Discount Store Tsunehisa Ginsan Nashiji Santoku

First Impressions

Impressive. We’d expected at this price point that there might be a little bit of tweaking on a stone or honing rod to be done but actually right out of the box the edge is good.

There’s also scope to get a lot more out of the knife too so while it’s absolutely good to go right from the start, it’s also got plenty of potential for more with minimal effort.

Beauty

This is a nice looking knife, available in a classic nashiji or migaki finish and a range of handles including magnolia, a single piece oak and red pakka wood yo handle. They’re a great looking, classic Japanese knife in every respect.

In Hand

The only real area on this range we’d perhaps look to tweak would just be rounding off the finish along the spine of the knife but often this is one of the finishingtouches that you find on higher cost knives because it’s a reflection of the increased time required to finish those knives.

Durability

Overall durability might not quite match the more expensive carbon steels but at this price point, the Ginsan (Silver 3) steel core is a great option and although it’s not as hard as some of the other steels, at 61HRC it’s plenty hard enough to retain an edge well and performs at a great level.

Ease of Care

Ginsan is a stainless steel and the cladding on the knife is stainless so it’s easy to care for and maintain if you follow our normal care guideand we’d recommend a Japanese knife care kit for long term care.

Our Verdict

This range is excellent value for money.

Ginsan steel is a super option for those who would like the carbon steel like properties and edge retention but without having to worry about caring for carbon steel.

As a stainless steel it’s easy to care for and at the price we think it’s a truly great purchase for either a first Japanese knife or an addition to your collection.