Bunka San-Mai Collection - Kiritsuke Chef’s Knife - 21 cm

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Kiritsuke 21 cm - Bunka San-Mai collection

The Kiritsuke is the equivalent of the French chef’s knife, capable of cutting everything except bones and frozen foods.

The Kiritsuke is recognisable by its angular, reverse blade profile (reverse Tanto profile); this distinctive geometry gives it greater precision than a classic rounded profile.

The Kiritsuke, a versatile knife, is the preferred model of many Japanese chefs.

Traditionally, in fine-dining restaurants, only the head chef is authorised to use it; this is why the Kiritsuke is often regarded as a symbol of expertise and status.

The blade is forged from three-layer AUS-10 steel, a premium-quality steel combining high carbon content for hardness and long-lasting sharpness with the optimal amount of chromium to prevent oxidation.

The hidden full tang – a single piece of steel running from the blade tip to the end of the handle – gives the paring knife ideal balance and exceptional durability.

Japanese precision, Western robustness.

The best of both worlds.

* Handmade

* Three-layer Japanese AUS-10 stainless steel

* Full tang

* ebony handle

* HRC hardness: 61 +/- 1

* Weight: 190 g

* 21 cm blade, 33 cm overall length

* Perfectly balanced

* Bamboo saya (sheath) included with every knife

* Lifetime warranty

San-Mai - KOTAI’s new collection

“San Mai” means “three layers” in Japanese and refers to a traditional technique of forging together three steels with complementary properties.

At its core, a high-carbon AUS-10 steel core - hardened to achieve an HRC hardness of 61 - gives the blade an exceptionally fine cutting edge and excellent edge retention over time.

On either side of the cutting edge, two layers of softer steel protect this hard core, reinforcing the blade’s resistance to impacts and oxidation.

Both precise and durable, the San-Mai blade offers an ideal balance of cutting performance, ease of maintenance and durability. Its clean aesthetic subtly reveals the joining line between the steels, the unique signature of its construction.

Bunka San-Mai range

Elegance and tradition are the watchwords of the Bunka collection, inspired by Japanese culture (文化 “bunka”), particularly traditional cuisine.

Embodying the authenticity and essence of Japanese culture, the collection includes exceptional knives to enhance your culinary experience: Kiritsuke, Santoku, Petty utility knife and paring knife.

The blades in this range stand out for their angular, reverse blade profile (commonly called a “reverse Tanto profile” or “K-tip”), giving them unrivalled precision and enabling meticulous cuts compared with classic rounded blade profiles.

Bunka knives are also characterised by their hand-polished octagonal ebony wood handle, a material renowned and highly valued for its hardness and resistance to moisture.

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the “Tsuchime” (槌目) hammered blade creates small air pockets between the blade and food slices.

This ancient Japanese method prevents food from sticking to the blade, for pleasant and quick cutting.