DETAIL
■Hypothetical New Price■
EU: over 120 EUR (plus shipping and import fees)
AU: over 150 AUD (plus shipping and import fees)
US: over 100 USD (plus shipping and import fees)
*All of the above prices are hypothetical estimates that I personally calculated. Actual retail prices may vary depending on the country and legal changes. While some brands or models may adjust prices by market or exchange rates, retail prices are generally set by the manufacturer or seller. These estimates are based on Tojiro, a brand widely sold in many countries, and are provided only as a reference.
■Item Description■
Condition : Needs sharpening and repair / No box
Blade length : 6.7 inches (170mm)
Overall length : 11.6 inches (295mm)
Spine Thickness at Base : 1.6mm
Item Weight : 5.3 oz (149g)
Blade Edge : Double-bevel
Construction/Method : 3-layer
Blade Material : Probably VG1 Stainless Steel
HRC : Unknown
Handle Material : Pakkawood
Country/Region of Manufacture : Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Others : Not dishwasher-safe
・About this item
This is a Santoku knife called “Hiromoto,” manufactured by Nagao, which was very popular among Japanese knife enthusiasts where I live. Since Nagao retired and closed the business due to old age in 2015, the exact type of steel used cannot be confirmed. However, because the word “Gold” is engraved on the blade, it is most likely VG1 or VG10. In Japanese knives, when the word “Gold” is engraved, it usually indicates VG1 or VG10, though in rare cases Ginsan is used.
On the right side of the blade, there are Japanese characters meaning “Registered,” “Hiromoto,” “Gold,” and “Forged.”
I have listed this knife as “Needs Repair,” but the overall condition, including the handle, is not that bad. If the small gap in the handle does not bother you, you can remove the rust from the blade and sharpen it with a whetstone to use it without any issues.
・What is Seki Nagao?
They were a company located in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, one of Japan’s leading cutlery production areas, until they retired due to old age in 2015. They were known for their high-end kitchen knives made with steels such as Blue Super carbon steel and Ginsan (Silver #3). Among them, the “Tenmi-Jyuraku” series was extremely popular and is sometimes traded for around 1,000 USD even as used items today.
The Hiromoto series was a relatively affordable line designed for general household use (still easily exceeding 100 USD), but even these are traded at relatively high prices in Japan where I live, even in used condition.
