Hatsukokoro Kujaku V-Toku 2

The Rainbow Damascus is no longer rare in the industry, but I think many of us still remember how stunning it was when we first came across it. Hatsukokoro didn't settle on their Hayabusa Blue 2 Rainbow Damascus line but decided to push it even further, which leads to this brand new line Kujaku(孔雀, Peacock)which is an upgrades in all aspects compare to the Hayabusa.

The core steel of the Kujaku is Takefu Special Steel's V-Toku 2. Takefu says its chromium, tungsten and vanadium form hard, compact carbides that improve durability. Being an alloy steel, it still retains excellent working hardness up to HRC64 and can produce a really fine cutting edge, which is what people look for when they are getting a carbon steel knife.

The cladding material is still the highlight of the show. On top of the layers of copper, brass and steels, Hatsukokoro applied a well controlled etching, which transfer the colour of each metal on the surface. The brass gets a deeper, gold-like look, the V-Toku core turns light grey and the copper picks up a mesmerising purple colour. It is really easy to see how this line got this name, the entire surface of the blade just shines in metallic reflection like the peacock feather.

The blade has a pretty thin edge and a slightly convex geometry. Pairing with an acute V-Toku 2 edge, it will perform fairly well for a knife that focuses on aesthetic. One benefit of the etching is, it creates a layer of oxidation over the V-Toku 2 core steel, which acts like patina and slows down rusting, which makes the knife easier to look after as it also have stainless cladding.

Kujaku shows Hatsukokoro's continuous innovation in product design and their focus on different way of finishing their blades. As the result, this line get a very attractive and unique look. In my opinion, this is a very good option for gifting, especially to those who already have a decent Japanese knife and look for trying out a non-stainless steel. The smooth cut and dazzling look can surely make the Kujaku a impressive gift.