Bunka San-Mai Collection - 2-Piece Starter Set: 2 Knives

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Bunka San-Mai Base Set 2 pieces including:

1. Paring knife blade 9 cm

2. Santoku blade 17 cm

* Handmade

* Japanese three-layer AUS-10 stainless steel

* Full silk

*ebony handle

* HRC hardness: 61 +/- 1

* Perfectly balanced

* Bamboo saya (sheath) included with each knife

* Lifetime warranty

The 15 degree sharpening angle (compared to 20 to 25 degrees for an ordinary knife) will allow you to slice and dice without ever crushing even the most delicate ingredients, so that they retain all their flavor.

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 edge longevity with the optimal amount of chromium to prevent oxidation.

The hidden full 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 hammering of the “Tsuchime” (槌目) blade creates small air pockets between the blade and the food slices.

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

San-Mai - the new collection from KOTAI

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

At its heart, a high-carbon AUS-10 steel core - tempered to reach a hardness of HRC 61 - gives the blade a very fine edge as well as excellent durability over time.

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 durability. Its refined aesthetic subtly reveals the steel junction line, the unique signature of its construction.

Bunka San-Mai range

Elegance and tradition are the key words 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 includes exceptional knives to enhance your culinary experience: Kiritsuke, Santoku, Petty universal knife and paring knife. The blades in this range are distinguished by their angular, inverted blade profile (commonly known as “inverted Tanto profile” or “K-tip”), giving them unrivaled precision and favoring neat cuts compared to classic, rounded blade profiles.

Bunka knives are also characterized by their octagonal handle in hand-polished ebony wood, a material recognized and highly appreciated for its hardness and resistance to humidity.

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

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