SG2 Burja – Prosciutto Knife Sandalwood 300mm (11.8″)

Powder steel knives are next level and we have something limited and rare on deck. Introducing the SG2 Burja – Prosciutto Knife Sandalwood 300mm (11.8″). This limited edition Burja is made from premium powder steel, SG2, and features a traditional octagonal sandalwood handle. Limited stock.

Burja [pronounced as ‘booryah’] is a prosciutto knife. Burja is a knife of our own creation – we love good knives, we love good prosciutto, and good prosciutto should be sliced by hand using the sharpest knife around.

Burja is the first Japanese-made prosciutto knife. Designed by SharpEdge, forged by Japanese smithy Suncraft, based in the famous blacksmith town of Seki, made of Japanese steel and optimized for cutting prosciutto. No one has ever paid so much attention to making a knife that will meet all the needs of cutting prosciutto. It is especially difficult to make a universal knife since there are a lot of different types of prosciutto, as well as there are many cutting techniques to slice it. But no worries – Burja is not just a knife for cutting prosciutto. Because of its harder, but still flexible blade, it can be used for cutting other dry meats as well. And due to its thin and long blade profile, it will perform well as a slicer for larger pieces of meat and fish.

Burja knife is a combination of the rich culinary tradition of prosciutto ham with the Japanese tradition of forging knives. Since Japanese blacksmiths are the best blacksmiths in the world, possessing centuries of knowledge and experience of forging steel, it made perfect sense to make our prosciutto knife in Japan. From idea to design, after many conversations with knife makers, trial&errors, finding the right steel and handles, many sliced (and eaten) prosciuttos, visits to Japan, the process finally ended after a good two years.

The SG2 Burja has three big differences that differentiate it from Burja: the steel, the looks, and the handle. Blade geometry and shape and other specifications remain (almost) the same.

What does Burja mean? Burja is a Slovenian name of the local wind, in English known under the name Bora. Burja wind is typical for the Adriatic region. It is a cold, dry, strong and gusty northeast wind without which no prosciutto would ever be produced, no matter where in the world it is dried. With all the characteristics, Burja immediately felt like the perfect name for our prosciutto knife. Three engraved symbols can be seen on the left side of the blade. These symbols are called wind barbs, they indicate wind direction and wind speed. The three engraved wind barbs represent Burja wind with three different wind speeds, as Burja is a gusty and very strong wind.

BLADE SHAPE:
The shape of Burja is unique, although at first sight resembles other prosciutto knives. It has an extremely thin spine of the blade at 1.8mm. The blade is 300mm (11.8″) long and finishes with a thin, pointy tip, revealing its origins and traditions of blacksmiths that were once forging katanas.

It has an optimal ratio between the hardness of the steel and the flexibility of the blade, which helps the cutting of even slices of prosciutto that is tougher (drier) on one side and more delicate on the other. It is suitable for all kinds of ham and also for preparing thin slices of sashimi.

Recommended for: Jamón Ibérico, Jamón ibérico de bellota, Prosciutto di San Daniele, Jambon de Bayonne, and similar.

BLADE FLEXIBILITY:
Flexibility is necessary to some extent. We have opted for somewhat less rigid flexibility with Burja since this makes it more versatile and suitable for many different types of prosciutto, and at the same time excels when cutting other large pieces of dried meats and other proteins.

STEEL:
This Burja is made of SG2/R2 powder steel hardened to around 62-63 HRC, which means it will stay sharp for a very, very long time. The composition and microstructure of the steel provide extremely fine and smooth sharpness.

LAMINATION:
Only one layer of steel is used for the knife to be flexible. When deciding on the steels we wanted to make a knife from, we weigh the characteristics such as hardness, sharpness, ease of maintenance, graininess and ease of sharpening. The biggest challenge was to make the blade flexible enough while keeping the hardness at 62-63 HRC.

GEOMETRY:
The profile of the blade is not completely straight. The slight curvature of the sharp edge reduces the point of contact, which greatly eases the cutting. Zero grind edge helps the knife to glide smoothly when making longer cuts.

BLADE FINISH:
The blade features a clean, highly polished (also called migaki) blade.

HANDLE:
The SG2 Burja – Prosciutto Knife Sandalwood 300mm features a traditional octagonal Japanese handle made from sandalwood with a light buffalo horn ferrule. Its universal octagonal shape is suitable for both right- and left-handed users, providing an excellent grip for easy and comfortable knife handling.

Sandalwood is prized for its rich reddish-brown color and elegant grain patterns, which develop an even more beautiful patina over time. Known for its density and hardness, sandalwood is highly resistant to wear, cracks, and deformations, ensuring the handle’s longevity, even with intensive use. Its smooth yet non-slip texture offers a secure and comfortable grip during use.

ABOUT THE BLACKSMITH:
Suncraft is a family company spanning four generations and specializing in the production of kitchen tools. The smithy was founded in 1948 and is located in a thriving manufacturing area of Seki in Gifu prefecture, where steelwork dates back to the times of the Samurai warriors.

✔️ Burja will be delivered in a beautiful wooden storage box. ✔️ You can also add a Burja leather saya to your order, a knife sheath that we specifically designed for Burja. Saya will protect Burja and yourself whenever you are not using the knife.