Yoshimi Kato

Yoshimi Kato AS Nashiji Bunka

£210.00

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£210.00

Kato san's classic aogami super bunka with an understated nashiji finish and Honduran rosewood handle is a great all rounder and shows off an understated design paired with a quality finish and edge.

 
Product Code: KATO-002

About this range

First Impressions

Excellent sharpness out of the box and an impressively even thin and even grind along the length of the blade as you'd expect from a blacksmith of Yoshimi Kato's skill and experience. This is a high performance knife by any measure.

Beauty

Available in either nashiji or kurouchi finishes and with a variety of handles these are some of our favourites - subtle and classy knives made to an excellent standard.

In Hand

Nice and light with a traditional wa handle and a good balance point, fit and finish around the heel of the knife it's easy to use, nimble and comfortable in hand.

Perhaps a little unusually, the wa handled versions of this blade are of a thicker profile than the full tang yo handle so if you prefer a thinner and lighter knife, the full tang pakka wood handle is the one to choose.

Durability

The aogami super blue core has been hardened to around 63-64HRC and is comparable to many carbon steels for sharpness and edge retention and will keep an impressive edge sharpness.

Ease of Care

Normal carbon steel care instructions apply as always - rinse and dry after use and no dishwashers but other than that you've got a nice low maintenance stainless knife thanks to the AS core and stainless cladding.

We recommend a carbon steel care kit for long term maintenance and keeping it in the best condition!

Our Verdict

The AS is a super daily knife and one we'd absolutely be reaching for to do a wide range of jobs. The grind and edge consistency are excellent.

It combines great out of the box performance, looks and durability so it's definitely one we're happy to recommend and we're big fans of Kato san.

Product Quick View

Want to see a little more of the knife? Check out what the knife looks like in hand and up close.

Knife Measurements

  • Blade Length: 174mm (Measurement of the cutting edge)
  • Total Length: 315mm (Blade tip to handle end)
  • Blade Height: 47.5mm (Heel to spine)
  • Blade Thickness: 3.03mm (Spine width above the heel)
  • Total Weight: 144 grams

Range Specifications

Our aim is to measure and photograph our products as accurately as possible but due to many items being handmade, finished or using natural materials, there can be minor variance in measurements and things such as blade or wood finishes can vary. We will always endeavour to provide the most accurate measurements, photos and descriptions of our products.

Some measurements such as HRC are provided by manufacturers and should therefore be used as a guide.

Sayas, guards and knife protection

Protection & care for this knife

We recommend the magnolia bunka saya for this knife.

Saya & Guards Knife Racks & Storage Sharpening & Blade Care

Meet the maker

Yoshimi Kato

Yoshimi Kato San is the son-in-law of Hiroshi Kato San and is a highly skilled and renowned blacksmith working at the Takefu knife village where he creates his own ranges of knives as well as knives for other brands such as Masakage.