Is this normal to see on a new knife?

[Tae Park]

This is my first Japanese knife I've bought and I just opened it up. It has these tiny holes in the body of the blade. I'm just too new to Japanese knives to know if this is acceptable. Is this normal or should I return it? Specific details this is the Ryusen Blazen Nakiri. I also got in a Ryusen Blazen Gyuto from a different store and that one does not have these tiny holes all over it. Thank you

 

[JPAU]

Is it iron or stainless clad?

 

[Mikeadunne]

It’s weird that it’s on the blade road

 

[refcast]

It's iron oxide or forge scale that got pounded into the blade during the forging process. Doesn't affect performance but not desirable necessarily, by the maker or users. Takes time to remove scale, so maybe that process got skipped or forgotten this time. But it shows it was handmade and forged. The marks only go as far as you see, so they shouldn't heit the cutting edge and cause chips. It's a minor form of tsuchime or kurouchi. If you don't like it, it's probably ok to return it

 

[Stevem627]

Is it on both sides? Personally, I don’t think it’s something I’d want on my knife, but I doubt it’s a big problem. I guess you bought it online, did the picture of the model show that in the finish?

I had to edit this to add that Ryusen is known for fit and finish and are priced accordingly, so I wouldn’t be happy with the knife.

 

[Vertigo]

This is my first Japanese knife I've bought and I just opened it up. It has these tiny holes in the body of the blade. I'm just too new to Japanese knives to know if this is acceptable. Is this normal or should I return it? Specific details this is the Ryusen Blazen Nakiri. I also got in a Ryusen Blazen Gyuto from a different store and that one does not have these tiny holes all over it. Thank you


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Newp. Return that.

 

[Tae Park]

Thanks everyone for your input. I did reach out to the ryusen hamono directly and they said the knife is a standard product that passed their quality control. They said it was proof it was handmade and is not a defect. I'm gonna see if I can still get a replacement for it since it doesn't match with the finish of the other blazen series I got in.

 

[Corradobrit1]

Looks like metal worm. I wouldn't accept that. Its ugly especially along the blade road.

 

[bsfsu]

It looks like nashiji. I've ordered custom knives from Japanese blacksmiths, they offered 3 different nashiji finishes, at 3 different prices due to the processes taking more or less time.

Nashiji is as varied as KU finishes, there is no defect I can see.

 

[McMan]

They're missing a marketing opportunity. Just call it "salt-on-ice" finish and bump the price a few hundred...

Not uncommon to see that in small areas of a knife, but I've never seen anything so extensive/deep.
I'd return it. I think this falls outside of the "ahh, it's handmade" caveat.

 

[Benuser]

At this level, if you feel uncomfortable about it, they do have a problem. Return it.

 

[Tae Park]

Got a happy ending to report. Was able to get a replacement nakiri. It's perfect. Thanks again everyone for your help

 

[Stevem627]

You did the right thing, and they SHOULD have taken care of you. Glad it came out ok.

 

[chiffonodd]

Got a happy ending to report. Was able to get a replacement nakiri. It's perfect. Thanks again everyone for your help

Glad it worked out. Ryusen's level of finish is usually so high in the wa-blazen series in particular that it's easy to forget that the knife is handmade. Maybe it's too good!