Kiritsuke 250mm SanMai Wrought Iron, Apex Ultra, Mokume & Blasted Walnut Handle
Pickup available at Berlin Showroom
Usually ready in 24 hours
This one-of-a-kind handmade kitchen knife is the work of renowned artisanal bladesmith Karol Karys, a maker celebrated for his bold, brutalist-inspired craftsmanship and uncompromising attention to detail. This piece is a contemporary reimagining of the Japanese Kiritsuke—a hybrid blade traditionally used for both slicing and push-cutting—that Karol has transformed into a striking, modern tool of precision. Its spine features an aggressive taper that narrows rapidly toward the tip, giving the knife a visual tension and balance that speaks to performance as much as aesthetics.
Beneath its sculptural exterior lies a meticulously executed geometry: thin convex bevels transition into a walkschliff-style tip, offering a fine, responsive feel at the front end of the blade. The combination of an exaggerated taper and these high-performance grind characteristics result in a knife that moves through ingredients effortlessly—gliding through protein and produce alike with minimal resistance. It's a blade made for professionals and enthusiasts who appreciate cutting performance that doesn’t compromise on character.
The materials underscore the uniqueness of the piece. Forged from a San Mai construction of wrought iron cladding over Apex Ultra core steel, the knife offers both visual drama and top-tier edge retention. The handle is a standout feature in its own right: Karol’s signature profile rendered in sandblasted walnut, paired with a mokume gane bolster that adds an artisanal flourish. Every surface bears his brutalist-inspired textures—raw, tactile, and deeply expressive.
Product Specification
Blade Type: Kiritsuke
Overall length: 403mm
Edge Length: 250mm
Spine Heel: 5mm
Spine Mid: 2.89mm
Spine Tip (20mm before): 0.75mm
Blade Height: 55mm
Weight: 252g
Cutting Edge Steel: Apex Ultra
Stainless: No
HRC: 66
Blade Construction: 3 Layer (San Mai)
Blade Finish: Brushed, Brute de Forge, Textured, Acid Etched (Forced Patina), and Matte Polish
Grind: Convex
Handle Construction: Hidden Tang
Handle Materials: Walnut, Mokume Gane
Handedness: Ambidextrous
Saya, Hand Crafted Storage or Display Included: No
Shipping & Returns
Shipping
We process orders 5 days a week (Monday - Friday) and ship from our shop in Berlin, Germany. We ship with FedEx, UPS and Deutsche Post.
We are happy to offer free international shipping on a variety of orders depending on location and order value. You can check to see where things sit for you here.
Returns
At Modern Cooking we want our customers to be inspired and delighted by the products they purchase through our shop.
However, we understand that you may need to return products occasionally. If you are not entirely happy, you can return your purchase in its original condition within 14 days for a refund. Please email if you wish to return any goods.
In the unlikely event that you receive faulty goods or your order is damaged in transit, please contact us for instructions on how to return the goods as in this case we will meet the cost of return postage, though only if this is arranged through our authorised carriers. Any claim for refund or exchange resulting from faulty goods or goods damaged in transit must be raised within 5 business days.
All Modern Cooking logistics partners provide insurance in case of damage, but the coverage is only valid if we are notified within 5 business days. Please make sure to inspect your order immediately upon receipt to ensure that there is no damage.
Once we have the goods back, we will issue a full refund or send replacements where possible, as you prefer.
Product Care:
Cleaning: Clean by hand with warm water. Avoid wetting the handle when possible.
Sharpening: We advise using whetstones to sharpen your knives and a honing rod or steel to maintain the burr between sharpening sessions.
Reactive Steels: Reactive steels like Aogami Super, Apex Ultra or one of the many premium reactive German and Swedish steels are susceptible to rust if not properly cared for. In this case we advise that you keep the knife dry between uses and when storing the knife for longer periods wiping the knife blade with Tsubaki oil or another food safe oil is a wise choice. This will not stop a patina forming on the blade, but it will stop rust. A patina can be a beautiful personal feature on your knife and helps to stop rust forming. So, dry your knife regularly between uses, store in a dry place and apply some Tsubaki oil from time to time when storing for long periods.
A reference guide to steel types
Handle Care: If you have a knife with a non-stabilised wooden handle, you can apply Tsubaki oil or another food safe oil to your handle from time to time. Food safe wax can be applied to both stabilised and no-stabilised wooden handles. Never apply hot wax or oil as you risk warping or damaging the handle.
