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Sumi  ·  black ink墨

gift starter

3 knives + wall strip
No reviews yet · be the first
$260$288Free US delivery over $125

Save 10% against buying the 3 knives and a wall strip separately. Free US delivery.

A first proper set, ready to give.

A first proper set: three knives with a wall-mount magnetic strip to keep them in reach. An excellent gift for every occasion like newlyweds, birthdays, Christmas and more.

30-day returns. Cook and use it first, then decide.

Warranty covers qualifying manufacturing defects.

Free US delivery over $125. Most orders arrive within 5 working days.

Sold out · back soon

Bundle · save 10%
Sumi gift starter: three Sumi knives on the wall-mount magnetic strip
Sumi gift starter
Wall-Mount Magnet Strip
01 / 03
01

3 knives

Chef, santoku and utility.

02

10Cr15CoMoV · 60 ± 2 HRC

Cobalt-bearing stainless, the same class as Japan's VG-10.

03

Walnut wall strip

Frees the counter and keeps every knife in reach.

04

Save 10% as a bundle

Less than buying every piece separately. Free US delivery.

Why this knife

A first proper set, ready to give.

A first proper set: three knives with a wall-mount magnetic strip to keep them in reach. The chef, santoku and utility knives cover every cut. The wall strip keeps every knife safe and in reach.

Sumi means black ink. The blade wears a Kurouchi finish: a dark, rough coat left on the steel, with a bright edge ground below it. It looks nothing like the polished knives in most drawers.

The cutting core is 10Cr15CoMoV, a stainless steel with cobalt, hardened to 60 ± 2 HRC. Two layers of SUS410 stainless wrap the core to protect it.

The red wood wa-handle is light, so the weight sits in the blade. The blade leads and your hand follows. Each cut takes less effort and gives you more control.

The Sumi range is for the cook who wants a knife with character that works hard every day. Wash it by hand, hone it often, and it stays in use for years.

Materials

what it is made of

We name our steel and publish our hardness.

Core and edge construction

  • SUS410 stainlessouter layer
  • 10Cr15CoMoV core60 ± 2 HRC cutting edge
  • SUS410 stainlessouter layer

Core steel

10Cr15CoMoV

Cobalt-bearing stainless, the same class as Japan's VG-10. The name is the recipe:

10about 1% carbonhardness, edge holding
Cr15about 15% chromiumstainless, resists rust
Cocobaltkeeps the steel hard
Momolybdenumtoughness, rust resistance
Vvanadiumfine grain, keen edge

Hardness · Rockwell C

60 ± 2 HRC

Noticeably harder than most Western knives, so the edge stays keen longer between sharpenings, and still sharpens easily at home.

Most Western knives · 56 HRC Sumi · 60 ± 2 HRC

HRC → harder

Red Wood Wa-handle

Handle

Red Wood Wa-handle

An octagonal profile and hidden tang shift the weight toward the blade, for a lighter, blade-forward balance. A buffalo horn collar seals the wood to the blade and adds warm contrast against the dark scale.

Kurouchi Finish

Finish

Kurouchi Finish

A forged black scale, left dark and textured, meets a hand-ground bright edge for a striking contrast.

How to use it

made for the board

Best for

  • Chef knife, 8.5": slicing tomatoes and onions, chopping vegetables and herbs, mincing garlic, slicing boneless meat and fish
  • Santoku, 7": slicing and dicing vegetables, fine herbs, boneless chicken and fish, and thin slices of cheese
  • Utility knife, 5.5": fruit, sandwiches, trimming meat, shallots and small vegetables, and slicing cured sausage or cheese

Avoid

  • Chef knife, 8.5": bones, frozen food, hard squash rinds you must pry through, and glass, stone or ceramic boards
  • Santoku, 7": a heavy rocking motion, bones, frozen food and hard boards
  • Utility knife, 5.5": large vegetables that need a long blade, bones, frozen food and hard boards

Care

  • 01Hand wash and dry at once.
  • 02Use a wood or soft synthetic board, never glass or stone.
  • 03Hone on a fine ceramic rod or a 5000-grit stone.
  • 04Keep the knives in the wall strip; dry each one before it goes back.

In the box

what arrives at your door

Everything inside, piece by piece.

KuroZhen black gift box with the red band
KuroZhen keepsake coin turning
01
Gift boxOur black and red gift box. Your knife arrives ready to give.
02
Keepsake coinKuroZhen on one side, 礼 (gift) on the other.
KuroZhen knife manual
03Knife manualQuick start, care, sharpening, safety and storage in one pocket booklet.
Card sleeve with a diamond window
04Card sleeveHolds your four cards behind a diamond window.
Brand story card
05Brand story cardWhy we started KuroZhen and where your knife is made.
Gift coin card
06Gift coin cardThe tradition behind the coin, and what to do with it.
Warranty and returns card
07Warranty and returns30-day returns and a limited lifetime warranty.
Personal message card
08Personal message cardA blank card for your own note to whoever receives it.

A note from our founders

“The kitchen is where a home comes alive. Meals start there, and people stay there long after the plates are cleared.”

We started KuroZhen because the knife is at the centre of that room. A good knife is the one you reach for every day. It should feel right in your hand, and you should know what it is made of.

So we name our steel, we publish our hardness and we tell you where our knives are made: Yangjiang, China, a city that has made blades for more than 1,400 years. Kuro is Japanese for black. Zhen is Chinese for precious. We hope your knife becomes both.

The KuroZhen founders

Complete the set

build your sumi kitchen

Same steel, same finish, same handle.

Sumi 5-Piece Set

Sumi 5-Piece Set

$329

Only $52 more than the chef, santoku and utility knives bought separately, with the bread and paring knives included. Free US delivery.

  • Chef knife
  • Bread knife
  • Santoku knife
  • Utility knife
  • Paring knife
View the set
Kitchen Scissors

Kitchen Scissors

$55

Reviews

from the people who cook with it

No reviews yet

Be the first to review the Sumi gift starter. Photo reviews show first.

FAQs

what to know about sumi

Still unsure? Email support@kurozhen.com. We are happy to help you choose the right knife, or the right gift.

This bundle costs 10% less than buying every piece in it separately. The saving is applied automatically at checkout.
Yes. It arrives ready to give, with the keepsake coin and its story card, and a gift card you can personalise.
No. Sumi range knives are Japanese-style knives made in Yangjiang, China. "Japanese-style" means the design: a thin edge, blade-forward balance and a wa-handle.
The core is 10Cr15CoMoV, a cobalt-bearing stainless steel, at 60 ± 2 HRC. That hardness holds a fine edge and still sharpens easily on a 1000-grit stone.
Wash by hand with warm water, mild soap and a soft sponge, then dry the knife at once. Don't use scouring pads on the black finish. Never put it in the dishwasher.
Hone on a fine ceramic rod or the 5000-grit side of a whetstone. When honing no longer helps, sharpen on a 1000-grit stone.
Most US orders are delivered within 5 working days, depending on the items ordered and your delivery location. Delivery is free on orders over $125, and we send tracking as soon as it ships.
KuroZhen will cover qualifying manufacturing and workmanship defects under the final warranty policy.
You have 30 days to return it. If the edge chips in normal use, send us photos and tell us what happened. We'll assess it under the warranty and help with the next step.
Email us at support@kurozhen.com. We're happy to help you choose the right knife, or the right gift.