Vintage Japanese Sakai Takayuki Santoku Knife 160mm Carbon Steel Made in Japan 1656

Experience Compact Japanese Preparation with a Vintage Sakai Takayuki Santoku

This pre-owned Sakai Takayuki Santoku pairs a 160mm carbon steel blade with a wood handle. Recorded as fully forged and made in Japan, it offers a compact all-purpose kitchen format with the character of a vintage Japanese knife.

The Specs

• Brand: Sakai Takayuki
• Recorded inscriptions: 堺孝行 and 本割込
• Knife type: Santoku
• Blade length: 160mm
• Overall length: 290mm
• Recorded blade thickness: 1.4mm
• Steel: High carbon steel; exact alloy not recorded
• Recorded construction: Fully forged, Hon-Warikomi laminate
• Recorded hardness: 58 HRC
• Handle: Wood
• Origin: Made in Japan
• Condition: Used / pre-owned

Sakai Takayuki and Hon-Warikomi Construction

The original maker notes identify Sakai Takayuki with Aoki Hamono Seisakusho in Sakai, Osaka. The recorded engraving reads 堺孝行, the Sakai Takayuki name, and 本割込 (Hon-Warikomi), described in the original notes as a hard high-carbon steel core enclosed by softer steel layers. No particular core alloy, cladding grade or production date is added.

The Santoku, commonly translated as three virtues, is an all-purpose format for meat, fish and vegetables. Its flat-to-gently-curved edge suits push cuts and light rocking, while the wide blade offers knuckle clearance. At 160mm, this example provides a manageable option for tighter cutting boards. Carbon steel can take a keen edge and develops natural patina with use, rewarding careful drying and maintenance.

Care & Maintenance

• Hand wash only, never in the dishwasher
• Dry immediately after washing to help prevent rust
• Do not soak the wood handle
• Natural patina develops with use; remove active rust rather than treating it as patina
• Sharpen on a whetstone, preserving the existing edge geometry
• Store on a magnetic strip or in a knife block to protect the edge