Bunka San-Mai Collection - Santoku Knife - 17cm

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Santoku 17 cm - Bunka San-Mai collection

The Santoku is a very versatile knife; Santoku means "3 virtues" in Japanese, as it can be used to cut meat, fish and vegetables at the same time.

The thin blade of the Santoku Bunka Damascus will allow you to slice and dice without ever crushing even the most delicate ingredients, so that they retain all their flavor. Additionally, the hammered blade reduces friction between the knife and the cut food so that it does not stick to the blade.

“Bunka” knives are recognizable by their angular blade profile (inverted Tanto profile); this particular geometry gives them more precision than a classic rounded profile.

The thin blade of the Bunka Damascus paring knife will allow you to slice and dice without ever crushing even the most delicate ingredients, so that they retain all their flavor. Additionally, the hammered blade reduces friction between the knife and the cut food so that it does not stick to the blade.

The blade is forged with three-ply AUS-10 steel, a premium 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 paring knife ideal balance and exceptional durability.

Japanese precision, Western robustness.

The best of both worlds.

* Handmade

* Japanese three-layer AUS-10 stainless steel

* Full silk

*ebony handle

* HRC hardness: 61 +/- 1

* Weight: 176g

* Blade 17 cm, total length 30 cm

* Perfectly balanced

* Bamboo saya (sheath) included with each knife

* Lifetime warranty

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 slices of food.

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