The Shiro Kamo Keyaki Petty Knife 135mm is a small Japanese utility knife, similar to a Western paring knife. Due to its maneuverable size, this petty knife is best suited to medium sized prep work, chopping and mincing smaller ingredients, or being used for hand-held tasks, Slice delicate ingredients with ease using this razor-sharp blade. Handcrafted and forged by Japanese blacksmith, Shiro Kamo, this knife has a Aogami #2 steel core with a superior hardness rating (63-64 HRC) that is easy to resharpen. The cutting core steel is sandwiched between layers of iron (for a total of 3 layers) and finished with a black Kurouchi finish.  Kurouchi is a traditional steel finish often used by blacksmiths which translates into "Black Forge". The finish is an unpolished layer of the steel during the heat treatment that gives the knife a very characterful, rustic aesthetic. These Kamo knives feature an octagonal Pakkawood and Keyaki handle. Keyaki, meaning wood from the Zelkova tree, is highly prized in Japan for its beautiful grain and versatility. Each knife by Shiro Kamo is finished with a traditional engraving, making these knives an authentic piece of Japanese culture. Caring for your handmade knife: Due to the nature of handcrafting and traditional blacksmithing, each knife is unique and may have some cosmetic distortion or irregularities. This is expected and normal. Because these knives are handcrafted, they do not qualify for warranty services.