Hatsukokoro Shinkiro kurouchi damascus AS bunka 170mm

Hand-forged in Fukushima, Japan by Takahiro Nihei for the Hatsukokoro Shinkiro series, this 170mm bunka is a Japanese multipurpose knife with an Aogami Super core and iron clad damascus. The kurouchi finish gives the blade a rustic appearance. Hefty and solid in hand. At 170mm, a compact daily driver for cooks who prefer a shorter multipurpose knife. Hand-forged in Fukushima, Japan by Takahiro Nihei 170mm (6.7") actual cutting edge, 51.4mm heel height Aogami Super (~64 HRC) with iron clad damascus Kurouchi finish Octagonal ebony handle For left- and right-handed users Takahiro Nihei is a blacksmith based in Iitate, Fukushima, and the fourth generation of Yasuragi Kobo. He trained under Kazuomi Yamamoto at Yoshikane Hamono in Sanjo from 2011 and opened his own workshop in 2019. He handles all work himself from forging to final sharpening. Nihei-san is currently working toward his swordsmith certification alongside his knife work. Details Brand: Hatsukokoro Series: Shinkiro Blacksmith: Takahiro Nihei Origin: Fukushima, Japan Knife type: bunka Finish: kurouchi damascus Core steel: Aogami Super (AS) Steel type: carbon steel Cladding: iron clad Blade & Handle Specs Overall length: 311mm Blade length - heel to tip: 170mm (6.7") Blade height at heel: 51.4mm Spine thickness: At handle: 4.6mm At heel: 3.9mm Midway: 2.3mm 1cm from the tip: 0.9mm Weight: 185g Edge/bevel: 50:50 Handle: octagonal ebony with buffalo horn ferrule Hand orientation: ambidextrous Saya/sheath: none Notes: Each knife is hand-forged, so no two are exactly alike. The photo shows a randomly selected piece from our stock. If you want to see the exact knife you'll receive, email us at info@zahocho.com. Minor variations in finish, surface marks, and measurements are normal in handcrafted Japanese knives. Handle is fitted by the maker and shipped as-is. We don't offer handle swaps.