Tojiro Petty Atelier VG-10 White 150mm (5.9″)

When deciding what knife to buy, we usually look at characteristics such as how sharp it is, what steel it’s forged from, how hard that steel is etc. We want to get the best performer that will take our knife game to the next level.

This petty knife checks all the demands listed above. But it also takes it up a notch.

The blade, hand-forged to perfection with laser-like precision. Hammer blows, dealt by hand to achieve a natural rustic appearance. The kanji, carved in with a hammer and chisel, not pressed by a machine. Those types of details. Stainless VG-10 steel was hardened to 61 HRC.

This petty was forged by master artisans of TOJIRO ATELIER, TOJIRO’s special department, the smithy inside the smithy so to say.

BLADE SHAPE:
Petty knives are intended for all those smaller tasks where larger knives are deemed unwieldy. On and off the cutting board. A must-have knife in every kitchen, it can be used for peeling, mincing, paring and decorating food.

STEEL:
The core of this knife is made of stainless VG-10 steel (V for Vanadium, G for “gold” as in “gold standard”). It’s one of the most popular steels used in Japanese knifemaking – and not without a reason. Its high Chromium content makes it highly corrosion resistant and therefore easy to maintain, while steel being relatively hard (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.

BLADE FINISH:
The black forging residue, called kuro-uchi was treated with circular hammer blows, resulting in a beautiful rustic appearance. It then flows smoothly into a 63-layer damascus pattern that ends with a pronounced, curvy line at the cutting edge. This is where the soft, protective layer ends and the blade’s core is exposed. On top of the hammered kuro-uchi finish, there is a hand-chiseled kanji, which is the signature of the blacksmith.

HANDLE:
The blade was fitted with a special Western-style (Yo) handle made out of micarta, in a creamy white color. The handle features gold rivets and two small holes, which add to the special look of the handle, while also making it lighter. With the red lines running along the tang, this handle is quite a sight to behold.