One of the indispensable elements of kitchen utensils is a knife. The preparation of most dishes is not without the use of this tool. Provided that a convenient and sufficiently sharp cutting object is used, even a routine kitchen process will bring pleasure. Stylish and very high-quality products are Japanese kitchen knives "Samura". User reviews about this company and all its products are mostly positive.
Manufacturer
Japan has long been famous for its knives. The art of creating military swords in the Land of the Rising Sun has always been given much attention. Katanas (long Japanese swords without tops) are still considered the best examples of knives. Japan has developed a special sharpening technology that extends the durability of blades. The traditions of creating Japanese knives are successfully supported by masters of the city of Seki. The place is famous for the fact that there are many workshops for the production of knives. One of them produces weapons of the Samura trademark.
Specialization
The Japanese company Samura specializes in the manufacture of knives that have found their application in household appliances. In restaurants and cafes, professional Samura knives are in demand. Customer reviews indicate that these products can also be used as a gift. All sets of cutting products of this Japanese company have high technical characteristics and attractive design. They are sold in a smart box.
What material are made of?
In the manufacture of knives, V-Gold10 and Damascus steel are used. “Samura” kitchen knives made of these metals are highly appreciated by consumer reviews due to their undeniable advantages: exceptional strength and ability to hold sharpening for a long time. The classic Japanese kitchen knife is a product consisting of several layers. The basis of the blade is V-Gold10 steel. Damascus steel of the SUS 430 and SUS 431 grades is located on the plates with which the Samura kitchen knives are equipped. User reviews indicate that due to these pads, the blades look very attractive: the blades of such knives have beautiful and unique patterns.
For the manufacture of handles, a polymeric material is used - mikarta. Durability and resistance to moisture are considered its main characteristics.
A budget option
Multilayer knives are expensive. Those who want to get a beautiful kitchen set of Japanese blades can opt for single-layer products. These products are presented by the budget line of knives Pro-S. Externally, the products do not differ at all from expensive multilayer knives. The differences are in the manufacturing method. In the Pro-S line, single-layer production is practiced. Such blades cannot hold sharpening for a long time.
How to sharpen Samura knives?
Reviews of these kitchen tools inform that in Japan, unlike Western countries, the manufacture of knives for lefties and righties is customary. Usually blades have only one sharpening. Products intended for export are the West Japanese version. In such knives, the blade is subject to bilateral sharpening.
Lack of one-sided sharpening
A high level of strength, maximum sharpness and durability, achieved through the use of high-quality steel in the production, are the main indicators that distinguish Samura knives. Damascus steel (reviews admirably characterize the material from which these tools are made) allows you to create exceptionally high-quality products.
But, despite all the advantages of classic Japanese kitchen knives, according to the European consumer, they have a drawback. It consists in one-sided sharpening, which are equipped with Samura knives.
Reviews negatively characterize the tools intended for the preparation of sushi. According to users, it is much harder for a European consumer to use a knife with one-sided sharpening than to wield a conventional tool. At the same time, great skill and dexterity are required from the cook.
Standard set
The attention of users presented over twenty varieties of the brand. The standard Japanese set “Samura knives” ”reviews characterize as not much different from the usual European. The kit includes:
- A knife equipped with a thin blade. Used for working with vegetables: large cut.
- Cleaver. It is used for cutting fish and meat.
- Special knife for making sashimi and sushi.
- A small knife. Used for small jobs: peeling vegetables and chopping.
A specific type of knife is designed for each type of work. Knives "Samura" reviews of professional users are characterized as cutting kitchen tools with a convenient design and functionality.
Big knife
As in European sets, Japanese also have their own products equipped with large blades. To work with herbs and meat products, the Japanese manufacturer provides Samura large kitchen knives. Customer reviews confirm that such a blade is indispensable in the kitchen. The wide shape of the blade allows it to be used as a scapula. This knife is the largest in the set. Its length is 300 mm. Depending on the function, a large knife can be:
- Vegetable. It is used to work with herbs.
- Loin. It is used when cutting meat products and fish.
- Universal. Effective in any task.
Cooking will become an easy task when using products such as Samur’s large kitchen knives. Owner reviews confirm that long Japanese knives are indispensable for chopping greens, cabbage, and also cutting meat and fish.
Traditional japanese blade
Japanese craftsmen never used rivets to make their kitchen cutting products. Such knives, unlike the usual European ones, do not have an ergonomic shape. Similar elements are present in hybrid products that incorporate the features of East and West. They are found in Japanese-made models that are intended for export. The manufacturer moved away from this practice, creating a series of Damascus knives. In it, the masters of the Land of the Rising Sun conveyed the true spirit of Japan to the European consumer. The handles and blades of such knives have shapes that were widely practiced in Japan before the advent of hybrid options and were considered traditional.
Ceramic application
This material has recently been widely used in the kitchen. Ceramic knives "Samura" are very popular. User reviews of these kitchen tools highlight their benefits:
- Knives are environmentally friendly. Ceramics does not enter into chemical interaction with products, and therefore does not smell.
- The material holds sharpening well.
By color there are white and black ceramic knives "Samura". Customer reviews indicate that black ceramic blades are much harder. Lots of positive feedback on the Eco-Ceramic SC-0084B knife series. These models have an increased hardness of 87HRC. Product weight does not exceed 124 g.
