Nigara Hamono 270mm Yanagi Shirogami 1 Mizu Honyaki Barin Burl Double Horn

Hand made in Aomori prefecture, mizu 
honyaki (water quenched) shirogami #1  yanagi with karin wood handle with buffalo horn spacers.

Nigara Hamono in Hirosaki City in Aomori Prefecture is a 350 year old metalworking company with swordmaking roots. Blacksmith Go Yoshizawa has expanded Nigara’s range to include kitchen knives including the very demanding honyaki forging and differential heat treatment.  

Honyaki heat treatment relies on a single steel blade as opposed to a clad steel / mild steel or iron construction. Water quench honyaki makes for the hardest possible edge but due to the rapid heat loss during the quenching has a high failure rate even for experienced smiths. This knife has been etched to bring out an additional contrast at the hamon, the result is a very lively and vibrant pattern pulled from the steel. 

Shirogmai is rated at 3,2,&1 increasing in carbon content as the number gets smaller, typically shirogami 3 is tough with a shorter edge life than shirogami 2 and shirogami 1 has the best edge life with the least toughness. When heat treated using the honyaki technique the result is a steel that works very well at very fine finishes. This is definitely a sharpener’s steel, great for a huge variety of finishing stones, especially natural stones. 

Not for the first time user of a yanagi, this knife will demand greater skill in sharpening and use to preserve the proper geometry and to avoid damage, in addition the etched surface will be removed with sharpening. 

Brand: Nigara Hamono
Producing Area:  Hirosaki City
Profile: Yanagi
Size: 270mm
Steel Type: Mizu Honyaki (water quenched)Shirogami #1
Handle: Karin burl wood with double buffalo horn & 3 nickel spacers
Total Length: 424mm
Edge Length: 261mm
Handle to Tip Length: 275mm
Blade Height: 38mm
Thickness: 4.3mm
Handle Length: 148mm
Weight: 243g
Hand Orientation: Right Handed