Suminagashi translates as floating ink and refers to the beautiful marbled wave like patterns that extend through the blade from the tip to the heel, unveiling a new mosaic with every sharpening. Only the most skilled of artisans can forge together these metals in such complex puzzle piece formations to fashion knives of this caliber with the highest quality, blending aesthetics and performance.

Our handmade Yoshihiro Blue Steel Suminagashi knives are crafted with extraordinary skill by our master artisans. Exemplifying the most intricate techniques of forging, layering, and hammering, Aoko Blue Steel #1 with a hardness on the Rockwell scale of 64, is forged with iron to create the most elaborate of finishes. Suminagashi translates as floating ink and refers to the beautiful marbled wave like patterns that extend through the blade from the tip to the heel, unveiling a new mosaic with every sharpening. Only the most skilled of artisans can forge together these metals in such complex puzzle piece formations to fashion knives of this caliber with the highest quality, blending aesthetics and performance.

Our Yoshihiro Blue Steel #1 Suminagashi knives are complimented with a traditional Japanese style handcrafted premium Ebony wood handle of the highest quality affixed with a Water Buffalo horn bolster, and a protective wooden sheath called a Saya is included, which protects the knife and adds to its appearance when not in use. The Deba knife is a heavy knife that was made to filet and butcher whole fish. The heft of the Deba knife allows it to cut through the heads and bones of a fish, and its smaller pointed tip filets the flesh from the bones. The Deba knife can used be for chicken and meat but is not recommended for cutting through large bones. The Deba knife is one of the most essential of traditional Japanese knives and is a powerful component in the repertoire of many chefs. Even the simplest of tasks are elevated with a handcrafted knife that is as beautiful as it is functional.