Shibamasa VG5 Santoku

About this range

First Impressions

The Shibamasa is a nice looking knife and one we took a little extra time to decide on before adding to the site because it's quite a significant drop in price point to many of the knives we stock so we wanted to be sure it fit in with the level of knife we want to recommend to you. 

With that said, out of the box the VG5 has an impressively thin hand sharepened flat grind, bordering on a laser and it's a pleasant surprise to be sure.

In Hand

You can expect a little compromise with fit and finish at this extremely low price point and things like the subtle rounding of the spine and heel you'd see on more expensive knives isn't done on the VG5 and the half tang riveted handle can feel a little cheap (again, in comparison to more expensive knives) but overall, it's a very light knife and reasonably comfortable to work with.

Durability

VG5 is a stainless steel and this range is hardened to about 59-60HRC so it's hard enough to offer good edge retention, it's also going to be quite forgiving and have a lower risk of chipping in less practiced hands so it's an ideal first Japanese knife in this respect.

Ease of Care

Just follow our normal care instructions and you'll be good. As it's a slightly lower hardness than a lot of the knives we stock you might find that with regular use at home that giving it a quick sharpen on a whetstone and finish with a honing rod/strop every couple of weeks will give you the best results for keeping that thin edge singing. 

You can add a Japanese knife care kit to your order which would give you the tools required for the job. 

Our Verdict

We've got some excellent knives that offer an introduction into the world of Japanese steel and high quality thin edges and so with a modest investment it's quite possible to get an excellent knife from an established maker like Masutani or a younger craftsman like Kyohei Shindo for less than £100. 

The Shibamasa is priced even lower and so while there are a few things around the fit and finish we've noted above, it's easy to overlook things like spine finish or a cheaper handle because these things are secondary to a good blade and the VG5 does offer an impressively thin blade and consistent grind giving you a good feel for a Japanese knife without breaking the bank. 

For many people, this would be a perfect "starter" knife or a low worry gift because it's got a good edge and isn't so hard you'd need to worry about chipping and while it would need a little more regular sharpening as a result it's also a perfect knife to practice on too. 

Much to like and enjoy at an extremely good price point.