Saji Gyuto VG-10 Rainbow RWO 240mm (9.5″)

Master Takeshi Saji, known for his eye-catching and extravagant knives, played on the golden-orange hues of his now almost signature rainbow damascus finish.

This fiery knife is not just an art piece to admire though, as it’s still a great performer made of superior stainless VG-10 steel. So put it behind glass, show it to your friends, but make sure to use it as well!

BLADE SHAPE:
Gyuto is the most versatile and useful blade shape in the modern kitchen. It has a wide profile for easy food transfer and tends to be fairly flat towards the heel, enabling easy and fast chopping on the cutting board. A pointed tip allows piercing and precise, delicate work. A slight curve between the tip and the midsection makes the belly great for rocking the blade back and forth when cutting. It can be used for cutting meat, fish and vegetables.

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 a 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.

LAMINATION:
The blade’s unique look was achieved by wedging the blade’s core between layers of softer, rust-resistant stainless steel, to which brass and copper were added. The result is a beautiful rainbow-colored Damascus pattern from which these knives got their name. This is not just a cosmetic feature, though, as the outer layers improve the knife’s structural integrity and help prevent breakage, as well as any other damage such as corrosion of the blade.

GEOMETRY:
It has a double bevel (symmetrical) blade.

BLADE FINISH:
The beautiful rainbow-colored Damascus pattern was achieved by adding brass and copper to the outer, protective layers of the blade.

HANDLE:
The rosewood and maple handle in Japanese (Wa) style is comfortable for right- and left-handed users, due to its octagonal shape.

BLACKSMITH:
Takeshi Saji (1948) is one of the most distinguished blacksmith masters in Japan. He was officially certified as a “Traditional Master Craftsman”, a prestigious title awarded only to the best craftsmen in Japan. He’s the third-generation blacksmith and his workshop is located at the Takefu Knife Village in Echizen, where he forges knives together with his two apprentices. Yu Kurosaki and other masters from the Takefu cooperative honed their skills under his guidance.