A paring knife is an essential component to any knife collection. This handy stainless steel paring knife is perfect for small slicing and trimming work, especially on fruit. Your culinary horizons expand every time you pick it up.

The beautiful and distinctive “Damascus” textured pattern formed on the blade distinguishes this knife from any other. A cross section of the blade reveals a total of 69 layers of interlocking hard and soft stainless steels. As with Japanese swords, this forging technique makes the knife unbelievably hard to break or bend thus providing lifelong durability. Carbon trace elements in the blade naturally form the stunning wood-grain swirls appearance.

The core of this UJ Damascus Chef’s knife, commonly referred to in Japan as the Hagane is made of Super G2 Powdered Stainless Steel. This particle metal process begins with a homogenous molten mixture that is forced under extremely high pressure into a spray of tiny, round droplets. The end result is an extremely fine-grained and uniform distribution of the alloys, thus offering much higher cutting performance than the traditional ingot pouring method.

It is important to remember that the Hagane does all the cutting. This is what truly matters. And this Hagane is of world-class quality. We know of no other Damacus kitchen knife made in Japan that undergoes such rigorous attention to detail. Its sharpness is second to none.

The Japanese kanji characters engraved on the knife spell out the name of Ohyama Eiju, a masterclass craftsman who lived in Koshinokuni. Each knife pays homage to the pioneers of supreme samurai-sword making craftsmanship. The UJ stamp below the characters gives the owner confidence in knowing that this knife is a genuine handcrafted product of Japan and meets the highest standards.

The unique octagonal-shaped handle is what really distinguishes this Damascus knife.   It was inspired by the perfectly straight line of Japanese handles found on traditional blades while adding another dimension.   We call the handle ‘smart-cut’ as it helps position your back fingers comfortably at an angle for consistently pitched slices without slippage.  The handle is furthermore joined by a well-balanced bolster and comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic.  It’s a natural fit for right-handed or left-handed individuals.

Hand-forged kitchen knives created in the ancient city of Takefu represent Japanese craftsmanship at its very finest. Dating back almost seven centuries to 1337, master swordsmith Chiyozuru Kuniyasu traveled from Kyoto to the Fukui prefecture looking for water most suitable to forge his samurai swords. His search ended in Koshinokuni, which later grew to be Takefu city.

• Blade length: 130mm (5.1in)
• Handcrafted in Takefu using traditional Japanese sword-making techniques (watch video)
• Fabulously sharp and lightweight
• 69-layer construction (Hagane = Powdered steel core) is wrapped by sixty-six layers of alternating hard and soft stainless steels with two decarbonization prevention layers
• The Hagane contains high levels of Carbon (1.4%) for outstanding strength and Chromium (15%) that gives it excellent stain resistance. Other elements in this unique steel fomulation include Vanadium, Molybdenum and Cobalt.
• Hardened to HRC 63-65 (Rockwell Scale)
• Laminated black handle comprised of multiple, fused layers of wood making it extremely watertight and hygienic. It is comfortable and natural to hold and work with for right-handed or left-handed individuals.
• Unique personalized engraving services are available on the blade of this knife (we will phonetically translate the desired name into Japanese characters)
• UJ Partners receive a 10% Discount on any purchase of a UJ kitchen knife. Eligible partners include students of culinary institutions, professional chefs and major hotel and hospitality organizations and the US Military. Click here for details.
• Each knife has its own unique character that is strikingly evident – no two knives are alike

• Genuine Handcrafted UJ Damascus Chef’s Knife 130mm / 5.1in from Takefu, Japan
• A Durable Plastic Sheath is Included to Protect and Safeguard the Knife
• Securely Packaged in Box with Printed Japanese Caligraphy on Cover
• Printed Knife Care Instructions Included
• Comprehensive Product Description (text that appears on this page)

• Limited Lifetime Warranty
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• Domestic & International Express Delivery: ABSOLUTELY FREE! Shipment sent via EMS (Express Mail Service), that’s complete with tracking code. Shipment normally arrives within 4 days once it leaves Japan. Japan domestic deliveries arrive within 1-2 days.
• Authenticity: Guaranteed. A knife purchased from Unique Japan is a genuine Japanese master craftsmanship investment.