The Japanese chef's knife is one of the most popular chef's knives in the world. They are known for their razor-sharp edges, sophisticated design, and superior performance. Japanese chef's knives are usually made of high-quality materials, such as high-carbon steel or stainless steel. They are finely ground to cut through a wide variety of ingredients, including meat, vegetables, and fruit.
If you're looking for a quality Japanese chef's knife, then you might consider getting a custom made one. Custom chef's knives can be tailored to your individual needs and preferences. You can choose the shape, size, material and hardness of the blade. You can also choose the material and color of the handle.
| ☰ | Table of contents |
|---|---|
| 1. | Nakamura Knives |
| 2. | Salter Fine Cutlery |
| 3. | Etsy |
| 4. | Kurosaki Knives |
| 5. | Messermeister |
| 6. | Misono |
| 7. | Tojiro |
| 8. | Victorinox |
| 9. | Masakage Knives |
| 10. | Nenohi Knives |
1. Nakamura Knives
Founded in 2015
Headquarters: Nakamura Knives is based in Chiba, Japan.
Website: https://japaneseknifenakamura.com/
Company Profile: Nakamura Knives offer a range of custom Japanese chef knives under their original brand Kaishin, which means "pioneer spirit". They collaborate with traditional blacksmiths and sharpeners to create stunning Honyaki knives, which are extremely difficult to forge and require a high level of skill and experience. They also allow customers to design their own knives with premium wood handles, blades, and saya (sheaths).
2. Salter Fine Cutlery
Established in 2003
Headquarters: Salter Fine Cutlery is located in Hawaii, USA.
Website: https://salterfinecutlery.com/.
Company Profile: They specialize in hand-forged custom Japanese chef knives that are ideal for home culinary enthusiasts and professional chefs. They use only the finest materials, such as R2 powdered steel, VG10 stainless steel, and exotic hardwoods, to create unique and elegant knives that are precision tools with the refinement of fine art. They offer a variety of styles, such as gyuto, santoku, nakiri, petty, and paring knives.
3. Etsy
Website: https://www.etsy.com/market/custom_japanese_chef_knife.
Company Profile: Etsy is an online marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of handmade and vintage goods. It is a great place to find custom Japanese chef knives from various makers around the world. You can also request personalized engraving, monogramming, or customization on some of the knives. Some of the popular sellers of custom Japanese chef knives on Etsy are Horoz Leatherworks, Nakiri Knives, Damascus Steel Knives, and Handmade Chef Knives.
4. Kurosaki Knives
Founded in 2012
Headquarters: Kurosaki Knives is based in Echizen, Japan. .
Website: https://kurosakiknives.com/
Company Profile: They are led by Yu Kurosaki, a young and talented blacksmith who is known for his innovative and artistic designs. He creates custom Japanese chef knives with distinctive patterns on the blades, such as hammered, nashiji (pear skin), shizuku (raindrop), megumi (blessing), and senko (flash). He uses high-performance steels, such as SG2, Aogami Super, and ZDP-189, to ensure sharpness and durability. He also makes beautiful handles with various woods and resins.
5. Messermeister
Established in 1991
Headquarters: Carter Cutlery is located in Oregon, USA.
Website: https://www.cartercutlery.com/.
Company Profile: Carter Cutlery are run by Murray Carter, a master bladesmith who has trained in Japan for 18 years under a 16th generation Yoshimoto bladesmith. He makes custom Japanese chef knives with traditional techniques and modern materials. He uses Hitachi White Steel #1, which is considered to be the purest carbon steel, to forge razor-sharp and long-lasting blades. He also offers a variety of handle options, such as ironwood, curly maple, ebony, and horn.
6. Misono
Founded in 1932
Headquarters: Konosuke Knives is based in Sakai, Japan.
Website: Their website is https://www.konosukeknife.com/
Company Profile: Konosuke Knives are a family-owned business that has been producing high-quality custom Japanese chef knives for four generations. They work with some of the best blacksmiths and sharpeners in Japan to create knives that are renowned for their thinness, lightness, and sharpness. They use premium steels, such as Ginsan, HD2, FM, and ZDP-189, to craft blades that are easy to maintain and have excellent edge retention. They also make elegant handles with various woods and metals.
7. Tojiro
Established in 1920
Headquarters: Takeda Hamono is located in Niimi, Japan.
Website: https://takedahamono.com/en/.
Company Profile: Takeda Hamono are led by Shosui Takeda, a third-generation blacksmith who is famous for his rustic and natural style. He makes custom Japanese chef knives with a hand-forged technique called warikomi, which involves sandwiching a hard carbon steel core between softer iron layers. He uses Aogami Super steel, which has a high carbon content and can achieve a very sharp edge. He also makes simple and comfortable handles with magnolia wood and buffalo horn.
8. Victorinox
Founded in 2002
Headquarters: Shun Cutlery is based in Seki, Japan.
Website: https://shuncutlery.com/.
Company Profile: Shun Cutlery are a subsidiary of Kai Group, one of the largest and oldest knife manufacturers in Japan. They make custom Japanese chef knives with a blend of tradition and innovation. They use advanced technologies, such as laser cutting, precision heat-treating, and nitrogen cryogenic tempering, to create blades that are strong, sharp, and corrosion-resistant. They use VG-MAX steel, which is a proprietary formula that contains more carbon, chromium, cobalt, and tungsten than other steels. They also make ergonomic handles with pakkawood or tagayasan wood.
9. Masakage Knives
Founded in 2007
Headquarters: Masakage Knives is based in Takefu, Japan.
Website: https://www.masakageknives.com/.
Company Profile: Masakage Knives are a collective of seven master blacksmiths who each have their own style and specialty. They make custom Japanese chef knives with a passion and dedication to their craft. They use various steels, such as Aogami #2, Shirogami #2, VG10, and R2/SG2, to forge blades that are sharp, durable, and easy to sharpen. They also make unique handles with chestnut wood, cherry wood, magnolia wood, or micarta.
10. Nenohi Knives
Founded in 1937
Headquarters: Nenohi Knives is based in Tokyo, Japan.
Website: https://www.nenohi.co.jp/en/.
Company Profile: Nenohi Knives are one of the most prestigious custom Japanese chef knife makers in the world. They cater to the needs of professional chefs and culinary experts who demand the highest quality and performance. They use only the finest materials, such as blue steel #1 or #2, white steel #1 or #2, or Swedish stainless steel, to create blades that are exceptionally sharp and long-lasting. They also make exquisite handles with ebony wood or rosewood and silver or brass bolsters.
Conclusion
Japanese chef's knives are known for their sharp edges, sophisticated design and superior performance. Contact us if you want to find affordable knives!
