Yoshiaki Fujiwara (Kiyoshi Kato) kurouchi aogami 240mm gyuto

Specifications

This Kiyoshi Kato kurouchi wa-gyuto is made with an aogami core and carbon cladding in a traditional construction. The blade has a kurouchi finish that gives it a natural forged appearance and helps reduce reactivity. The spine begins thick near the handle and tapers toward the tip, which provides solid feel during cutting. The geometry is consistent along the length of the blade without being overly thin. The knife is fitted with an octagonal magnolia handle and a buffalo horn ferrule.

Kiyoshi Kato, also known by his smith name Yoshiaki Fujiwara, was born in 1944. He is a licensed swordsmith and received his certification in 1999. His training began at age 20 under his grandfather, Kanekuni Kato, and his father, Sanehira Kato. After more than a decade of swordsmithing, he began producing outdoor and kitchen knives in 1977. He continues to make his knives in his workshop in Hokuto City in Yamanashi prefecture.

Details

• Brand / maker: Kiyoshi Kato
• Location: Hokuto, Yamanashi, Japan
• Knife type: wa-gyuto
• Series: kurouchi

Construction

• Construction type: carbon clad
• Steel category: carbon steel
• Steel type: aogami

Blade and Handle Specs

• Total length: 394mm
• Blade length: 232mm
• Blade height at heel: 50.7mm
• Spine thickness:
  • at the handle: 4.8mm
  • at the heel: 4.3mm
  • midway: 2.2mm
  • 1cm from the tip: 1.2mm
• Weight: 226g
• Edge/bevel: 50:50
• Handle: octagonal magnolia
• Ferrule: buffalo horn
• Hand orientation: ambidextrous