Japanese Knife Handles

Looking to freshen up your knife or replace a well worn handle then refitting a new Japanese wa handle is a very easy process and great way to change your knife.

If you'd like to order a knife and handle together, we're happy to swap them in most cases, we do recommend contacting us first to check it's possible and the handles/knife combination is compatable.

Frequently Asked Questions about Japanese Knife Handles

How easy is Japanese knife handle replacement?

Generally - Very easy! Japanese knives are fitted with wa handles for precisely this reason. The handle is typically easy to remove and new ones can be fitted in a few minutes with the right tools and technique.

How do I remove a wa handle from a Japanese knife?

Depending on how it's been fitted, a friction fit handle can be knocked off by resting the blade flat against a block of wood that's several cm longer than the blade then knocking the end of the wood against the handle with a rubber or wooden mallet to free it. If the handle is glued on, typically this glue can be softened by putting the knife in an oven at around 90 degrees centigrade for 10 minutes and then pull the blade off - be careful though, even at relatively low temps, the steel is hot so use a glove or towel.

Will you fit or swap a knife handle for me?

If you're ordering a knife and handle from us, just let us know you'd like it fitting or swapping before we dispatch it and we'd be happy to fit it for you.

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Please note that this shows all items from the selected brand - including out of stock products that may have long lead times or manufacturers we work with periodically but who may not currently have any active products available on the site.