Aren't hagane and jigane mixed up here? Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I always thought hagane referred to the harder core steel.
Somehow, I knew that was going to happen with the Japanese stuff. Thanks!
Could you double check my definitions for Kasumi, etc, Jon? I certainly don't speak Japanese, and try to avoid it even when talking cutlery.
hagane- hard core steel
jigane- softer cladding
hamon-the line that shows up on honyaki knives when they have been deferentially hardened by coating the spine with a proprietary clay mixture
Kasumi- means mist. Often refers to a type of finish on clad japanese knives. Contrary to your definition, it ideal is NOT mirror hagane and misty jigane. Rather, they should both be misty, but with contrast between the hagane and jigane. Often the jigane will be either whiteish or darker than the hagange.
damascus- can also be called suminagashi (refers to ink swirl patterns), tamamoku (refers to wood grain patterns), or just plain old "damasukasu"
kataba- single bevel knife
ryoba- double bevel knife
migaki- polished
yaki-ire- heat treatment
san-mai- type of cladding that looks like 3 sheets... 2 sheets of softer steel around 1 sheet of harder steel
warikomi-a type of cladding in which the harder steel is jacketed by the softer steel
arato/aratoishi- coarse stone
nakato/nakatoishi- medium stone
shiageto/shiagetoishi- finishing stone
choshiageto/choshiagetoishi- super finishing stone (extremely fine grit)
toishi- sharpening stone
kissaki- the tip area of a blade's edge
shinogi- this the the line between the table/face of a balde and the bevel
ura- back side of a knife (hollow ground on single bevel knives)
Just a few to start with.. i'll add more when i have some more free time
Yeah, I don't know enough about Japanese to keep up with a list of Japanese Terms...Have you had a look at Gator's Japanese term glossary at zknives.com? I usually just go by that when I get confused by Japanese words.
I'll edit the Kasumi definition when I get home!
yeah... gators site is pretty good
The objection I've had to the knife buying questionnaire at ITK and here, is that its tailored for experienced knife users, i.e. those who work in restaurants. Those of us, who are home cooks, which I am one, when we discover a knife site, its a whole new world.
German knives don't hold the top spot. The amazing number of Japanese companies, and the variety of their knives. People on the forum are encouraged to learn how to sharpen, when the typical advice is send out your knives to be sharpened.
Maybe a series of beginner faqs. European knife style compared to the Japanese style. A list of Japanese knifes, differentiating between the commonly used knives, and the specialized ones. Sharpening, the different types of stones, to prepping them for the first time, to holding a knife over the stones.
I'd be willing to take on one of the faqs/guides.
Jay
I love seeing you guys getting involved with the education - it's awesome!