ZDP-189 // Gyuto Black

The Gyuto design is intended chefs who prefer a medium size multi-purpose, versatile knife, suitable to cut meat, fish, and vegetables.

ZDP-189 Gyuto Black is manufactured at the smithery of Yoshida Hamono in Japan, a family company with an age-long tradition in manufacturing state-of-the-art tools and Japanese swords by hand. Yoshida Hamono has a great deal of experience forging ZDP-189 steel in the traditional manner.

The heart of the knife is made of ZDP-189 steel, selected because systematic testing has proven its superior qualities and long-lasting sharpness. The steel is laminated, which means that the core is made of very strong steel covered with an external layer of softer stainless steel. Such a blade remains sharp for a very long time; its softer external layer makes it easier to sharpen, and it also protects the core steel from external factors.

Kuro-uchi finish, the unprocessed (black) part on the top side of the blade has already developed dark patina, which protects the blade and gives it a traditional Japanese look.

This Gyuto is fitted a traditional Japanese wooden handle, called Wa. The wooden handle is made of walnut wood and has an octagonal shape, which fits well into the hands of both left- and right-handed users.

The steel contains as much as 3% Carbon (C), which is one of the main elements contributing strength and typically found in amounts of up to only 1% in other types of solid steel, while the Chromium (Cr) content, which prevents corrosion, amounts to nearly 20%. It also features 1.5% Tungsten (W), which considerably increases the abrasion resistance of steel, 1.3% Molybdenum (Mo), which helps to preserve the strength and power of steel under variable temperatures, and 0.10% Vanadium (V), the key element in increasing steel strength. Heat treatment produces steel with a hardness of 65-67 HRC.