Moritaka Hamono Santoku Japanese Multi Purpose Cooking Knife Chef Knife Hand-forged 3-layered Aogami II High Carbon steel Blade length 6.7 inch

This knife is a work of art. It is very beautiful and light and also fits nicely in a hand. When it comes out of the box, it does not feel that sharp because of the coating on it, but it is really razor sharp. It seems that the structure of this knife is similar to a katana: it has hard carbon steel core, which is wrapped in a softer steel on top. I noticed that patina formed on the cutting edge of the blade immediately upon use and wash. I did dry it right after, but it looks like patina form from the food I cut. So this knife will probably require good care and maintenance, but it is definitely worth it! It should last a lifetime with proper care. Working with the knife is a pleasure. I really love it. Also, one free sharpening service is provided with the knife if you send it back to the smith (mine had a coupon in the box).

Best knife ever! Can't beat quality handmade cutlery.

Have a small collection of these knives that I purchased directly from Moritaka Takuzo in Miyaji-machi over the years. Unbelievably sharp and a good balance makes them a pleasure to use. The new ones now have a stainless steel tang (the part that goes in the handle) so that if the handle gets wet, the tang doesn't rust. You can also check them out directly on their website for more information.