Hatsukokoro By Nakagawa Blue 1 Wide Bevel Kasumi

The Nakagawa Blue 1 Wide Bevel is a line commissioned by Hatsukokoro that offers a series of very solid blades that are good for professional works. This line combines moderate thickness, decent profile and good detail finish, with a defined look that separate it from the typicall guyto. And as an upgrade from the Blue 2 line, the Blue 1 steel offer more carbon, more hardness and more edge retention, provide that extra performance for a very similar price.

The wide bevel in the name refers to the grind that these blades takes on. Usually Japanese double bevel knives will have a flat grind, where the secondary bevel starts all the way at the spine, in cases where the secondary bevels start halfway, they tend to blends into the flat zone slightly. This line however, have a very distinct boundary at the begining of its secondary bevel,creating a very sharp and geometrycall look, especially on the Kiritsuke Gyuto, which distinct the entire line from other plain Migaki finish knives.

Performance of the kinfe on the chopping board is great, as the bevel takes a concave grind, it is of a good sharpness even the thickness of the spine is not as thin as some "laser" knives, though there is a slight tendency for the food to stick due to this grind. This combination allows the edge to be thin, while having more material behind the bevel to provide toughtness in a professional setting.

Unlike its Ginsan sibling, this line is constructed with carbon core steel with soft iron cladding, so the entire blade is prone to rust and discolouration, which is why I would only recommend this line to who are willing to take care a carbon steel. In exchange, the ease of sharpening, absolute sharpness and edge retention of Blue 1 wouldn't let you down, especially when considering that the heat treating is done by Nakagawa-san, who have more than 20 years of experience under the legendary bladesmith Kenichi Shiraki.

I believe this line make perfect sense for who what a more refined carbon steel knife made by a renowned maker, althought the pricing is on the higher end, the experience of the maker behind these blades are there to back it up. And for those who want this knife in a stainless package, there is the Ginsan option, made with same level of craftmanship by Nakagawa too.