Imai Shotaro White2 Damascus Hunting knife 210mm

Imai Shotaro

Imai Shotaro is a Blacksmith from Echizen, Japan.

Shirogami 2/Iron Clad

The knife is forged from Shirogami/White Carbon Steel. The Shirogami core steel is cladded in Soft Iron, which makes the entire blade of the knife reactive steel, so extra care and maintenance are critical. It’s always a good idea to wipe your blade with a damp towel while working, especially with highly acidic foods like onion, lemons, etc., until a patina has developed on the blade.

Shirogami is one of the purest types of carbon steel you can get; it has minimal impurities and a very fine grain structure. As a result, Shirogami is, in our opinion, one of the easiest steels to sharpen, and you can sharpen Shirogami to a crazy sharpness level.

Make sure to wash and dry your knives properly after use. We like to use paper towels to dry our carbon steel knives as this absorbs the most moisture. Over time, the blade will develop a Patina. This oxidation will usually be grey to dark grey, protecting your knife from harmful Rust. The knife will slowly start building its character.

Most Japanese knives are made with a much harder steel than their Western counterparts. Harder steel can be sharpened much sharper and hold an edge for long periods. Never cut through bones, frozen foods, butternut stems, lemongrass, etc. This can result in a chipped blade. Hard steel is much more delicate than softer steel.