KYOKU Chef Knife
By KYOKU · Kitchen Knives · Kitchen & Cooking
- 67-layer VG-10 Damascus steel
- Rockwell hardness 58-60 HRC
- 8 in. blade, 13.2 in. overall length
- G-10 fiberglass handle, full tang
- 8-12 degree edge angle
Price not listed
- KYOKUView at KYOKU
- eBay (used) eBay: used, open-box, refurbishedView at eBay (used)
- eBayView at eBay
- Knife KioskView at Knife Kiosk
- AmazonView at Amazon (paid link)
Stores are listed in a fixed order, never by price or commission. Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.
Summary
Check KYOKU’s own site before you buy: it lists the knife at $39.99 while third-party listings sit near $97.99.
Strengths
- Arrives sharp out of the box; owners repeatedly say it is ready to cut.
- Owners like the weight and balance, and it rocks well for chopping.
- The 67-layer Damascus finish and looks draw consistent praise.
- A lifetime warranty covers free replacement of defective knives.
- A protective sheath and case are in the box.
Weaknesses
- No established outlet has tested this exact knife, so there is no independent performance data.
- Reddit users question whether the blade is genuine VG-10 or a Chinese equivalent.
- The knife is made in China despite Japanese sword-making branding, which owners flag as misleading.
- Retail pricing near $97.99 is hard to justify when the same knife is $39.99 direct.
- Hand care is required: no dishwasher, plus regular drying and mineral oiling.
- Edge retention and real failure modes are undocumented for this exact model.
Verified specifications
| Blade | 8 in (203 mm), 67-layer stainless Damascus over a VG-10 core, cryogenically treated, Honbazuke-sharpened to an 8–12° double-bevel edge. |
|---|---|
| Overall length | 13.2 in. |
| Dimensions | 13.2 × 1.97 × 0.9 in. |
| Weight | 23 oz (650 g) per the manufacturer; a retailer spec table lists 1.39 lb. |
| Handle | triple-riveted G-10 fiberglass, full tang, mosaic pin. |
| Included | knife, protective sheath, case. |
| Warranty | lifetime, free replacement for defective products per the manufacturer. |
| Care | not dishwasher safe; the manufacturer’s guidance is hand washing, drying and periodic food-grade mineral oil. |
Full research notes and sources
Steel, sharpening and care
The manufacturer claims a 67-layer Damascus cladding over a VG-10 core, hardened to 58–60 HRC and sharpened to an 8–12° edge. Owners on Reddit question whether the core is genuine VG-10 or a Chinese equivalent, and no third-party metallurgy test was found; treat the steel claim as unverified. The knife is made in China, and owners criticize the Japanese-made branding as misleading. Maintenance is standard for hard stainless: hand wash, dry, oil with food-grade mineral oil, and resharpen when needed.
KYOKU’s own site lists the knife at $39.99 against a $99.99 compare-at (KYOKU, October 2026); a third-party retailer snapshot shows $97.99 (Knife Kiosk, January 2025). At $39–50 direct the knife is strong value for a home cook who accepts the missing independent verification. At $76–100, the same money buys knives with published test histories. Above $100, only the looks and the warranty are left to justify it.
Which model this is
It is a 67-layer Damascus VG-10 gyuto, distinct from the KYOKU KOI, Samurai, Daimyo and Gin series knives, which share the branding but differ in steel and construction.
Sources
Manufacturer:
- KYOKU Shogun Series 8″ Gyuto product page
- KYOKU Japanese Chef Knives category page (lifetime warranty)
- KYOKU — How to Oil a Knife
Independent reviews:
- KnifeUp — Boning Knives of 2022
- In The Kitchen With Matt — Kyoku Knife Review
- Serious Eats — Japanese Knives of 2026
Owner reports:
- Reddit r/chefknives — “Kyoku Shogun Series - VG10??”
- Reddit r/japaneseknives — “Thoughts on Kyoku Koi”
- Trustpilot — Kyoku Knives reviews
Parts and stores:
