Discount Store Nigara Hamono AS Santoku with stag horn handle

First Impressions

Very impressive sharpness right out of the box and to be honest – this is the normal expectation of all Nigara Hamono knives and like all their knives the AS range doesn’t disappoint when it comes to cutting performance.

The grind down to the cutting edge is very thin and they simply glide through food.

Beauty

If you’re looking for wow factor then we’ll let the photos and product videos do the talking here!

It’s a sensational looking knife blade with the matt grey shade of the kurouchi finish and the S shaped hammer finish tapering down to the wavy mirror finish of the core aogami steel.

The traditional walnut wa handle version is subtle and classic or you can blow that out of the water with a uniquestag horn handletopped with a wooden bolster and turquoise cap at the end of the handle it’s as much a statement piece as it is a high performance working knife.

In Hand

For the traditional handled versions of the AS, it’s a nice and light knife in hand and you’ll find a familiar balance just around the Nigara logo on the blade of most of the knives in the range.

The shape and size of the stag horn handle version does look quite large compared to the proportion of the blade but it’s actually remarkably comfortable when it’s in your hand and the uneven shape and finishing marks along each one actually feel really nice when you hold it.

It’s definitely heavier than a traditional wa handle and so push the balance point of the knife back a little but only as far as the heel of the blade so it’s still nimble and very comfortable.The stag horn itself is also quite cool to the touch which is a rather nice bonus!

Durability

Aogami Super is a very popular and durable steel and used widely throughout the Japanese knife world so it’s one that’s easy to sharpen and retains an edge well so this is definitely a knife that’s going to last when cared for.

Ease of Care

It’s a reactive steel core so will develop a patina with use as you’d expect but it’s easy to look after if you follow our normal care instructions and store properly when not in use.

Our Verdict

It’s unusual to find knives of this outstandingquality and sharpness at this price point and the option of a classic wa handle or a custom stag horn one gives you a nice choice to make as to which one you’re going to choose!

Nigara Hamono have been making knives and blades of the highest quality for more than 350 years and this range is another one that will no doubt prove incredibly popular and rightly so.