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18 products
Santoku is Japanese for ‘3 Ways’ which refers to the all-round suitability of these knives to slice, dice and prepare food as required. The Katana Saya Pearl 18cm Santoku Knife is a versatile knife with a fluted blade to reduce food adhesion.
- Santoku knife with 18cm blade
- VG-10 Damascus Steel for durability & corrosion resistance
- Rockwell hardness rating HRC60+ for supreme toughness
- Beautiful pearl resin handle
- Eastern Range with protective wooden sheath and wooden gift box
- Available as 12cm Santoku or 18cm Santoku
VG-10 Damascus Steel
Forged from 67 layers of VG-10 Damascus Steel for exceptional toughness. The beautiful craftsmanship in these knives can be seen in the elegant, layered Damascus pattern on the blade and the pearl resin handle.
Premium Abalone Pearl Handle
The Pearl kitchen knife range balances luxury and hard wearing-durability. These Japanese style Damascus knives with abalone pearl resin handles make the perfect gift for food enthusiasts and home cooks.
Santoku is Japanese for ‘3 Ways’ which refers to the all-round suitability of these knives to slice, dice and prepare food as required. The Katana Saya Elements 12cm Santoku Knife is a versatile knife with a fluted blade to reduce food adhesion.
- Santoku knife with 12cm blade
- VG-10 Damascus Steel for durability & corrosion resistance
- Rockwell hardness rating HRC60+ for supreme toughness
- Beautiful volcanic red resin and olive wood handles
- Eastern Range with protective wooden sheath and wooden gift box
- Available as 12cm Santoku or 18cm Santoku
VG-10 Damascus Steel
Forged from 67 layers of VG-10 Damascus Steel for exceptional toughness. The beautiful craftsmanship in these Elements knives can be seen in the elegant, layered Damascus pattern on the blade and the resin and olive wood handle.
Premium Olive Wood Handle
The Elements Volcanic kitchen knife range balances luxury and hard wearing-durability. These Japanese style Damascus knives and their elegant wooden knife storage block make the perfect gift for food enthusiasts and home cooks.
Santoku is Japanese for ‘3 Ways’ which refers to the all-round suitability of these knives to slice, dice and prepare food as required. The Katana Saya Smoke 12cm Santoku Knife is a versatile knife with a fluted blade to reduce food adhesion. This version is the smaller santoku with a 12cm blade.
- Santoku knife with 12cm blade
- Black VG-10 Damascus Steel for durability & corrosion resistance
- Rockwell hardness rating HRC60+ for supreme toughness
- Eye-catching octagonal ebony wood handles
- Includes protective wooden sheath and wooden gift box
- Available as 12cm Santoku or 18cm Santoku
VG-10 Black Damascus Steel Forged from 67 layers of VG-10 Black Damascus Steel for exceptional toughness and a striking finish. The beautiful craftsmanship in these knives can be seen in the elegant, layered black Damascus pattern on the blade and the unique ebony wood handles. Premium Ebony Handle
The Katana Saya Smoke kitchen knife range balances luxury and hard wearing-durability. These natural ebony wood knives are gift boxed with a sheath for safe, elegant knife storage and make the perfect gift for cooking enthusiasts, aspiring chefs and home cooks.
Santoku is Japanese for ‘3 Ways’ which refers to the all-round suitability of these knives to slice, dice and prepare food as required. The Katana Saya Flame 18cm Santoku Knife is a versatile knife with a fluted blade to reduce food adhesion.
- Santoku knife with 18cm blade
- Rainbow VG-10 Damascus Steel folded with copper and brass for durability & corrosion resistance
- Rockwell hardness rating HRC60+ for supreme toughness
- Eye-catching octagonal rosewood handles
- Includes protective wooden sheath and wooden gift box
- Available as 12cm Santoku and 18cm Santoku
VG-10 Rainbow Damascus Steel
Forged from 67 layers of VG-10 Damascus Steel for exceptional toughness and folded with copper and brass to accentuate the Damascus layers. The beautiful craftsmanship in these knives can be seen in the elegant, layered rainbow Damascus pattern on the blade and the unique rosewood handles.
