AUS8 is a Japanese stainless steel widely respected for its balance of toughness, ease of sharpening, and corrosion resistance. At 58-59 HRC it sits in a practical mid-range hardness - hard enough to hold a working edge through daily prep, tough enough to resist chipping if it meets a hard ingredient. The stainless cladding in this San Mai construction protects the core and adds structural rigidity without adding weight. The nakiri profile - flat edge, squared tip, tall blade height - is designed for the push-cut technique used in Japanese vegetable prep. At 165mm it covers most cutting board tasks efficiently. Not reactive - no special drying protocol required beyond standard care.
