Nakagawa Hamono | SKU: NAKA_B1EBDA_KGY210_BR

Hatsukokoro x Satoshi Nakagawa Blue 1 Etched Black Damascus K tip Gyuto 210mm

Name: Hatsukokoro x Satoshi Nakagawa Blue 1 Etched Black Damascus K tip Gyuto 210mm
Brand: Nakagawa Hamono
SKU: NAKA_B1EBDA_KGY210_BR
Price: 649.95 AUD
Availability: OutOfStock

$649.95

IMPORTANT: Carbon steel knives can rust or patina quickly if not cared for properly. They require regular cleaning, drying, and oiling. If you are unfamiliar with carbon steel maintenance, we recommend choosing a stainless steel option instead.

Add a saya or K&S Knife Roll to receive $20 bundle discount!

Detailed Specifications

Line	Nakagawa Blue 1 Damascus Etched black Wide Bevel
Profile	Gyuto / Chefs Knife
Bevel Type	Double Bevel
Weight	169 g \| 6.0 oz
Edge Length	202 mm \| 7 61/64″
Heel Height	48 mm \| 1 57/64″
Width @ Heel	3.7 mm \| 9/64″
Width @ Mid	2.6 mm \| 7/64″
Width @ 1cm from Tip	0.2 mm \| 1/64″
Steel	Blue 1 / Aogami #1 \| Carbon
Blade Construction	Sanami - Soft Iron Damascus Clad
Hardness (HRC)	61 - 64
Surface Finish	Etched
Handle	Octagonal Birch Burl with Spacer
Region	Sakai
Best for	Pro chefs Collectors Enthusiasts

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

The Nakagawa Blue 1 Damascus Etched/Kurozome Wide bevel is Satoshi Nakagawa's classic wide bevel knife with a twist in finish. When talking about Sakai, most of the knife enthusiasts will think about well polished blades with prestige Migaki or Kasumi finish that comes in all kinds of metallic silver colour. This Kurozome is an interesting attempt to utilize the contrast created with etching to highlight the geometry created by the wide bevel finish. As the result, we see a very polished Sakai knife that look like Kurouchi from afar, but very tame if inspected closely.

One thing with Nakagawa-san's knife is that his Damascus gyuto seems to be a bit thicker than the Sanmai ones, but thanks to the well-done concave grind, these blades stays very thin behind edge and still cuts beautifully. Additional material above the primary bevel adds some weight and rigidity to the blades, if you are in favor of knives with solid handling, this line will easily fall into that category.

The level of finish is still Sakai standard, chamfered choil and spine are all polished with a good shine. But the etching is really the highlight of these knives: the two different steel in the damascus cladding react differently with the acid, leading to a well aged look composed of intertwining brown and blue colour. This vintage finish contrast strongly with the Migaki finished bevel and buffed spine at the clearly defined boundary, rounding these knives up with a sharp geometrical look.

I say this a is an interesting finish, and it's always nice to see Sakai makers to be innovative with their finishing technic and pushing boundaries. The main drawback of these knives might be the level of care required for them, as both the soft i on Damascus cladding and the core steel are prone to rust. But if you are interested in a beautifully finished knife with a lots of hand crafting goes into it, please do consider this blue 1 Damascus line.

Pros	Cons
Excellent performance Great artistic Excellent fit and finish	Prone to rust High budget

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.
Oil the (carbon) knife if storing for an extended period of time to prevent rust.

Satoshi Nakagawa

Satoshi Nakagawa Hamono - Sakai's New Power House (Est. 2021)

Nakagawa Hamono, established by Satoshi Nakagawa (中川悟志) in April 2021, carries on the legacy of the renowned Shiraki Hamono under the guidance of Nakagawa-san, a dedicated disciple of the legendary craftsman Kenichi Shiraki. With nearly two decades of experience, primarily under Shiraki-san, Nakagawa-san has been instrumental in creating some of the finest honyaki blades in the last five years of Shiraki-san's work.

His expertise is not limited to Shiraki Hamono’s offerings but extends to forging top-tier knives for Sakai’s esteemed brands such as Sakai Takayuki, Kikumori to name a few. Based in Sakai City, Osaka, Nakagawa Hamono specializes in Ginsan and blue steel knives with wide bevels.

