Masakage Kiri Santoku

Performance

VG10 is a steel that was invented especially for the cutlery business, it has an ability to hold and maintain an edge for a long time. The Kiri knives are thin behind the edge so performance is great. It can be a little difficult to sharpen VG10 if you want it back to its out of the box sharpness but with a little practice it can be done, just make sure you have the right tools.

Beauty

Kiri means mist in Japanese and the blades on these knives resemble that by creative use of the damascus cladding. This creates a beautiful swirling pattern that's pleasing to the eye and will look great in the kitchen! The handle is the same as on the Yuki range, an oval white magnolia handle with a red pakka wood ferrule, it looks very striking against the blade and creates a very fresh looking knife.

Comfort

The oval handle is very comfortable to use whether you are left or right handed and the heel of the knife and the spine (right where you'll have your fingers in a pinch grip) have been rounded slightly to avoid discomfort, a real annoyance on cheap or badly made knives. These knives are also quite light so you should be able to happily use them for a long time without fatigue.

Durability

VG10 steel has the ability to hold and maintain an edge for a long time making it one of the best for durability, it is incredibly hard though meaning it can chip if you hit a bone or similar.

The knife will hold its edge for a long time but when it comes to sharpening VG10 can be a little tricky if you want to get it screamingly sharp again.

You need to have the right tools for the job so some research may be needed into the correct technique in order to get the best results.

Ease of care

VG10 is one of the easiest steels to care for due to its stainless qualities. The Kiri range is clad in a softer stainless steel making the whole knife a breeze to look after. The usual rules apply though, no dishwashers and no leaving it in pools of water!

Value for money

Easy to care for and great looking, what more could you ask for? The fit and finish is superb as is always the case with the Masakage knives and with the benefit of being made by such an experienced blacksmith we feel that the price is great.