Sakai Takayuki 45 layer Damascus Santoku

Performance

Out of the box we found the edge was good and performed well slicing through a range of veg and meat. As with the Moonlit Waves range, if you give the knife a quick hone with a ceramic rod - the edge is capable of being even sharper with minimal effort.

It is a well balanced knife when using a pinch grip and light in the hand making it pretty nimble around lots of tasks.

Beauty

A high polish finish combined with an octagonal magnolia wood wa handle and contrasting black buffalo horn pakka give the whole range a stand-out look on the knife rack. The light wood on the handle will darken a little with use but the blade will shine for years.

Comfort

The octagonal magnolia wood handle is easy to hold both when dry and wet and the knife is suitable for left and right handers.

It's a lightweight knife thanks to the half tang construction and we found it very comfortable using it in our testing and at home.

Durability

The hard wearing AUS-10 steel should last a long time and edge retention is good.

We would recommend using a ceramic honing rod or high grit stone to just hone the edge a little more as you can definitely get an even better cutting edge finish.

Ease of care

Normal instructions apply really - don't put it in dishwasher and dry it off after you've rinsed it.

The handle will darken a little and smooth out over time as is a natural property and design of the wooden wa handles but the blade is stainless and will serve you in the kitchen for years if you treat it well.

Value for money

A great performer at an excellent price. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend the whole range as a perfect additional knife in a collection or a first foray into the world of Japanese knives.