forgewelded to each side of a harder core steel. The harder but more brittle core steel will form the hard cutting edge after heat treating, and the softer cladding will support the core to increase the overall strength of the blade.

      Damascus Sanmai utilize damascus steel as the cladding material for the Sanmai construction, which adds aesthetic feature to the blade. On the Kitchen knives with stainless core steel, the damascus cladding will be stainless, this means they will also protect the carbon/semi-stainless core from rusting/discolouration.

      The soft cladding enables the thinning process to be a lot easier than a honyaki or monosteel construction. However, when the cladding is made of damascus, whether etched, polished or mirror polished, the thinning process will take a toll on the cladding, meaning the damascus won't look the same as when it was taken out of the box.

      << Slide for more >>

    • Finish: Etched

      The etching process starts with the knife being thoroughly cleaned to remove any oils or residues. A protective mask may be applied to the areas not intended to be etched. The blade is then submerged in an acidic solution, such as ferric chloride, which reacts with the different layers of steel at varying rates. This creates a layer of dark oxide on the surface of the blade where the thickness of the oxide varies according to the reactiveness of the steel. After etching, the knife is neutralized in a baking soda solution, rinsed, and dried. The final step involves polishing the blade to highlight the etched design, enhancing both the knife's beauty and showcasing the craftsmanship of its maker.

      << Slide for more >>

    • Handle Specs

      Profile: Octagonal WA

      Material:

      • Ebony

      This handle, crafted from a single piece of ebony, exemplifies minimalist elegance and functional design. Its unique octagonal shape, featuring a subtle taper, offers a comfortable grip and a visually appealing geometric profile. The ebony wood, known for its deep, rich color and durability, has been meticulously milled from a single block, ensuring a seamless construction that highlights the wood's natural beauty and grain. The handle's surface has been highly polished, achieving a glossy finish that not only enhances the ebony's luxurious dark hue but also provides a smooth, tactile experience for the user. This design choice reflects a minimalist approach, focusing on simplicity, quality, and usability. The combination of the octagonal shape with the taper adds a modern twist to the classic material, making it a standout piece that blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics.

      << Slide for more

    Kintaro

    Yoshimi Kato VG10 Etched Damascus Gyuto 210mm Ebony Handle

    $449.95

    Yoshimi Kato, the son of Master Hiroshi Kato is now taking over as the main blacksmith for the long established brand Kintaro (金太郎) from Takefu Knife Village. Kato-san often work with Kurosaki and their knives are very similar in terms of geometry and grind. He is also responsible for many knives produced under other brands such as Kotetsu, Kanehiro and Masagake. 


    Steel: VG10 Stainless core with Damascus cladding

    Hardness: HRC 60-61

    Handle Design: K&S Teak wood handle with options

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