Best Made Co. Masanobu VG-10 Knife Series
Traditionally crafted Japanese blades and a comprehensive handbook
Best known for their brightly painted axes, NYC-based outdoor enthusiasts Best Made Co. deal in all things outdoor-oriented, so long as they’re of the highest quality and craftsmanship. The latest to hit the Best Made online market is the Masanobu VG-10 Knife Series, a set of three expertly made Japanese steel knives. Falling in line with a fine selection of Japanese-made products already available through Best Made, the Masanobu knives are made of VG-10 Japanese steel—a strong composite metal forged of iron, carbon, manganese, molybdendum, colbalt, chromium and vanadium.
The set, consisting of a 7″ Santoku knife, 5.9″ petty knife and 4.25″ paring knife, features a traditional, octagonal, pressed wood handle with nickel silver bolsters for perfect balance. Made in the city of Seki—home to Japan’s most skilled knife makers since the 13th century—the corrosion and stain resistant VG-10 steel is as thin and strong as can be. The Santoku, which means “three virtues,” is capable of handling fish, vegetables and meat, while the other two, smaller knives are best suited for more intricate tasks.
Along with the Masanobu VG-10 knives, today marks the launch of Best Made’s Knife Handbook, created by resident blade master Nick Zdon. Debuting digitally through weekly chapter releases, the manual seeks to educate knife owners in a range of information from knife anatomy to history and suggested uses. Chapter one is now available to Best Made newsletter subscribers, while a completed, physical edition is expected to be released sometime in summer 2013.
The Masanobu VG-10 Knife Series joins the rest of the Japanese made collection and is available now directly from Best Made Co. online. Expect each knife to sell for between $60 and $99. To learn a bit more about your favorite knife and its brethren keep an eye on Best Made Co. as each following week will bring a new chapter in their Knife Manual. For a closer look at chapter one and the Masanobu VG-10 Knives see the slideshow.
For more on Best Made Co. see our Gear Bag and Capsule Vignettes coverage. Images courtesy of Best Made Co.
