Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Price
$434.95
Taxes and shipping calculated at checkout
In stock and ready for shipping

Pickup available at Etobicoke

Usually ready in 1 hour

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SPECIFICATIONS
Blade Length 175 mm
Total Length 314 mm
Steel SPG 2 (Super Gold 2) Stainless
Handle Walnut
Ferrule N/A
Rockwell 62
Height Spine to heel 46 mm
Width at Spine 2 mm
Weight 126 grams
Bevel  Double (50/50)

 

Ryusen Hamono

Ryusen Hamono is a maker working out of Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. They fully embrace the tradition of the region and take great pride in every step of the knife making process. They produce knives with both modern and traditional techniques, creating excellent finishes that are beautiful and comfortable to hold. Each blade is hand sharpened to be impeccable straight out of the box. Winners of numerous design awards and supporters of the Japanese national team at the Bocuse D'or, their knives are popular with professional chefs and home cooks alike.

Ryusen Hamono works primarily with SG2/R2, a high powder stainless steel that is very hard and grinds super thin behind the edge. The blades generally have a shorter blade height, which makes them great for precise slicing tasks. Their profiles vary quite a bit, from aggressive sweeping k-tips to more traditional yet modern gyuto shapes. The blades are very consistent, as they employ both modern and traditional techniques, each blade is hand sharpened and impeccably sharp out of the box. Every handle has a unique pattern, particularly the Blazen line, which has a distinctly comfortable taper, compared to the Tanganryu line, which is a hybrid western micarta handle, also with a smooth finish.

From the Ryusen Hamono Website...

"— Massive presence and reliable sharpness —
The Super Gold II, made by a top-level manufacturing method achieved by the dramatic improvement of steelmaking technology, is adopted for the blade. This ultra-high-end cutting steel material—excellent in terms of the four major properties of hardness, tenacity, wear resistance and corrosion resistance—was forged using the traditional Echizen Uchihamono forging technique. The blade has an edge where ripple patterns as beautiful as those of Japanese swords stand out, and long-lasting sharpness and durability achieved by buffing it to the utmost limit. The Blazen Ryu is a series for professional use finished by artisans with painstaking attention to detail.


The Knife

The Blazen line from Ryusen Hamono have the same level of fit and finish you can expect on all of their knives, top notch! Where this line differentiates itself from their other lines is the incredibly thin grinds on these knives. While they lean more towards the delicate side of things, they put performance first and are some of the best cutters in the shop. With a classic Ryusen contoured handle, R2 (SG2) stainless steel, and a gentle tsuchime to the hira of the blades, these understated knives are some of our favorites!

The Bunka is a mid sized prep machine that is as versatile as it is cool! The K-tip or reverse tanto brings the tip closer to the board making them great for intricate tip work and usually means a flatter profile which is great for chopping or push cutting and makes it a more viable (though still limited by length) slicer. These knives are great for home cooks uncomfortable with larger knives or smaller workspaces, and are great for professionals looking for something a little more compact to reduce the fatigue of longer use sessions for busy prep days!


Knife Care (Stainless Steel)

  • Although this knife is made from stainless steel we do still encourage our customers to keep their knives as dry and clean as possible.
  • NO DISHWASHER - the high heat will ruin the wooden handle.
  • Wash and dry by hand using regular dish soap and warm water using a none abrasive sponge or cloth.
  • Ensure the knife is dry before being put away for storage and ensure the edge of the knife is protected to avoid any unnecessary dulling.
  • Avoid Bones, Frozen foods, nuts and hard candies or anything other than fruits, vegetables and proteins.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS

Follow these care recommendations for your Japanese knives to protect the edge and keep them sharp as long as possible: 

