Nakagawa Blue 1 Damascus Traditional Double Bevel

Sanmai - Soft Iron Damascus Clad Migaki Blue 1 / Aogami #1 / Carbon Sakai, Japan

The Nakagawa Blue 1 Damascus line contains a series of traditionally finished Sakai style knives that is known for their solid performance, but the added Damascus cladding added a artistic twist to it, making them enjoyable to use just as how they are enjoyable to look.

Compare to the wide bevel finish, there are no distinct shinogi lines between the Hira and the primary bevel. The geometry transitions smoothly from the spine to the edge. In my opinion, this is a better way to enjoy the Damascus pattern, as they can flow along the blade without the interruption by the change in finishing pattern that is used to create the wide bevel look.

Performance of the knife on the chopping board is great, as the bevel takes a concave grind, it is of a good sharpness even the thickness of the spine is not as thin as some "laser" knives, though there is a slight tendency for the food to stick due to this grind. This combination allows the edge to be thin, while having more material behind the bevel to provide weight and rigidity for a solid feel.

The level of finish is phenomenal, which is a characteristic of high end Sakai knives. The spine and choil are both chamfered, making it hard to find a sharp corner on these knives, the higher level of polish on the spine brings out the shine of it, contrasting with the hazy blade surface, making the overall texture of the knife more complicated. Overall I say the arts and crafts level of these knives are superb, especially at their price range.

This is another masterpiece created by Satoshi Nakagawa, who got more than 20 years of experiences in forging under the training of the legendary bladesmith Kenichi Shiraki. For that reason, I would expect the Blue 1 steel he heat treats to hold edge very well. One concern that remains is, the damascus cladding is made of soft iron, thus making the entire blade prone to rust, there will be some attention and care required to maintain the beauty of these knives, and if you want the similar performance and shape without the hassle of the carbon steel, you can look at the Nakagawa Ginsan Wide Bevel line.

Pros

Excellent performance
Great artistic
Excellent fit and finish

Cons

Prone to rust
High budget

Best For

Collectors
Enthusiasts
Pro chefs

Construction

Sanmai - Soft Iron Damascus Clad

Surface Finish

Migaki

Steel

Blue 1 / Aogami #1 / Carbon

Origin

Sakai, Japan

Frequently asked questions

Will the Nakagawa Blue 1 Damascus rust?

Yes. Our line page lists a Blue 1 core with soft iron Damascus cladding, and that cladding is not stainless.

Proterial lists Blue 1 chromium at 0.30 to 0.50%, well under the 10.5% the JSSA sets for stainless. We suggest wiping the whole blade dry after washing, not just the edge.

Published by K&S Education Desk; staff review pending

Ginsan, Blue 1 or Blue 2: which Nakagawa steel should I pick?

Pick by how much care you want to give. Ginsan is stainless, while Blue 1 and Blue 2 are not: Proterial lists their chromium at 0.50% or less, well under the 10.5% the Japan Stainless Steel Association sets for stainless.

If you will dry and oil the blade after each use, a Blue 1 or Blue 2 line can suit you; if you want less upkeep, we suggest Ginsan.

Published by K&S Education Desk; staff review pending

What is the difference between Blue 1 and Blue 2?

Proterial, which makes both, describes each the same way: an alloy steel with tungsten and chromium added to improve heat-treatment properties and wear resistance, hardening to over 60 HRC. In its Japanese materials, Proterial calls its Aogami (青紙) steels high-carbon steel (高炭素鋼).

Its figures give Blue 1 more carbon and tungsten, 1.25 to 1.35% carbon and 1.50 to 2.00% tungsten against Blue 2's 1.05 to 1.15% and 1.00 to 1.50%, with chromium of 0.30 to 0.50% against 0.20 to 0.50%.

Published by K&S Education Desk; staff review pending

Are Hatsukokoro x Nakagawa knives forged by Satoshi Nakagawa?

Yes. We know from our own dealings with him that Satoshi Nakagawa forges commissioned lines for the Hatsukokoro brand, and our product titles name them Hatsukokoro by Nakagawa and Hatsukokoro x Nakagawa. He works from his own company in Sakai, Nakagawa Uchihamono.

He trained for sixteen years under Kenichi Shiraki as his only disciple and successor. His company says he works in White 3 to White 1, Blue 2 to Blue 1, stainless Ginsan, VG10 and honyaki.

Published by K&S Education Desk; staff review pending