Hayabusa Santoku VG-10 Tsuchime Bubinga 180mm (7.1″)

Hayabusa Santoku VG-10 Tsuchime Bubinga 180mm (7.1″) is a versatile knife that is perfect for both home and professional kitchens. Made from VG-10 steel, it has a sharp, thin blade that is ideal for cutting meat, vegetables and more. The Tsuchime finish features small, round indentations that add texture and depth to the blade, while the Kasumi finish creates a contrast between the matte and shiny surfaces. The durable Bubinga wood handle provides a comfortable grip, making it a practical and stylish addition to any kitchen. A great choice for chefs and home cooks who value quality and performance.

Fun fact: Hayabusa santoku shares its name with the peregrine falcon (ハヤブサ), the fastest member of the animal kingdom. This knife may not reach speeds upwards of 350 km/h, but chopping with it will feel just as fast.

BLADE SHAPE:
The Santoku knife, originating from Japan, is a versatile and multipurpose kitchen tool commonly found in Japanese households. It excels at various cutting and chopping tasks on the cutting board.

STEEL:
VG-10 (V for Vanadium, G for “gold” as in “gold standard”) is made by Takefu Special Steel Company, a relatively small steel company that around 60 years ago managed to find just the right balance of different elements to create the most popular Japanese knife making steel today. 

VG-10 steel is stainless steel with relatively high Carbon (C) content (1%), 15% Chromium (Cr), 1% Molybdenum (Mo), 0.3% Vanadium (V) and 1.5% Cobalt (Co). The combination of Cr, Mo, and V forms a lot of hard carbides, making the steel abrasion resistant, which translates to long-lasting, smooth sharpness. Heat treated to the hardness of 60-61 HRC.

LAMINATION:
The core layer consisting of the harder VG-10 steel was sandwiched between two layers of softer steel. This technique is called san-mai and is used to protect the hard (but delicate) core from outside factors and physical impacts, which could lead to breakage.

GEOMETRY:
It has a double bevel (symmetrical) blade. The cutting edge is sharpened to a 50/50 angle and stays sharp even after hours of constant use.

BLADE FINISH:
The tsuchime surface helps to reduce friction and prevents food from sticking to the blade during cutting. The textured surface creates small air pockets which allow for smoother and more precise cutting.

HANDLE:
The knife features an octagon Japanese (Wa) style handle made out of bubinga wood. The octagon shape of the handle provides a comfortable and secure grip, allowing for precise control during use. Bubinga is a durable and dense tropical wood, known for its distinct brown color with dark patterns. Its strength and stability make it popular for crafting knife handles, furniture, and musical instruments. It has a beautiful texture and polishes well, giving it a smooth and elegant appearance.