Nigara - Kurouchi Tsuchime SG2 210mm Kiritsuke Gyuto (黑龍鱗系)
Nigara Hamono 二唐刃物 Since the days of Samurai, having 350 years of history, starting from making swords for Tsugaru clan in the early Edo period, Nigara Hamono has passed down the tradition and skills for eight generations. Currently headed by Mr Gou Yoshizawa (吉澤 剛). The best way to understand why Nigara sets itself apart is from the eyes of the current (8th) generation blacksmith — Mr Gou Yoshizawa (吉澤 剛). As he stands in the family business’s workshop, with his younger brother and two young craftsmen, feeling inspired to create the most outstanding knives for the world, he’s in fact given two things no other brands can give him. First is his father/boss, the current president of Nigara — the 7th generation owner Mr Toshiju Yoshizawa (吉澤 俊寿). With designer eyeglasses and a nonchalant hairstyle — Mr Yoshizawa would not feel out of place in a design firm in Europe. A fan of arts, music and literature, Mr Yoshizawa does not fit the typical profile of a knife maker. He believes a broad perspective opens new doors, and studying arts and music hones his sensitivity to the world around him. In 2008, he created the Anmon pattern, based on the impression of the Anmon Waterfalls, cascading from the foot of the World Heritage Shirakami Mountains adjacent to the city of Hirosaki, where the family business is based. “But in fact, the first inspiration for Anmon came from Andy Warhol's paintings of John Lennon. I love both of them. John's glasses look like waves.” Mr Yoshizawa once said in an interview. Having a father like Mr Yoshizawa gives Tsuyoshi an enormous amount of inspiration and creative freedom, and he is too encouraged to have a broader perspective, one that’s far beyond the walls of the blade-smithing workshop Nigara Hamono created a unique Tsuchime pattern like the dragon scale, The finish of the jigane is truly unique on this knife - while the tsuchime patterns have an almost matt like texture, giving this knife a sophisticated accent. Spec: Origin (Made in): Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan Brand: Nigara Hamono Craftsman: Tsuyoshi Yoshizawa (吉澤 剛) Knife Type: Kiritsuke Gyuto Blade Construction: Kurouchi Tsuchime Sanmai Grind: Double-edged Blade (50/50 Grind) Hagane (Core Steel): SG2 Jigane (Cladding): Stainless Steel Hardness: 62-63 HRC Hand-forged, hand-sharpened Blade Finishes: Kurouchi Tsuchime Blade Length: 210mm (8.27") Blade Height (at heel): 49mm Spine Thickness Above heel: 2.2 Tip 1.8mm Handle Shape: Hachikaku (Octagonal) Material: Ebony Overall Length: 346mm Weight: 166g Engraved Mark: In Japanese Kanji "Nigara Made" (二唐作)