Unshu Chuzen Hamono Bannou 155mm Shirogami #1

An unusual bannou in a couple of ways. Forged by a swordsmith, for one. The blade is less tall than most all-rounders, closer in profile to a yanagiba. The slim handle is also one you might expect to see on a sashimi knife. The maker calls it a bannou-bocho, so it's an anything-and-everything knife for any kitchen.

Another point of difference. Look closely at our photographs and you'll see a material line on the blade neck a couple of centimetres from the handle. That's where the warikomi blade meets a stainless steel neck and tang. Uncommon.

The reason for this is that over time the tang inside the handle can be a point of hidden rust. A handle is easily replaced but a blade that breaks off at the handle will need some serious attention. We're talking long time frames here, this calamity may only happen after years of use, but it's a mark of the maker that Unshu Chuzen Hamono care to future-proof their knives in this way. The underlying philosophy is 'naga-mochi', of making use of their product for a very long time. We like that.

The finish is rustic; this knife is not a polished jewel but it is very comfortable in hand. Sharpness out of the box is a bit meh. You can change that.