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SIROU KAMO - SUMINAGASHI

Rockwell Hardness 60:62

Hand hammer forged and tempered by master knife maker Sirou Kamo.

Kamo sensei's workshop is located in Takefu Village (in Fukui Prefecture on the Western coast of Honshu) which has a 700 year history of cutlery making and is the centre of Damascus steel production. Hand folding, layering and forging blades provide great strength and expert tempering ensures a razor sharp yet enduring edge. The Kamo Collection blades are composed of Sirogami white steel, which is extremely rich in carbon 1.00 - 1.20% which helps maintain the edge for a long time and is extremely easy to re-sharpen.

The finished blade is hand polished to bring out the beauty of the metal 'grain' lines that is unique to each knife and looks like subtle grain lines on a piece of polished wood. The process highlights the layers created by the multiple sheets of steel.

The high carbon content of this type of steel does oxidize and discolour very quickly if left damp even for a short time. This in NO WAY affects the performance of the blade nor does it cause damage - this is an innate quality of Sirogami steel and proper care should be taken to dry the knife every time it is washed so that no moisture remains on the blade. Small marks and abrasions on the blade are common as the knife is made entirely by hand. A flawless finish would indicate manufacturing by machine. Every single Kamo knife is slightly different and part of the intrinsic charm of a hand made product.

The handles are crafted by hand from selected pieces of hardwood from a sustainable source and the collars are simulated water buffalo horn. There is a copper collar attached to the inside of the handle collar to avoid long term expansion and contraction of the wood.