Satoshi Nakagawa Hamono was founded in April 2021 by Satoshi Nakagawa, a skilled craftsman from Sakai City, Osaka, who embarked on his journey into the world of knife-making at the tender age of 18. After high school, he was introduced to Kenichi Shiraki, a legendary master craftsman, and subsequently joined Shiraki Hamono. Under Shiraki-san's tutelage, Nakagawa-san honed his skills for nearly two decades, playing a pivotal role in the creation of many of Shiraki-san's renowned works, particularly in the latter years. His expertise extends to forging exclusive knives for prestigious Sakai retailers such as Sakai Kikumori and Sakai Jikko, showcasing his mastery across various top-tier lines.

Upon the retirement of Kenichi Shiraki, Nakagawa-san assumed leadership of Shiraki Hamono, now rebranded as Nakagawa Hamono. This transition marked the continuation of a storied legacy, with Nakagawa-san bringing his innovative vision to the fore. His current offerings are primarily forged from Ginsan steel, known for their distinctive wide bevels, with plans to expand the range to include diverse profiles and steels. Nakagawa-san's approach to knife-making is deeply rooted in tradition yet forward-looking, embracing new materials and trends while preserving the manual, labor-intensive processes that define the craftsmanship of his knives. His work on crest forging with blue steel No. 2 and No. 1 is a testament to his commitment to beauty and excellence, despite the challenges and heartbreaks encountered in the painstaking process of honyaki forging. Nakagawa Hamono stands as a beacon of traditional craftsmanship, blending timeless techniques with contemporary innovation, under the stewardship of one of Sakai's most promising craftsmen.

“Sakai's leading blacksmith of the new generation. ”

Est. 2021 | 令和3年

Known for single bevels, high production and great heat treatment on various hitachi steels.

Website nakagawa-knives.com Instagram @nakagawa_kajiya Read more about Satoshi Nakagawa

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.

Compare with

Blue 1 / Aogami #1

—

1.5% 1.1% 0.8% 0.4% 0

1.3%

0.3%

1.5%

0.2%

0.1%

0.025%

0.004%

C — Carbon Cr — Chromium W — Tungsten Mn — Manganese Si — Silicon P — Phosphorus S — Sulfur

Hardness 61–64 HRC

555759616365+

Steel

Blue 1 / Aogami #1

Manufacturer
- Hitachi Special Steel, Japan
Nature Carbon
Hardness61–64 HRC

Blue Steel No.1, also known as Aogami #1 or Yasugi #1 Blue Steel, is a premium high carbon steel from Hitachi Metals Ltd, celebrated for its exceptional edge retention and toughness. This steel is an upgrade from Blue Steel No.2, enriched with higher carbon and tungsten content, making it a favorite for high-grade Japanese traditional single-bevel knives. It's known for being easy to sharpen, achieving a very fine edge that lasts. Despite its susceptibility to rust, with proper care and maintenance, including regular wiping and drying, it can develop a protective patina that minimizes rusting. Blue Steel No.1 is highly regarded among knife makers for its ability to achieve a mirror finish and maintain a sharp edge over extended periods, offering an outstanding balance of performance and durability.

Construction

Sanami - Soft Iron 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. However, the damascus cladding found on Japanese kitchen knives with carbon steel core are ususally made of soft iron, which means they too need to be maintained to stay pretty.

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.

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.

Handle

Handle Specs

Profile Octagonal WA
Material
- Birch Burl Stabilized

The stabilized birch burl handle adorning the Hatsukokoro chef knife is a testament to both exquisite craftsmanship and natural beauty. Birch burl, prized for its intricate grain patterns and unique textures, undergoes a meticulous stabilization process to enhance its durability and stability, ensuring longevity and resilience against moisture and wear.

The handle's ergonomic design offers a comfortable and secure grip, allowing for extended periods of use without fatigue. Its smooth contours and balanced weight distribution contribute to precise control and effortless maneuverability during culinary tasks.

The natural variations in color and grain of the birch burl create a visually captivating aesthetic, making each handle distinctively unique. This harmonious blend of functionality and aesthetics not only elevates the chef knife's performance but also adds a touch of elegance to the kitchen, reflecting the unparalleled craftsmanship of Hatsukokoro knives.

Hatsukokoro x Satoshi Nakagawa Blue 1 Etched Black Damascus K tip Gyuto 210mm

Detailed Specifications