Tagai Sanjo 165mm Santoku SLD Oak and Wenge Handle

Tagai knives are a collaboration born in Sanjo Niigata and are forged and ground by Hosokawa-san (Gihei Hamono).

These are forged in stainless clad SLD with a migaki finish, they have the classic Sanjo geometry with strong distal taper and are ground very thin behind the edge. Handles are square leaning oak and wenge octagonal handle, also made in Sanjo specifically for this series.

SLD steel is an improved SKD11 carbon tool steel most commonly used in tap and die tools and metal stamping dies. It is designed to stay tough when treated hard and to retain its workability at a high hardness as well. For knife making this translates to a very long lived tough edge with near stainless properties. It holds an edge very nicely and cuts well as it dulls. While SLD has a very high chromium content for a carbon steel which slows down rust, it is not stainless, avoid soaking or leaving food on the blade.

Maintain with care, hand wash and dry, no dishwasher. Hardwood-end grain or softwood long grain cutting boards are preferred; avoid bamboo and plastic cutting boards. As these are ground very thin please be careful of twisting the blade on the cutting board or cutting hard ingredients, these are very high performing knives, but do not tolerate misuse.