Kobocho Kurouchi 105 mm (4.1 in) Aogami (Blue) #1 Double-Bevel

• Type: Kobocho (small Bocho knife), paring & peeling knife
• Brand: Ishizuchi
• Construction: Hon-Warikomi / Iron Clad Blue (Aogami) #1
• Method: Hammer Forged
• Blade Length: 105 mm (4.1 in)
• Blade Height: 36 mm (1.4 in)
• Weight: about 64 g (2.2 oz)
• Spine Thickness: 2 mm/at heel
• Blade Type: Double-bevel
• Core Edge Steel: Blue (Aogami) #1 High Carbon Steel
• HRC (Rockwell Hardness): 61-63
• Finishing: Black Finish (Kurouchi)
• Handle: Japanese, Walnut /Plastic Ferrule
• Place of Origin: Tosa, Japan

Kobocho, Japanese for “little knife,” is shaped like a mini Santoku and is forged from Aogami #1 or blue paper #1 steel. It is highly regarded for its ability to take and hold a steep and refined edge.

Blue Steel #1 (Hitachi Metals Ltd.) is very similar to Blue Steel #2, but the additional Carbon and Tungsten / Wolfram result in even better edge retention and toughness. The steel is perhaps most commonly seen in high-grade Japanese traditional knives.

Black-finish is a state in which the surface that has been blackened by quenching is sharpened only with the blade, leaving the black side unintentionally on the sides (Mine and Hira) other than the blade.

There is no elegance like a polished finish, but it has a taste of bumps and ruggedness. It also has the advantage of less rust than a polished finish.