Fashionable Shigeki Tanaka VG10 Damascus Santoku

First Impressions

The consistent grind on the VG10 is impressive and out of the box the sharpness is as good as you’d expect from a top level blacksmith. This is a knife that’s ready for business!

Beauty

Definitely a good looking knife, we pair it a traditional wa handle in teak and black buffalo which creates a nice contrast with the beautiful exposed layering in the cladding steel all the way down to the core cutting edge.

The cutting edge is highly polished and then fades to a more matt like migaki style finish so this knife would suit someone who is looking for a good amount of visual interest in their knives but perhaps not something that screams too loud for attention!

In Hand

This is a light and well balanced knife if you’re using a pinch grip. It’s very nimble and the balance point just around the bottom of the kanji works well and creates a nimble and easy to use knife.

Durability

The VG10 core clad in stainless steel is a classic combination for good reason. It’s got a good balance of edge retention and sharpness and is easy to look after.

Ease of Care

Caring for the knife and maintaining its sharpness is as easy as rinsing and drying after use and periodically honing it with aceramic rodto keep the edge in top condition.

We do also recommend you store it on aknife block or rackif possible.

Our Verdict

The VG10 will suit a wide range of people and uses because it covers a lot of bases. It’s well made and finished by a master blacksmith and uses a classic steel combination that retains and edge but doesn’t need a ton of maintenance and it’s at a price point that makes it very accessible.

We’re delighted to stock this and think it offers great value for money from a top class blacksmith.