Yoshimi Kato SG2 Mirror Damascus Petty 150mm Ebony Handle

A petty knife is a small Japanese utility knife, typically with a blade between 120mm and 180mm, designed for precision tasks like peeling, trimming, and slicing fruits and vegetables. You need one when your main chef’s knife feels too large for detail work, think deveining shrimp, cutting garnishes, or any in-hand peeling where a bigger blade gets in the way. Its slightly longer and slimmer profile than a Western paring knife gives you more control for intricate cuts without sacrificing the nimble feel you want for small jobs. If you regularly find yourself reaching for a smaller blade for finishing work, a petty fills that gap cleanly.

A petty is not a replacement for a gyuto or santoku. It lacks the blade length and belly for efficient chopping, rocking, or breaking down larger proteins. If your work is mostly bulk prep, like dicing onions or slicing roasts, a petty will feel slow and underpowered. It also won’t handle heavy tasks like splitting bones or prying, so treat it as a precision tool, not an all-rounder.

The petty’s role in a Japanese kitchen is as the smaller counterpart to the gyuto, built for tasks where a full-size blade is clumsy. At Knives and Stones, the petty category covers a range of steels including VG10, White#2, Swedish Steel, VG5, SG2, and MV, from makers like Sakai Takayuki, Masamoto Sohonten, Ryusen, Nigara, Hatsukokoro, and Sentan. Most are double-beveled, and the blade length runs from 120mm to 180mm, which is what gives it that balance of reach and precision. For more on how this fits into your knife kit, see the [Knives and Stones Knowledge Base](https://knivesandstones.com/pages/knowledge-base).

SG2 is my go-to recommendation for anyone who wants a stainless knife that performs like carbon steel without the fuss. At 1.25% carbon and HRC 62-64, it takes a screaming edge and holds it far longer than VG-10 or AEB-L, all while being fully rust-resistant. You get the best of both worlds: no patina worry, but real cutting performance.

Neither is objectively better, it just depends on whether you value stainless convenience or a laser-sharp carbon edge. Go with SG2 if you want a knife that holds a screaming edge without any babysitting. Choose AS if you are chasing the thinnest possible edge and don't mind wiping the blade down after every use.

SG2 is a powdered stainless steel from Takefu, usually sitting around 62-64 HRC. It is tough and resists corrosion, which is why I reach for it when working with acidic foods. Aogami Super is high carbon and typically harder at 64-66 HRC. It sharpens to a hair-whittling edge that lasts slightly longer than SG2, but it will rust if you neglect it.

Yes, R2 and SG2 are the same steel — R2 is the name used by Kobelco Steel, and SG2 (Super Gold 2) is the name used by Takefu Special Steel for the identical powdered metallurgy formula. The catalog confirms this: SG2 / R2 is a powder (PM) steel from Takefu Special Steel, Japan, with a composition of 1.25% carbon, 14.0% chromium, 1.8% vanadium, 2.3% molybdenum, and a hardness range of 62–64 HRC. So if you see a knife labeled R2 or SG2, you are getting the exact same material.

Yoshimi Kato is known for hand-forged Damascus knives with thin geometry and strong cutting performance, working primarily in SG2 and Aogami Super steels from his workshop in Echizen's Takefu Knife Village. He is a certified traditional craftsman (伝統工芸士, earned 2008) and the third-generation blacksmith at Kato Knife Manufacturing, which was established in 1948. His reputation rests on precise heat treatment of premium steels and distinctive Damascus patterns.

Kato also produces knives for the Masakage brand. In recent years he has drawn inspiration from his friend Yu Kurosaki, another Takefu Knife Village smith, and developed newer designs such as the Hyo line. His new gallery and workshop recently opened next to Kurosaki's gallery in Takefu, reflecting the close creative relationship between the two makers.