Tojiro Powdered Steel

A powdered high-speed steel core with 13-chrome stainless steel sides, exactly as Tojiro lists them on its series page. Tojiro names the series powder high-speed steel warikomi (粉末ハイス鋼割込), and warikomi means the core is inserted.

The Tojiro Powdered Steel knives we list are the F-521 gyuto in 240 mm and the F-517 santoku in 170 mm, both on Tojiro's 2021 series page.

Wash it by hand. Tojiro's own store FAQ recommends hand washing with a neutral detergent, wiping off the water and storing the knife after use, and says not to use a dishwasher because it can chip the edge and crack or corrode the handle.

Tojiro describes the handle as a laminated reinforced material with three rivets and a bolster, built to resist cracking, wobble and warping.

Both are Takefu blade steels, and they differ in class and in what Takefu publishes about each. Takefu lists VG10 as a stainless steel with 1.00% carbon, 15.00% chromium, 1.00% molybdenum, 0.25% vanadium and 1.55% cobalt, at a hardening hardness of HRC 60 or more.

Takefu describes SG2, its Super Gold 2, as a blade steel created by powder metallurgy, lists its composition as not disclosed, and SG2 runs 61 to 65 HRC depending on the maker. Takefu also calls SG2 a powdered stainless high-speed steel.