KATSURA Woodworking Project Kit – Petty Utility Chef Knife Blank – 6.5 Inch – Japanese Premium AUS 10, 67 Layers Damascus Steel – Perfect for Woodworkers, Crafters – Includes a Handcrafted Gift box

Super sharp very well made blade !

This 6.5” Petty knife is a great addition to the kitchen. It is a perfect size for all-purpose use, and the appearance and finish are first-class. Over time I have purchased many blades from Katsura, and find that the AUS-10 steel sharpens well and holds an edge beautifully. These blades come exceptionally sharp right out of the box. Highly recommended.

The detailed description for this item says "The blade is crafted by folding 66 layers of Japanese Damascus steel over a Japanese AUS-10 steel cutting core with a 60+ Rockwell hardness." Possibly this "Japanese Damascus steel" is capable of being polished to a super bright silver finish, but all the other (approximately 50) blades I own that ARE Damascus Steel retain there distinct dark stripes (from the carbonized layers) even when attempting a polish with a diamond buffing system (used to make telescope mirrors, among other things). This item requires special viewing angle to be able to see the "layers" because it is all so shiny. And after about 2 dozen washes (you use it, you wash it) the layers are appearing to fade, as if (I suspect) they are simply surface etched or stamped in after polishing the original blank. And I could not even use the "presentation quality packaging" because as with so many things shipped by Amazon, it was poorly packaged and 2 diagonally opposed corners were crushed either in the amazon warehouse, or on its' way (shipped simply in a poly bag) to me. I would have actually given this a 1 star review, except that the blade is a good, hard steel, arrives pre-sharpened to an edge that would embarrass several German knife companies, and when re-sharpened (seldom needed as it holds its' edge) the knife edges up well. And I only paid 2/3 of what it is currently priced at (about 50 dollars now in 08/2023).

This blade is beautiful, functional, and a pleasure to use. The quality deserves the best woods for handles. I'll definitely be back for more of these blades, and to view other blades from this company.

Can’t beat Katsura products for their excellent kits, complete with high quality gift box!