  • Do not put them in the dishwasher or soak them in water, as this may ruin the wooden handle and rust the blade. 
  • Wash with soapy water and wipe dry after each use, especially after handling acidic ingredients, to minimize the risk of rusting.  
  • Don’t cut through anything you wouldn’t bite through, like frozen foods, hard candies, or bones, as this may chip or damage the knife. 
  • Don't torque the blade, as this may chip the knife. Use it in a forward and back, up and down motion without twisting.
  • Don’t scrape the cutting board with your knife, as this will cause it to dull quickly and ruin your edge. 
  • Use an end grain wooden cutting board or hi-soft rubberized cutting board if you can to protect your edge. Glass, bamboo, and granite are terrible materials for cutting boards, and plastic is only slightly better. 
SHIPPING & RETURNS

All products are shipped within 24 hours. We offer same day shipping for products ordered by 12pm. Please allow 4-7 business days for your shipment to arrive with standard shipping. Expedited shipping options are also available at checkout.

We offer free shipping on orders within Canada over $150 CAD and free shipping on orders to the US over $200 USD.

Curbside pick-up is available at both our Hamilton and Etobicoke locations.

To make sure our customers are always satisfied, we offer full refunds on products for 14 days after receiving them. See our full return policy for details.

More questions? Check out our shipping policy, our return policy, or reach out to us directly.

KNIFE SHAPE

THE BUNKA

The Bunka is a mid-sized, all-purpose knife that is compact, nimble, and handles many tasks. It's a touch shorter than the Gyuto and Kiritsuke, making it easier to wield and less intimidating to use. The "reverse tanto" or "K-tip" gives the user more travel for their guide finger toward the tip of the knife, which is super handy for tasks that require precise tip work, like brunoise shallot or garlic. It's great at slicing smaller proteins and flying through any mid-sized vegetable.

STEEL TYPE

R2 (SG2)

R2 and SG2 are technically different steel types, but are so similar we and many other retailers lump them into the same category. They are what’s known as a “quick powdered” stainless tool steel with incredible edge retention and corrosion resistance. Their one drawback is that their hardness can make them difficult to sharpen. It is not a steel we would recommend for those planning to thin and polish the bevels of their knives unless they are equipped with the proper tools (you will need a low grit stone in the #200 grit range).

Chemical Composition:
C 1.25-1.45% | Cr 14.0-16.0% | Mo 2.3-3.3% | V 1.8-2.2%

COMPOSITION

STAINLESS STEEL

LOW MAINTENANCE

Stainless steel Japanese knives are made in a process called “Sanmai” or “Forge welding” where two softer layers of stainless steel are laminated around a harder core layer of stainless steel. All three of these layers are rust resistant and therefore are not susceptible to rust or discoloration. The softer outer layers of steel are used to make the knife more durable and flexible while the harder core layer is used to provide better edge retention to the blade.

THE BLACKSMITH

RYUSEN HAMONO

Ryusen Hamono is a maker working out of Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. They fully embrace the tradition of the region and take great pride in every step of the knife making process. They produce knives with both modern and traditional techniques, creating excellent finishes that are beautiful and comfortable to hold. Each blade is hand sharpened to be impeccable straight out of the box. Winners of numerous design awards and supporters of the Japanese national team at the Bocuse D'or, their knives are popular with professional chefs and home cooks alike.

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REVIEWS

Customer Reviews

Overall rating: 4.9 / 5 from 18 reviews.

Customer photo review of Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Came shipped shaving sharp and a beautiful finish, however the shipping was extremely delayed so I can't give 5 stars

Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Customer video review of Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

The bunka is absolutely stunning and is razor sharp right out of the box. With a balance point perfect for the pinch grip, beautiful finish on the knife and a gorgeous, ergonomic wood handle, I couldn’t be any more happier! Customer service was also top notch, Gage was super kind and responsive to my requests. SharpKnifeShop and their staff are the best, thanks for making my year so far!

Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Customer video review of Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

In the video - using my sharp “Sharp Knife Shop” knife… to upgrade my oatmeal - breakfast. This kitchen tool is so good at what it does that it is fun to use; after completing one task I look around my pantry and in my fridge for more ingredients to prep with it. It also inspires me to learn a bit more, i.e., “hone” my knife skills. :)

Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Customer video review of Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

I requested for this particular knife that i liked on their Ryusen restock vid, even requested for more photos to let me choose because each blade has a unique design. In the end i chose this knife that they advertised in the vid and yeah, Gage really sent me the one that i particularly requested for! Gage was really helpful for all the knife questions all the way to the knife shipment. Really a world class customer service. Anyway, the Ryusen Blazen has a very beautiful combination of the handle and blade finish, which makes it a very beautiful knife, not to mention on how sharp it is out of the box. Glides through everything like it's not even there!

Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Customer photo review of Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

“This knife is incredibly sharp and of excellent quality. I bought the entire set and I’m very satisfied.”

Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Customer photo review of Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

I bought the knife a couple of weeks ago and still get excited every time I use it. It has astonishing performance, and what a slicer! I'm so glad I discussed my pic this with Gage beforehand! Sharp provides excellent service and has super friendly guys. I also got a great deal on my order!

Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Customer photo review of Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Love the knife, it was super sharp out of the box and it's hard to explain just how good it looks! A true work of art in addition to doing it's job perfectly. I also cannot overstate just how good the customer service was; they answered all my questions very quickly, were very polite and friendly, and just generally great to work with. Highly recommend!

Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Customer photo review of Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

The highest quality knife I’ve bought so far! The perfect knife that is both a workhorse and a laser!

Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Customer photo review of Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

My go-to knife. While I love the idea of carbon steel, I don’t like rusty knives or the worry of keeping them dry This knife is stainless steel but will nearly all of the benefits of carbon. Love it!

Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Customer photo review of Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Unreal for dicing onions, the tip is absurdly thin. Ryusen is simply the best. Had to purchase from knife wear because sharp was out of stock, get it while you can before it’s gone! Was such a joy to use blowing through 25lbs bags of onions at work. Highly recommend thanks sharp/Gage.

Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Customer photo review of Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Beautiful box and delivery was faster than expected. The knife is stunning with notable quality in the build and finish. I will say that the knife isn't as sharp as I expected it to be - but I can fix that. Very happy with the purchase and the communication and service from Sharp! Thank you

Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Customer photo review of Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

I considered a number of Bunka's and Santoku knives but really liked Gage's philosophy on why the Bunka makes the perfect Santoku. The sharp tip really has some advantages with over the Santoku and if you already have a Gyuto it makes a nice partner for finesse work with the of the knife. I had not been considering the Blazen Bunka and did not know anything about Ryusen. After doing some research on Ryusen, their history and their combination of hand work and exploration of cutting technology I became confident in Gage's recommendation of the Blazen. Now that I've had a chance to use it, it has exceeded my expectations. The handle with its compound transition toward the blade is very comfortable and allows for great control for intricate cutting work. the handle finish has a great seal and I don't see any ways for water to soak in and sell the wood. Sharpened beautifully, it glides through carrots, garlic and salmon. Cuts through sirloin for stir fry and creates perfectly thin slices. It's a fun knife to work with!

Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Super sharp out of the box, has a great handle and overall feel. Customer service was also amazing!

Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

Beautiful knife, crazy sharp out of the box. Unique handle and very comfortable, very well balanced.

Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm

I have several Ryusen knives and found their edge-retention better than most knives of the same class/level. For daily use, I prefer the non-damascus knives since I see no need to pay premium prices for decorative effects which has little to do with the cutting ability. It's all about the quality of forging techniques more than anything else. This is why I pay more for Japanese knives as the value that handcrafting adds to the usability/durability of the knife supersedes the hype associated with the specialty steels, damascene surface treatments, etc. Note: I make a distinction between surface treatments and genuine Damascus steel made by skilled craftsmen - two different things altogether!

Ryusen Hamono Blazen Bunka 175 mm