Premium Rosewood Handle
The Katana Saya Rosewood Flame kitchen knife range balances luxury and hard wearing-durability. These natural rosewood knives are gift boxed with a sheath for safe, elegant knife storage and make the perfect gift for cooking enthusiasts, aspiring chefs and home cooks.
Santoku is Japanese for ‘3 Ways’ which refers to the all-round suitability of these knives to slice, dice and prepare food as required. The Katana Saya Pearl 12cm Santoku Knife is a versatile knife with a fluted blade to reduce food adhesion.
- Santoku knife with 12cm blade
- VG-10 Damascus Steel for durability & corrosion resistance
- Rockwell hardness rating HRC60+ for supreme toughness
- Beautiful pearl resin handle
- Eastern Range with protective wooden sheath and wooden gift box
- Available as 12cm Santoku or 18cm Santoku
VG-10 Damascus Steel
Forged from 67 layers of VG-10 Damascus Steel for exceptional toughness. The beautiful craftsmanship in these knives can be seen in the elegant, layered Damascus pattern on the blade and the pearl resin handle.
Premium Abalone Pearl Handle
The Pearl kitchen knife range balances luxury and hard wearing-durability. These Japanese style Damascus knives with abalone pearl resin handles make the perfect gift for food enthusiasts and home cooks.
Santoku is Japanese for ‘3 Ways’ which refers to the all-round suitability of these knives to slice, dice and prepare food as required. The Katana Saya Elements 18cm Santoku Knife is a versatile knife with a fluted blade to reduce food adhesion.
- Santoku knife with 18cm blade
- VG-10 Damascus Steel for durability & corrosion resistance
- Rockwell hardness rating HRC60+ for supreme toughness
- Beautiful volcanic red resin and olive wood handles
- Eastern Range with protective wooden sheath and wooden gift box
- Available as 12cm Santoku or 18cm Santoku
VG-10 Damascus Steel
Forged from 67 layers of VG-10 Damascus Steel for exceptional toughness. The beautiful craftsmanship in these Elements knives can be seen in the elegant, layered Damascus pattern on the blade and the resin and olive wood handle.
Premium Olive Wood Handle
The Elements Volcanic kitchen knife range balances luxury and hard wearing-durability. These Japanese style Damascus knives and their elegant wooden knife storage block make the perfect gift for food enthusiasts and home cooks.
What is a santoku knife?
A santoku knife is an all-purpose kitchen knife with a shorter, flatter blade than a typical chef's knife, built for a push cut and chop rather than a rocking motion. The name is commonly translated as "three virtues", often taken to mean slicing, dicing and mincing.
Katana Saya santokus come in 12cm and 18cm lengths. Olive wood, Pakkawood, Elements and Pearl santoku knives feature fluted blades, with shallow hollows that help reduce food sticking as you slice. The spine curves down to a rounded tip, which keeps most of the edge flat against the board for even, controlled cuts.
The steel is VG-10 Damascus, forged from 67 layers for a distinctive layered pattern and ground to a 15 degree edge.
What is a santoku knife used for?
A santoku knife handles most everyday prep: vegetables, boneless meat and fish fillets. The flat edge suits a push cut and a chop, which makes it quick for even slices and a tidy dice.
- Vegetables: Slice courgettes and peppers, dice carrots and fine-dice onions with a push cut. The wide blade also lifts chopped pieces from the board to the pan.
- Herbs and garlic: Chop soft herbs and mince garlic with short, controlled strokes.
- Boneless meat: Slice chicken breast, pork loin or steak into strips for stir-fries and traybakes.
- Fish: Portion and slice boneless fillets such as salmon or sea bass with a smooth, drawn-through stroke.
For cooks who prepare mostly vegetables, a Nakiri knife offers a taller, rectangular blade built for the same push cut.
