Tsunehisa VG1 Migaki Santoku

First Impressions

Sleek and stylish, the VG1 is a collection in the same style and price point as the knives from Masutani Hamono and show a consistent finish as you'd expect from Tsunehisa's workshops in that they're thin and slice well right out of the box.

Beauty

The VG1 is a great looking knife. It's got a full tang yo handle made from pakka wood and the blade boasts a lovely migaki finish on the stainless cladding running down to the polished core steel which glimmers as it catches the light and each knife has a unique wavy pattern where cladding meets core.

In Hand

The pakka wood handle itself is comfortable but as you often find in knives at this price point, the spine and heel of the blade could perhaps do with a little rounding off but these are typically the touches that elevate a knife into a higher price bracket and so it's not something we'd really worry about and if you do find it uncomfortable in a pinch grip you can always smooth the edges at home.

Durability

VG1 offers a good balance between the hardness that gives good overall edge retention and the heat treat to about 60HRC allows for a little extra robustness over higher HRC blades and so while there will be a little more regular sharpening required to keep the edge in top condition, it's durable and will last well.

Ease of Care & Maintenance Tips

Quick rinse and dry and then store it either on your knife rack or in your drawer with a saya or blade guard (or even in the presentation box if you wish) and this knife will last you a lifetime.