Please help identify "Japanese" "santoku" knife

[Dantabak]

Hi,

Your help will be really appreciated.
I was looking for an entry level carbon steel santoku, because I enjoy sharpening and know that with carbon steel knives one can achieve nice results.
I was looking for used items because I don't mind cleaning some rust and sharpening..
I ended buying the knife that is in the picture attached on ebay, that knife should have carbon steel blade (not stainless) according to the seller.
In the listing there was written :

Japanese Chef's Kitchen Knife 克弘 Santoku 170/300 From Japan​

I got it relatively for cheap and was happy at first. but now I feel that I bought some cheap Chinese knockoff
Can someone tell me what steel type is that blade ? is it any good ?

Hope I did not break any of the forum rules
Thanks in advance,
Dan

 

[killgar]

Welcome to Bladeforums Dan.

I don't believe you have broken any rules. Posting a link to ebay would be a violation of the rules, but you didn't do that. It's nice to see a new member who cares about following the rules.

As far as the knife pictured, I don't claim to be an expert on steel, but that blade looks awfully clean for a USED carbon steel kitchen knife. I would expect a used carbon steel kitchen knife to have some amount of patina (staining). Based solely on that picture, I'd have to wager it's stainless.

It's always "buyer beware" on ebay.

Sorry I can't be of more help. Maybe another member will recognize the brand/makers mark and can give you a more definitive answer.

There are ways to tell carbon steel from stainless, but you need to have the knife to perform such tests. Beyond that, I think the only way to know exactly what kind of steel it is would require lab testing.

 

[KenHash]

Hi,

Your help will be really appreciated.
I was looking for an entry level carbon steel santoku, because I enjoy sharpening and know that with carbon steel knives one can achieve nice results.
I was looking for used items because I don't mind cleaning some rust and sharpening..
I ended buying the knife that is in the picture attached on ebay, that knife should have carbon steel blade (not stainless) according to the seller.
In the listing there was written :

Japanese Chef's Kitchen Knife 克弘 Santoku 170/300 From Japan​

I got it relatively for cheap and was happy at first. but now I feel that I bought some cheap Chinese knockoff
Can someone tell me what steel type is that blade ? is it any good ?

Hope I did not break any of the forum rules
Thanks in advance,
Dan

Firstly the correct Kanji is 哲弘 （Tetsuhiro) not 克弘 (Katsuhiro).
Tetsuhiro is a brand name for a Sanjo maker - Kiryu Industries, in business since 1927.
Their website is here:

【公式】哲弘の包丁 牛刀 三徳｜桐生工業（新潟県三条）

哲弘の包丁は本物志向のひとたちのための逸品です。 新潟県三条市にある、刃物を製造している桐生工業株式会社。哲弘を商標登録し牛刀、三徳、菜切、ぺティなどや打ち刃物を製造販売しています。

www.tetsuhiro-knife.com

Today they they make knives in VG10 and SPG2 for stainless, and Aogami (Blue) and Aogami Super in Carbon.
However they are all in Western handled format. In the past they made knives in Wa-handle as they often show up in auctions.
With their carbon Wa knives they did not put the steel type on the back of the blade. So can't be sure.
I can pretty much say though that you probably did not buy a cheap Chinese knockoff.
I only say "probably" because I can't see the whole knife.
And assuming it is authentic, it is likely Aogami (blue, 1,2 or even super), Shrogami (white 2 most likely). But it could also
be Kigami (yellow) or the SK4/SK5. It is probably not stainless because when they made a stainless version they put "VG10" on the blade.
See below:

However, you could easily test if it is a carbon steel by dropping white vinegar on the blade. If it turns white, it is carbon steel. If it remains clear it is stainless. The vinegar wipes off easily. This is about as much as can be found on that knife because it is out of production.

 

[Dantabak]

Thank you very much for your detailed answers !!!
There is nothing else written on the knife
Happy that there is a chance that I didn't buy garbage + shipping
I will start to use it and see

 

[Dantabak]

Follow up on that knife.
Got the knife.
It is clearly a stainless steel knife - dDoesn't rust even if it is left wet.
Found another seller on ebay that was selling the same knife and he told me that it is Molybdenum Vanadium steel.
Sharpened it on whetstones. It was fairly easy to sharpen and became razor sharp.
Will be interesting to see how the edge will hold up .

Thanks !

 

[KenHash]

Follow up on that knife.
Got the knife.
It is clearly a stainless steel knife - dDoesn't rust even if it is left wet.
Found another seller on ebay that was selling the same knife and he told me that it is Molybdenum Vanadium steel.
Sharpened it on whetstones. It was fairly easy to sharpen and became razor sharp.
Will be interesting to see how the edge will hold up .

Thanks !

OK. Moly Van is usually Aus8. No longer being made.