Naoki Mazaki S/S Clad W#2 Gyuto 245 mm

The Blacksmith

Mazaki-san is a relatively new blacksmith but has gained a reputation as a great knife maker in a short amount of time. He focuses on producing knives in the most traditional ways possible and completes each knife by himself, only having added his first team member (His wife who does not help with production), in the past year. Mazaki-san uses a combination of pre-laminated and in-house laminated steels in an effort to makes knives in the most traditional ways possible and finishes each knife by hand polishing them on Japanese natural whetstones. He worked at Yoshikane Hamono, another very well regarded knife maker, for a number of years but decided to pursue the dream of opening his own business and we could not be happier that he did! Mazaki-san’s knives typically have a nice, tall blade height, and the profiles are always evolving with each batch, giving them a distinctly unique look. The distal taper on his knives are characteristic of Sanjo region knives, coming thick out of the handle, and thin at the tip.

The Knife

The gyuto is an all purpose knife and the Japanese equivalent to the western chef's knife, and 210mm is the equivalent of the standard 8 inch variation of that knife. From slicing, dicing, chopping, and carving the gyuto can do it all, and this one in particular has a hybrid profile that has enough sweep to rock and a big enough flat spot on the heel to chop comfortably. 

Knife Care (Stainless Clad)

• This knife is made from 3 layers of steel using a technique called Sanmai (Forge welding). It involves laminating a piece of Carbon steel with two pieces of Stainless steel giving the knife all the benefits of the carbon steel (Edge retention, ease of sharpening, cutting feel) and the Ease of Maintenance from Stainless steel. 2-3 millimeters of the carbon steel is exposed at the edge of the knife and is susceptible to rust and discouloration if not properly maintained.
• Simply Wipe the knife with a damp cloth immediately after use to keep it from rusting or discouloring.
• Wash with regular dish soap and warm water using a none abrasive sponge or cloth.
• Never put your knife in the Dishwasher. The extreme heat will ruin the wooden handle.
• Highly acidic ingredients (Onions, Tomatoes, Citrus) Will cause rust and oxidation to happen faster, thus the user must ensure the knife is wiped clean immediately after working with such an ingredient.
• Should any rust form it can be removed using a rust eraser or a mixture of Baking soda and water to simply scrub it clean.
• Avoid Bones, Frozen foods, nuts and hard candies, parmesan rinds, woody stems or anything other than fruits, vegetables and proteins.