Bunka San-Mai Collection – Complete Nomad 6-Piece Set: 4 Knives + 2 Accessories

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Complete Nomad Bunka San-Mai 6-Piece Set including:

1. Paring knife 9 cm blade

2. Petty (utility knife) 13.5 cm blade

3. Santoku 17 cm blade

4. Kiritsuke (chef's knife) 21 cm blade

5. Honing rod 25 cm

6. Nomad knife roll in 100% cotton (holds up to 6 knives)

* Handmade

* Three-layer Japanese stainless steel AUS-10

* Full tang

* Ebony handle

* HRC hardness: 61 +/- 1

* Perfectly balanced

* Saya (bamboo sheath) included with each knife

* Lifetime guarantee

The 15-degree sharpening angle (compared to 20–25 degrees for an ordinary knife) allows you to slice and mince without ever crushing even the most delicate ingredients, so they retain all their flavour.

All KOTAI San-Mai knives are forged with AUS-10 steel, a premium 3-layer steel that combines a high carbon content for hardness and long-lasting edge retention with the optimal amount of chromium to prevent oxidation.

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

Beyond the 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 a smooth and swift cutting experience.

San-Mai – the new KOTAI collection

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

At its core, a high-carbon AUS-10 steel core – tempered to reach a hardness of HRC 61 – gives the blade an exceptionally fine edge and excellent long-term edge retention.

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

Both precise and durable, the San-Mai blade offers an ideal balance between cutting performance, ease of maintenance and longevity. Its refined aesthetic subtly reveals the steel junction line, the unique signature of its construction.

Bunka San-Mai Range

Elegance and tradition are the hallmarks of the Bunka collection, inspired by Japanese culture (文化 "bunka"), and in particular traditional cuisine.

Embodying the authenticity and essence of Japanese culture, the collection features exceptional knives to elevate your culinary experience: Kiritsuke, Santoku, Petty utility knife and paring knife. The blades in this range are distinguished by their angular, reverse-tip blade profile (commonly known as the "reverse Tanto profile" or "K-tip"), giving them unrivalled precision and enabling cleaner cuts compared to classic, rounded blade profiles.

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

Beyond the 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 a smooth and swift cutting experience.