How to tell if a kitchen knife still needs sharpening, using the paper slice and everyday cutting tests, plus how edge angle affects sharpness.


How to tell if a kitchen knife still needs sharpening, using the paper slice and everyday cutting tests, plus how edge angle affects sharpness.

One chart lining up Shirogami, Kigami, Aogami and the GIN stainless grades by hardness, price and what each blade is actually built for.

The difference between Shirogami (#1) and Aogami (#2) steels, how their carbon and alloy content compares, and which blades each suits best.

How Japanese knives are forged, from joining iron and steel and the role of tamahagane to the hammering that gives each blade its strength.