According to owners, such a knife can not be cut hard materials. It is ideal for cutting greens, soft meat. It is undesirable to use a blade for bones, since ceramic is a very fragile material. The presence of even minor chips on the blade will negatively affect the cut. Among some consumers, there is a prejudice to ceramic knives. This negative attitude is explained by negative experience: there are cases when, when slicing, small pieces break off from a ceramic blade and get into food. This situation occurs due to careless handling of the knife. Sometimes this leads to the fact that users completely abandon ceramic knives, preferring steel.
Samura Bamboo Series
Functional and very original products are considered knives "Samura" - "Bamboo". User reviews about these knives give reason to believe that these sets can be used as a gift. For the design of knives, beautiful and pleasant to the touch cardboard boxes are provided. The owners appreciated the feature of the knives of this series - the product is all made of metal, even the handle, which is stylized as a bamboo stalk. She is short and asymmetrical. Steel is single-layer and, according to owners, is very sharp. To ensure that the products do not stick to the blade, special notches are located on the sides.
The length of the blade is 8.8 cm and the weight is 145 g. According to the reviews of the owners of Samura Bamboo knives, the products in this series leave only positive impressions, the knives are elastic, they are pleasantly in the hand and do not slip at all. Due to the hollow handle, the Japanese kitchen knives of the Samura Bamboo series are very light. According to some users, it is inconvenient to work with a short blade: a decrease in speed and accuracy of movements is noted. The hatchet from this series received many positive reviews. A product weighing 400 g is very effective in cases where you need to chop large pieces of meat, cartilage or bone. To cope with this work with this tool is quick and easy. The meat is cut under the influence of the weight of the blade itself. Users noted that their hands did not get tired at all, since this work does not require any effort, which cannot be said about ordinary kitchen knives. Cutting products of the Samura Bamboo series are sold well ground. Due to the quality of steel, grinding, according to consumers, lasts a long time.
Samura Harakiri Series
Knives “Samura Harakiri” are made from AUS8 Japanese steel. Reviews of this brand highlight its main quality - corrosion resistance. The hardness of the blade is 58 HRC. Blades of this steel are sharpened using water stones. The set includes the following types of knives:
- Chef's knife. Size 208 mm. The knife has a wide, thick and long blade. It is used for chopping cabbage, greens, it is easy for them to cut meat and fish. This product is considered the basic element of the chef's three knives.
- Santoku - 175 mm.
- Nakiri - 161 mm.
- Universal knife - size 150 mm.
- Vegetable - 100 mm.
Each knife is a full blade (from the shank to the tip of the blade). Products are distinguished by the presence of a thin butt.
Handles are made of black plastic. Each knife weighs no more than 500 g.
According to users, the Japanese knives of this series have an ergonomic design, light weight and represent a balance of external aesthetic design and content. “Samura Harakiri” knives are effective both in the home kitchen and in the professional field. Products comply with all SES standards and can be used in cafes and restaurants.
Tactical Samur
This knife was developed by the Russian manufacturer OO PP Kizlyar. The design of the product has a guard, which makes it possible to intensively wield this knife, strike, without fear that the hand may slip off the handle. For its manufacture, an elastron is used. This material prevents slipping in the hand.
The main characteristics of the knife "Samur":
- The product belongs to tourist type knives .
- The length of the entire knife is 280 mm.
- Blade length - 160 mm.
- The thickness of the blade is 4.2 mm.
- The width of the blade is 34 mm.
- Blade sharpening is concave.
- For the manufacture of a knife, corrosion-resistant steel of the Z60 grade or its imported analogue is used. In some embodiments, the blades of the Samur knife undergo a black chrome procedure.
- The hardness of steel is 57-58 HRC.
- The shape of the blade is traditional. There is a false blade on the butt.
- The handle is made of elastron.
- The thickness of the handle is 20 mm.
- The knife is designed by putting on the shank of the blade guard, elastron handle and the top, which is tightened with a screw.
- Included with the knife is a cover for the manufacture of which genuine leather is used. Covers are equipped with a special loop designed to attach the knife to the belt.
Despite the presence of a guard, all parameters of this knife do not go beyond the scope of GOST and the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation. This weapon is not a melee weapon.
Tactical knife “Samur” (“Kizlyar”): reviews
According to users, the Russian Samur looks very impressive and intimidating. Terrible and powerful in appearance, it is extremely functional. This knife is indispensable for hiking, as they can easily do any job: cut meat or chop branches for a fire. All work with this product is quick and easy.
Some users have suggested that the Samur knife has an inconvenient sharpening angle. To fix this, it is recommended to sharpen the blades yourself at the required angle. After this procedure, the blade, according to reviews, becomes much more convenient. It can be used both for thin slicing vegetables and for chopping branches. Sharpening the blade lasts a long time.
Some reviews negatively characterize the design of the cover, noting its imperfection. According to many users, the knife “Samur” (“Kizlyar”) is a rather heavy product, for carrying which developers had to create more durable covers and loops for them. Existing loops break quickly from the weight of the knife. Consumers, discussing this problem, offer to equip covers with more durable straps. The loops for the belt wearing of such a massive knife, according to users, should be twice as wide and thicker.
Conclusion
Japan is famous for its knives, who have achieved great success in this area. In their work, experts use carbon steel, which is processed by forging. For the manufacture of some blades, a combination of strong carbon steel and mild iron is used. As a result, such cutting products are flexible. In the kitchen knives of the Samura series everything is thought out to the smallest detail. The perfection of the design and the high quality of these products will make it possible to realize any culinary ideas.