A Closer Look at a Coreless Damascus Knife
Happy New Year everyone! It’s Tomomi ☺️
We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year holiday.
Today, I’d like to introduce one of our newest collections: Coreless Damascus.
If you simply appreciate a well-made kitchen knife—or are looking for something new, unique, and different in a good way—this one is definitely worth a closer look. At first glance, the beautiful Damascus pattern immediately catches your eye, but there’s much more going on beneath the surface.
What Makes This Knife Different?
Most Japanese knives are made with a hard core steel wrapped in softer layers.
This knife, however, takes a different approach.
It features a coreless construction, meaning there is no separate core steel at all. The entire blade is forged from a mixture of VG10 and VG2—both high-performance steels—layered dozens of times and forge-welded together.
The steel itself is developed by Takefu Special Steel in Fukui Prefecture, a name well known and highly trusted in the world of Japanese cutlery. The result is a blade that delivers excellent sharpness, strength, and corrosion resistance, all in one solid structure.
Sharp Everywhere, Every Time
One of the biggest advantages of a coreless knife is its consistency.
Because the same material runs throughout the entire blade, it cuts the same way no matter where or how many times you sharpen it.
From heel to tip, you get a smooth, reliable cutting feel that remains consistent even after years of use.
The edge itself isn’t made from a single steel either. Multiple steels are layered together right at the edge, creating an ideal balance of hardness and toughness. This allows the knife to stay sharp longer while also reducing the risk of chipping.
Damascus That Goes All the Way Through
The Damascus pattern on this knife isn’t just decorative.
It runs all the way to the very edge of the blade—a clear sign of its true coreless, all-steel construction.
Each knife has its own unique pattern, making it just as satisfying to look at as it is to use.
At our Covent Garden store, we are pleased to introduce the Santoku and Gyuto 210mm from Mr. Makoto Kurosaki (Style-K, Fukui Prefecture), who is certified as one of Japan’s traditional craftsmen.
MAKOTO KUROSAKI KAEN CORELESS DAMASCUS HAMMERED SANTOKU KNIFE 170MM OCTAGONAL EBONY HANDLE
MAKOTO KUROSAKI KAEN CORELESS DAMASCUS HAMMERED GYUTO KNIFE 210MM OCTAGONAL EBONY HANDLE
If you’re curious about experiencing a different kind of Japanese knife—one that combines innovation, beauty, and performance—this Coreless Damascus series is truly something special.
Thank you for taking the time to read!
Tomomi