Moritaka Aogami Super Series Utility Knife carbon steel blade 15cm

Moritaka is one of the most distinguised manufaturers of kitchen knives of Japan. The brand is managed by a family of bladesmiths that has been in the knife industry for more than 700 years. All the knives made by Moritaka are hadncrafted, which means that each single knife is truly unique piece of cutlery. These are extraordinary knives ideal for experts and fans of elite cutlery.

You should know that these knives are not easy to find in the market due to the fact that they're authentically handcrafted, and that is why the team of MyChefKnives is proud to have them on our website! With these knives, we are very far from the automatic procedures used in factories to maximise profits. Instead, the main words in the manufacturing of these knives are patience and traditional know-how.

The utility knife 15cm shown in this page belongs to the Aogami Super Steel series. It is a handy knife that can be used for cutting fruits and vegetables. Its blade is longer than in most utility knives, which is why you can also use to cut meat as long as the blade does not touch any bone or boned joint.

About the brand:

All the Moritaka handcrafted kitchen knives are reliable. The brand has a rich and surprising history: it was founded in 1293 by the boss of bladesmiths of the Buddhist monks of Mount Homan in the Japanese city of Fukuoka, where they remained thorughout 13 generations.

During the 17th century, the family business moved to Kumamoto, and in this new city, the manufacturing of knives continued throughout 13 new generations. As an interesting fact, Moritaka supplied the swords for the Daimyo, who were powerful Japanese lords of that time. It was just 5 generations ago when Moritaka finally decided to expand its expertise by starting the production of kitchen knives. 

The blade:

The steel alloy of the blade comes from the YSS (Yasugi Speciality Steel) range of steel from Hitachi, which is known around the world for the great quality of its different types of steel. The YSS steel range is divided into different types of steel, but for this specific utility knife, Moritaka chose the highest-end steel: the Aogami Super Steel.

HIghly appreciated by Japanese bladesmiths, this type of steel has a high content of carbon (between 1.4 and 1.5%) and tunsgten (between 2 and 2.5%), which are two elements that enhance the hardness of the knife. The final hardness reaches 65 HRC in the Rockwell scale, and that is quite high especially if you take into consideraton than in average, a good knife is usually between 58 and 60 HRC.

The Aogami Super Steel core is covered and protected by a layer of iron. Thanks to the overall hardness of the blade, its cutting edge is able to remain sharp for long time. Under normal circumstances of usage, the knife can remain highly effective without having to be honed so often. One honing session per year should be enough.

Despite being so hard, the knife's blade is actually easy to sharpen. This becomes more noticeable when we compare it to other Japanese blades made of, for example, VG10 steel. Most blades made of VG10 steel have a hardness of 61 to 63 HRC, but they are not easy to sharpen because of the specific composition of the allow (nonetheless, the steel is of great quality). That will not be a problem with any Moritaka knife.

On the blade's surface, you can easily spot its Kurouchi finish, which simply translates as the bladesmith's finish. The unpolished, dark surface gives the blade a rustic and authentic look that makes it more obvious that this is indeed a truly handcrafted knife.

The blade has a V-shaped cutting edge that is more robust than the edge of single-beveled blades. As the steel core is symetrically covered by iron, the edge is better protected. Such type of edge also means that this knife is perfectly suitable for both left and right handed cooks.

The handle:

To solve a problem commonly found in Japanese knives, Moritaka came up with a specific type of handle that is patented by the brand. The shape as well as the materials used by Moritaka enable the handle to be more resistant and durable. The main difference is found in the fact that the tang is made of stainless steel and not of carbon steel. By being made of stainless steel, there is less risk of the tang being damaged by corrosion and thus causing internal damage to the handle.

For this utility knife, you can choose between two different types of handles. One is made of walnut wood and has a D-shaped design, whereas the other is made of dark walnut wood and has an octangular shape. Both types of handle are connected to the blade through a black bolster.

Care and maintenance:

To wash this knife, you should use a mild soap and rinse it with abundant hot water. Then, dry it immediately with a soft cloth, and store it in a dry place completely free of humidity. Following this advice is very important for the right preservation of the knife, thus putting it in the dishwasher is strictly forbidden.

Because the steel has a high content of carbon and is covered by a layer of iron, the blade is much more sensitive to corrosion than most knives in the market. If the blade is not dried correctly, rust spots can appear on its surface. Therefore, it is highly important to always keep the knife in a place without humidity.

However, due to the nature of the steel alloy, some small stains can appear on the blade's surface over time, and this would be normal as they might be caused by the acids of food ingredients. This is why carbon steel blades are recommended for customers that are truly knowledgeable about them, as they would admire their quality whilst keeping in mind that they require a meticulous care and maintenance.

Here are some final quick details about this knife:

Total length: 26 cm

Blade length: 15cm

Blade height: 29 mm

Blade width: 2 mm

Weight: 70 grams

So now that you know all the impressive and superb qualities of this knife, your next step is to invite it into your kitchen! And do not worry if it doesn't look exactly as the photos in this page or as other knives in this same knife range, because remember: they are truly handcrafted, so each unit is unique!

Do not hesitate to have a look at other Japanese handcrafted knives in our category dedicated to the brand Moritaka!