Hatsukokoro Kumokage Blue 2 Kurouchi Damascus Gyuto 210mm Black Chacate Handle

We all LOVE Shigeki Tanaka’s knife, light, nimble, not a laser but glides through potatoes effortlessly, with minimal stiction.  Problem is, we can never get enough of them. One of the most difficult products to get is the Kurouchi line, the lead time was significant. So a few years ago, I started searching for the perfect replacement: cuts well, rustic looking, and most importantly, same unbeatable price.

Fast forward to 2022, we finally received something from our close partner Hatsukokoro,  and man, I am stoked: this blue 2 KU line exceeded almost every aspect of expectation. 

This Hatsukokoro blue 2 line is made by the Muneishi Cutlery, which has a long history back in 1955. They heat treat their blue 2 steel to about 62 to 63 HRC which I consider is optimal  hardness for blue 2. Can't fault the grind as well, very soild cutting performacne which makes this Hatsukokoro Blue 2 line a perfect knife for anyone looking to get into the world of carbon knife or for experienced users that just loves the cutting feel of carbon steel. 

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Measurements 

• Weight (g): 190g
• Tip to Heel Length (mm): 213
• Blade Height at Heel (mm): 47mm
• Width of Spine Above Heel / Mid / 1cm from Tip (mm): 3.5 / 2.5 / 0.9
• Steel: Blue 2 Damascus KU Finish Iron Clad

• Hardness: HRC 62-63
• Handle Design: Octagonal Black Chacate Handle (Black Chacate is a hardwood timber with 1.0+ density from Africa. It is closely related to ebony. Black Chacate is sometimes wrongly referred as Bubinga which is less than 1 in density)