Masutani VG1 Tsuchime Western Gyuto 180mm

About Masutani – Masutani Hamono has been producing high-quality kitchen knives for four generations in Echizen city. Their goal is to create high-quality blades at an accessible price point for anyone, and they’ve nailed it. Their blades are super accessible and cut like a dream, being lovingly shaped, polished, and handled by grandfather, father, and son. 

Working with stainless steels such as VG10 and VG1 ensures they take and keep an edge just as well as some of the fancier Japanese knives out there but aren’t as fragile or prone to rust as knives made from high-carbon steel. This furthers their accessibility, making them a valuable tool for anyone who wants to upgrade their kitchen toolkit. Typically finished with a Western-style riveted handle, called a ‘yo-handle’ in Japan, they have a confident feel without being as heavy as many Western-style knives. They feel well-balanced for professionals, home cooks, and even burnt-out retired chefs like me.

About the Shape – Inspired by the profile of a traditional European chef knife, Gyutos are a multi-purpose knife with a slight meat cutting bias. “Gyuto” translates to “cow sword.” If you want one knife to do it all, This is it. Starting at 180mm, Gyutos can reach the ridiculously long (and awesome) 370mm. For the at-home or professional cook, we recommend a Gyuto which measures between 210mm and 270mm long