Saji Gyuto Wa Rainbow Damascus 210mm (8.3″)

Saji Gyuto Wa Rainbow Damascus 210mm is a multi-purpose Japanese kitchen knife for preparing meat, fish and vegetables. Third-generation blacksmith Takeshi Saji from the famous Takefu Knife Village created another masterpiece to add to his Rainbow Damascus limited edition series, which undergo a special lamination process where copper and brass are added to achieve the distinct vibrant look. The knife’s looks aren’t the only thing that’s sharp, though, as its core is made of high-carbon Aogami #2 steel that gives the knife an extremely fine sharpness.

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:
Aogami #2 is a very popular steel in Japanese knifemaking and one of the finest high-carbon steels, meaning the knives forged from it will have excellent edge retention and also sharpen very easily. At the same time, it is less resistant to corrosion, meaning the blade can develop a patina, while longer exposure to water or other corrosives could also lead to rusting. This is improved to some extent with the addition of chromium and tungsten, but it’s still a high-carbon steel that should be maintained accordingly (⚠️ read more about knife maintenance here). Aogami #2 steel is composed of carbon (C) 1.1 %, chromium (Cr) 0.5 %, manganese (Mn) 0.3%, and tungsten (W) 1.5%.

Learn more about knife maintenance here.

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 rainbow-colored damascus pattern was achieved by adding brass and copper to the outer, protective layers of the blade.

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