Nigara Kurouchi SG2 sujihiki ktip 255mm EN

There is something that sets Nigara Hamono apart from other knifemaking families in Japan. One could first point to its 350-year history, beginning with swordmaking for the Tsugaru clan in the early Edo period. The passing down of know-how and skills over eight generations has undoubtedly given Nigara knives their cultural DNA, but this long history is not unique to Nigara.

One could say that having a legendary fifth-generation swordsmith—Japan’s national treasure, Mr. Kunitoshi Nigara (二唐國俊)—gives the family brand a high status. The best way to understand why Nigara stands out in the eyes of the current (8th) generation swordsmith—Mr. Tsuyoshi Yoshizawa (吉澤剛)—is to be understood. As he stands in the family business workshop with his younger brother and two young craftsmen, he feels inspired to create the most remarkable knives in the world.

The Nigara family has expanded since its sword-forging days into structural steelworks, steel beam technology, and the restoration of historic metal structures. In a word, Nigara is the guru of steel.

Brand: Nigara Hamono
Swordsmith: Tsuyoshi Yoshizawa
Series: Tsuchime Kurouchi
Steel: SG2
Hardness: 63-64 HRC
Type: Sujihiki 255mm
Blade Length: 25.1 cm
Heel Height: 3.73 cm
Heel Thickness: 2.1 mm
Tip Thickness: 0.7 mm
Weight: 155 g

Designed entirely by hand, the handle is made from hybrid Banksia nut with resin and faux ivory spacer.

Nigara Hamono has many highly identifiable knife lines. From the swirling pattern of the Anmon Kurozome to the highly sought-after Troll Killers, this SG2 kurouchi tsuchime line is no different. What makes this line so recognizable in our opinion is the distinct excuse for abstraction, the lower half of a hexagonal hammer pattern (tsuchime) in the kurouchi (raw forge), but what makes this a solid choice of knife to buy is that powdered steel known as SG2. Unparalleled sharpness in a stainless steel.