Choosing a Damascus santoku knife by handle and finish
All Katana Saya santokus share the same 67-layer VG-10 Damascus blade, so the choice comes down to handle and finish. Every knife comes with a protective sheath.
- Olive Wood: Natural olive wood grain with an opal-effect ring detail.
- Pakkawood: A polished pakkawood handle with the same opal-effect ring.
- Elements: Resin and olive wood handles, in Ocean blue, Volcanic red or Rainforest green.
- Pearl: An abalone pearl resin handle.
- Smoke: A black Damascus blade with an octagonal ebony handle.
- Flame: Rainbow Damascus, folded with copper and brass, with an octagonal olive wood handle.
Santoku knives as gifts
A Katana Saya santoku knife arrives ready to give, in a wooden gift box with a protective sheath. That suits housewarmings, weddings and first-home gifts, where the knife will be used daily as well as admired for its beautifully traditional Japanese-style design.
For a larger gift, consider a starter knife set or a knife block set, or browse the full range of knife gift sets.
Santoku Knife FAQs
The main difference between a santoku knife and a chef knife is the blade shape. A santoku has a shorter, flatter edge, typically 16 to 18cm, for push cuts and chopping, while a chef knife is usually 20cm or longer, with a curved belly for rocking through food. For a longer Japanese-style blade, look at a Gyuto.
A santoku knife is very versatile, however it can’t quite do everything. Uses cover most daily prep, including vegetables, boneless meat and fish fillets. Avoid bones, frozen food, and twisting or prying, which can potentially damage the edge. Cut on a wood or plastic board rather than glass, stone or ceramic, which can chip or dull the blade.
Choose the 12cm for smaller tasks and compact boards, where its short blade is easy to control. Choose the 18cm for general prep, as it offers more cutting surface for larger vegetables and meat. Some cooks keep both, using the 12cm for quick jobs and the 18cm for main prep.
No. Hand wash your knife straight after use with warm water and mild soap, then dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth. Soaking it, leaving it wet or using a dishwasher can dull the blade and cause spotting on the steel, affecting the knife’s appearance.
Run the blade along a sharpening steel before use to keep the edge aligned, then sharpen periodically with a whetstone or roller sharpener. To look after the wooden handles, wipe clean, dry straight away, apply food-safe mineral oil occasionally and avoid prolonged water exposure.
One knife set , every task covered.
Katana Saya knife sets bring together all the essential blades needed for everyday kitchen tasks in an expertly curated collection.
Knife Block Sets
Bring order and elegance to your kitchen with Katana Saya Knife Block Sets, carefully curated for those who want every essential blade within easy reach.
Starter Knife Sets
Begin your premium knife collection with a Starter Knife Set. Perfect for new cooks and aspiring chefs, each set contains the three essential blades every cook needs.
Carving Knife Sets
Crafted for effortless slicing and elegant serving, these carving sets pair a razor-sharp carving knife with a matching two-prong carving fork.
Steak Knife Sets
Elevate your dining table with a Katana Saya Steak Knife Set with ultra-sharp serrated knives for effortless, clean cuts through every steak.
All Knife Sets
Discover the art of Japanese inspired craftsmanship with Japanese Style Knife Sets that offer cooks a range of blades to handle a variety of kitchen tasks.
Inspired by tradition. Crafted for today.
At Katana Saya, we believe beautiful cooking deserves beautifully crafted kitchen tools.
Damascus Steel
Precision-forged VG-10 Damascus steel blade for exceptional balance, sharpness, durability and performance.
15° Cutting Edge
Ground to an exceptionally sharp 15 degree edge for sharpness, precision and effortless cutting.
Premium Handles
Handles inspired by the textures and colours of nature for a knife that feels as beautiful in the hand as it looks on the worktop.
Luxury Packaging
Finely crafted knives deserve equally luxury packaging. Completing every knife is a protective sheath and a wooden gift box.
Get the most out of your knives
Damascus steel is prized for its strength and beauty, but a little care goes a long way in preserving its edge and finish. Follow these simple guidelines to keep your Katana Saya knife performing - and looking- its best for years to come.
