Tojiro DP Santoku 6.7" (17cm) 170mm F-503
By Tojiro · Kitchen Knives · Kitchen & Cooking
- Blade length 170mm
- Total length 295mm
- Weight 190g
- VG10 core with 13-Chrome stainless steel cladding
- Reinforced laminated handle with 3 studs full-tang
Lowest price seen
$128.95
from $128.95 at Knives and Stones USA · Checked Oct 13, 2026
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- AmazonView at Amazon
Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.
Summary
A 170 mm double-bevel santoku with a VG10 core clad in 13-chrome stainless, made in Tsubame-Sanjo, Japan. It is one of the most consistently recommended first Japanese knives in the sub-$150 tier, but check the naming: Tojiro renamed the DP line to “CLASSIC,” and sellers use “DP,” “DP3,” “CLASSIC” and “Fujitora DP” interchangeably.
Strengths
- Sharp out of the box, with owners describing it as “hair-shaving sharp” and “scary sharp.”
- Long-term durability: one professional reports five years as her only knife; another reports daily use for about ten years.
- Easy to sharpen and holds an edge; VG10 responds quickly on stones and ceramic rods.
- Good all-purpose 170 mm size for varied prep work.
- Repeatedly called “no better knife for the price” in owner reviews.
- Made in Tsubame-Sanjo, Japan, a known cutlery-making region.
Weaknesses
- Fit and finish are functional rather than premium, reflecting the lower price.
- One owner reports the balance is slightly handle-heavy.
- Generic styling and a “polarizing logo” listed as weaknesses by one guide.
- Some sellers incorrectly describe it as reactive carbon steel needing oiling and patina care.
- No independent instrumented lab test of the exact F-503 was found.
Verified specifications
| Model | F-503 |
|---|---|
| Blade length | 170 mm |
| Total length | 295 mm (manufacturer); one US retailer lists 300 mm |
| Blade height | 46 mm |
| Spine thickness | 1.9–2 mm |
| Steel | VG10 core, clad in 13-chrome stainless steel (3-layer san-mai) |
| Hardness | approximately HRC 60 |
| Edge | double bevel, 50/50 |
| Handle | reinforced laminated material (black Micarta), full tang, 3 stainless rivets, stainless bolster |
| Weight | manufacturer lists 190 g; other sellers list 158–193 g |
| Made in | Tsubame-Sanjo, Niigata, Japan |
| Included items | knife only; no sheath or sharpening stone |
| Dimensions | 170 mm blade, 295 mm total, 46 mm blade height; 190 g (manufacturer) |
Full research notes and sources
Construction and steel
The F-503 is built as a three-layer san-mai: a VG10 core clad in 13-chrome stainless steel, hardened to roughly HRC 60. The “13” in 13-chrome refers to the cladding steel, not 13 layers. The handle is reinforced laminated material (black Micarta per one US retailer) with a full tang, three stainless rivets and a stainless bolster. Tojiro now sells this line as “CLASSIC”; it is the same knife that was long sold as “DP,” renamed at the manufacturer’s request.
Owner experience
Owner reviews consistently praise sharpness out of the box and long-term durability. One professional cook reports using it as her only knife for over five years; another owner reports daily use for about ten years. The VG10 steel responds quickly on water stones and ceramic honing rods, making it easy to sharpen and maintain. Owners describe it as sharp, light and nimble, with perfect balance, though one reviewer found it slightly handle-heavy.
Care and maintenance
The F-503 is not dishwasher safe. Hand wash and dry immediately after each use. Tojiro recommends sharpening on a whetstone at roughly 10–15° per side for the DP/Classic range, with a light touch-up every one to two months for home use. A ceramic honing rod is recommended for maintenance. Avoid cutting bone, frozen food or hard crusts. Some sellers incorrectly frame the knife as reactive carbon steel needing oiling; it is a stainless VG10 core with stainless cladding.
Is it worth it?
Around $80–$100 the F-503 is widely treated as excellent value for a first Japanese knife. At $122–$129 (specialist US retailer pricing) it is still fair but the value case narrows; at that price compare the MAC and other entry Japanese options. A 2026 guide argues US “Made in Japan” santokus run roughly 1.5–2× Japanese domestic price, and that the same knife is ~$50 in Japan.
Which model this is
This page covers the Tojiro DP Santoku F-503, 170 mm blade, model F-503. The Amazon listing for this knife is ASIN B01JQFF126. Do not confuse it with the F-502 (Nakiri), F-808 (gyuto), or the “Basic” line, which are different models.
Sources
Manufacturer:
- TOJIRO CLASSIC Santoku 170mm (F-503)
- Tojiro Knives Official
- TOJIRO Co., Ltd. — Discovery NIIGATA, JETRO
Independent reviews:
- Best Santoku Knife 2026 — Japanese Knife Lab
- Tojiro knives review: My honest thoughts after three months of use — Kiichin
Owner reports:
Retailer listings:
- TOJIRO CLASSIC Santoku 170mm F-503 — Knifewear
- TOJIRO CLASSIC Santoku 170mm — Chef Knives To Go
- Tojiro (FUJITORA) DP 3Layered VG10 Santoku 170mm — HOCHO Knife
- Tojiro DP Cobalt VG10 Santoku Knife 170mm F-503 — Japanese Taste
- Tojiro DP3 Santoku 170mm F-503 — Knives and Stones
- Tojiro DP — VG-10 Santoku Japanese Kitchen Knife 17cm — Sterling L2A3
- Kitchen knife DP Tojiro — GOOD DESIGN STORE TOKYO
