Sukenari | SKU: SUKEN_ZDP_KGY240SANMAI

Sukenari ZDP-189 Hairline K-tip Gyuto 240mm

$586.99 $689.95

St Peters (Online/Showroom) —
2 Bishop St Unit 2 St Peters NSW 2044
+61 2 8234 8818
Crows Nest (Storefront) —
107 West St, Crows Nest NSW 2065
Pickup only

Detailed Specifications

Line	Sukenari ZDP-189 Hairline
Profile	K-tip Gyuto / Chefs Knife
Bevel Type	Double Bevel
Weight	231 g \| 8.1 oz
Edge Length	231 mm \| 9 3/32″
Heel Height	50 mm \| 1 31/32″
Width @ Heel	2.5 mm \| 3/32″
Width @ Mid	2.3 mm \| 3/32″
Width @ 1cm from Tip	0.8 mm \| 1/32″
Steel	ZDP-189 \| Powdered \| Stainless
Blade Construction	Sanmai - Stainless Clad
Hardness (HRC)	63 - 66
Surface Finish	Migaki
Handle	Octagonal Ebony
Region	Toyama
Best for	Pro chefs

Free shipping for knives over AU$200 Australia wide.
World-wide shipping via DHL Express, 3 to 5 days.

The Sukenari Hairline series showcases a fine hairline finish, polished to a moderate shine. With the added allure of Sukenari craftsmanship, these knives become versatile options suitable for daily use, showcasing, or treasured heirlooms. Sukenari stands out as one of our cherished knife makers, and these knives exemplify why they are among our top favorites.

This line boast both exquisite aesthetics and outstanding performance, crafted from ZDP189, one of the toughest alloys utilized in kitchen knife production. With a remarkable hardness ranging from 65-66 HRC, this Powdered Metallurgy steel allows for thinner grinding compared to other steels, while also retaining sharpness significantly longer.

Encasing the inner core of ZDP189 is a layer of softer stainless steel cladding, facilitating effortless maintenance of these knives. This feature is especially appreciated by professional chefs, enabling prolonged work sessions without frequent blade cleaning or sharpening.

Pros	Cons
Excellent performance Great for professionals	Relatively hard to sharpen

Care Instruction

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

Sukenari

Sukenari: The Toyama Forge That Tames Steel No One Else Can

Sukenari(佑成), a brand with a trademark written in two Kanji, one is "to support" or can be broken down to "human and its right side", the other one is "become, achieve). According to the current Representative Director Nobuo Hanaki, this name is filled with the desire of making product that will become an inseparable part in the right hand of those who cook.

Eversince the founding of the company in Showa 8th (1933), Sukenari have been renowned for its products utilizing the hardest manufacturing technique of Honyaki. This applies not only to the traditional carbon steel, but also to modern stainless alloy steels, or even powder metallurgy steels. It is quite safe to say Sukenari, is one of the most, if not the most pioneering Japanese company in terms of new steel selection, with glorious track records of forging with steels never seen on any other kitchen knives.

Eversince the founding of the company in Showa 8th(1933), Sukenari have been renowned for its products utilizing the hardest manufacturing technique of Honyaki. This applies not only to the traditional carbon steel, but also to modern stainless alloy steels, or even powder metallurgy steels. It is quite safe to say Sukenari, is one of the most, if not the most pioneering Japanese company in terms of new steel selection, with glorious track records of forging with steels never seen on any other kitchen knives.

ZDP-189, YXR7 and HAP-40, these are the steels with extreme performance that was never considered by the industry to be suitable for knife making, yet Sukenari was daring enough to experiment with them, which lead to the adoptation by the industry. Without this company, we are likely unable to get our hands on some of the extreme performer knives today. It is great to see a Japanese company with rich history can breake the stereotype of lacking in innovation, and show us there are still potential for improvement. Just like the current company owner, 3rd-generation Hanaki - Mr. Nobuo Hanaki said: "we are willing to work hard to improve our skill and technique, so we can be relied upon by those who cook."

“The knife behind the knife — and the steel no one else dares.”

Est. 1933 | 昭和8年

Known for Forging the "unforgable" powdered steels

Website sukenari.jp Instagram @sukenari_official Read more about Sukenari

Profile

K-tip Gyuto

Chefs Knife

The K-tip Gyuto — known in Japanese as kiritsuke gyuto (切付牛刀) — is a double-bevelled chef's knife that pairs the all-purpose body of a standard gyuto with a kiritsuke-style tip: an angled, clipped "k-tip" point in place of the gyuto's curved belly. Combined with a flatter edge profile, this gives two advantages. The sharply defined tip excels at precise work — scoring, detailing and picking — while the flatter edge is optimised for clean push-cutting and long slicing strokes. It remains a versatile general-purpose knife, but rewards a chef who works with deliberate, tip-led precision.

A note on naming: the K-tip (or "Kiritsuke") Gyuto is a double-bevelled knife and should not be confused with the traditional Kiritsuke (切付け) — a single-bevelled knife that is a genuinely different tool. Many retailers list the two interchangeably; at Knives and Stones we keep them distinct so you know exactly what you're buying.

Compare with

ZDP-189

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20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0

3.0%

20.0%

0.1%

1.4%

0.6%

0.5%

0.4%

C — Carbon Cr — Chromium V — Vanadium Mo — Molybdenum W — Tungsten Mn — Manganese Si — Silicon

Hardness 63–66 HRC

555759616365+

Steel

ZDP-189

Manufacturer
- Hitachi Special Steel, Japan
Nature Stainless
Hardness63–66 HRC

ZDP-189 steel is a high-end powdered metallurgy stainless steel renowned for its exceptional hardness and edge retention capabilities. Developed by Hitachi Metals, it contains a high carbon and chromium content, allowing it to achieve hardness levels up to 67 HRC, making it one of the hardest steels used in knife making. This extraordinary hardness means that ZDP-189 can be sharpened to a very fine edge and maintain that sharpness through extensive use, far surpassing many other steel types in terms of edge retention. However, its high hardness also means that it can be more challenging to sharpen and may be more prone to chipping if used improperly. ZDP-189's significant chromium content also provides it with a degree of corrosion resistance, though care should still be taken to maintain the blade. Due to its premium qualities, ZDP-189 is often used in high-end and specialty knives, appealing to enthusiasts and professionals who prioritize cutting performance and longevity.

Construction

Sanmai - Stainless 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.

The soft cladding enables the thinning process to be a lot easier than a honyaki or monosteel construction. And in the case where the cladding steel are stainless in nature, it can offer protection for the carbon or semi-stainless cores against rusting and discoluoring.

Finish

Migaki

"Migaki" means "polished" or "shined" in Japanese, The term "Migaki finish" in the context of Japanese kitchen knives indeed does not exclusively refer to a mirror polish but encompasses a broader range of polished finishes that can vary from semi-gloss to a more refined, subtle sheen, rather than a highly reflective surface. The primary goal of a Migaki finish is to enhance the knife's functionality and aesthetic appeal, focusing on a smooth finish that improves resistance to corrosion and minimizes drag during cutting, rather than achieving a purely mirror-like appearance.

Handle

Octagonal Ebony

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.

Frequently asked questions

Is a K-tip Gyuto the same as a traditional Kiritsuke?

Not quite - and it is the single most common point of confusion when people shop for a kiritsuke. The two knives share the same striking angled, reverse-tanto tip, but underneath that tip they are very different tools.

A K-tip gyuto is a double-bevel knife: it is ground on both sides like any Western-style chef's knife, so it is ambidextrous, forgiving to use, and sharpened exactly the way you would sharpen a normal gyuto. You get the dramatic kiritsuke look with the everyday usability of an all-purpose chef's knife.

A traditional kiritsuke - including the kiritsuke-yanagiba (slicer) and kiritsuke-gyuto shapes - is a single-bevel knife, ground on one side only. It is historically a master chef's knife: it takes real practice to use well, is set up for right-handed users by default, and needs single-bevel sharpening technique to maintain.

So if you want the kiritsuke silhouette with no learning curve, choose a K-tip gyuto. If you specifically want the traditional single-bevel discipline - and the precision it allows on fish and vegetables - choose a true kiritsuke. At Knives and Stones we stock both, and each product page tells you which construction you are looking at.

✓ Verified by Knives and Stones · James Zhang · Reviewed 29 May 2026

Sukenari ZDP-189 Hairline K-tip Gyuto 240mm

Availability

Detailed Specifications

Sukenari

K-tip Gyuto

ZDP-189 Element Composition

ZDP-189

Sanmai - Stainless Clad

Migaki

Octagonal Ebony

Frequently asked questions

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Sukenari ZDP-189 Hairline K-tip Gyuto 240mm

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St Peters

Crows Nest

Canberra

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