DETAIL
■Hypothetical New Price■
EU: Unknown
AU: Unknown
US: Unknown
■Item Description■
Condition : Excellent- (2.5) / Needs sharpening / No Box
Blade length : 5.3 inches (135mm)
Overall length : 9.6 inches (245mm)
Spine Thickness at Base : 1.4mm
Item Weight : 2.6 oz (75g)
Blade Edge : Double-bevel
Construction/Method : 3-layer
Blade Material : SK Carbon Steel with Stainless Steel
HRC : 60
Handle Material : Wood
Country/Region of Manufacture : Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Others : Not dishwasher-safe
・About this item
This is a small Santoku knife called “Hiromoto,” manufactured by Nagao, which was very popular among Japanese knife enthusiasts where I live. The core steel is SK carbon steel with a hardness of HRC 60.
On the left side of the blade, there are Japanese characters meaning “Registered,” “Hiromoto Saku (made by Hiromoto),” “Hagane,” and “Hon-Warikomi.” While “Hagane” literally translates to “steel,” when engraved on Japanese knives it specifically refers to carbon steel. “Hon-Warikomi” means a three-layer construction.
・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.
・Others
Please note that the blade edge and the area around it are prone to rust. Be sure to wipe them dry after each use, as they will rust quickly if left wet.
