Xinzuo Zhen Series 67 Layer Damascus Japanese Utility Knife with Olive Wood Handle

The utility knife is known for versatility, bridging the gap between a chef’s knife and paring knife. Its blade is between 4 and 7 inches long, so it can handle a variety of different tasks. Its mid-sized blade offers excellent control and precision, making it ideal for tasks that are too large for a paring knife but too intricate for a chef’s knife. Thus, a utility knife is considered an indispensable tool - it’s found in both basic and comprehensive knife sets. 

• BRAND: XINZUO
• SERIES: Zhen Series PM8O
• Total Layers: 67 Total High Carbon and Damascus Stainless Steel Layers
• Center Core: 10Cr15CoMoV - VG10 Equivalent
• Blade Core Hardness: 60-62 HRC Vacuum Heat Treatment
• Damascus Blade Material: 66 Layers 316/316L Stainless Steel
• Blade thickness: 1.9 MM
• Blade Angle: 45°
• Cutting Edge Angle: 15° the "Golden Angle"
• Damascus Pattern: Compressed Damascus Pattern
• Handle Material: Buffalo Horn and Olive Wood Octagonal handle
• 12 Processes of Manufacturing and Quality Control
• Includes: 8.5" Damascus Utility Knife

This traditional design Japanese Utility knife is a great option for most of your cooking tasks. The wide blade makes quick work of vegetables, just like a Santoku knife, while the point allows you to work easily with fish and meats.

The blade itself consists of a central core that functions as the base of the blade and the cutting edge. The steel used for the core is 10Cr15CoMoV which is China’s equivalent of Japanese VG10. This steel balances the use of Carbon and Chromium with the rarer earth metals Molybdenum, Cobalt, Vanadium, and Manganese for enhanced durability and sharpness.

Layered on top of the core is the 66 layers of 316/316L Damascus Stainless Steel. This helps keep the core secure while adding additional aesthetic accents with a striking Compressed Damascus Pattern. The knife features a double bevel design with 15° bevels on either side. This Golden Angle ensures that the edge will be as sharp and durable as possible, cutting down on how regularly you sharpen the blade.

The edge durability is supported by how the blade is hardened. It goes through a 12 step process to ensure consistency with the goal of 62±2 HRC. This allows for a very sharp edge that isn’t too brittle or too soft. The quality of heat treatment directly determines the intrinsic performance of a knife. Xinzuo insists on using expensive high-quality vacuum deep-cooling heat treatment, which provides higher hardness, better sharpness and more excellent long-lasting toughness than knives heat treated in ordinary nitriding furnaces.

The blade point is at a 45° angle, this gives you more cutting power without having to make the blade longer in addition to letting the tip pierce meat more easily. The balance point of this knife is closer to the tip, making it feel more controllable which makes for a more enjoyable experience. Rounded corners at the tip of the heel of the blade avoids accidental finger cuts during use.

The handle is a traditional Japanese Octagon shape. While it might not sound comfortable, this style of handle is actually great for working with a knife for a long time. It provides a firm grip and multiple hand positions while using the knife.

The Buffalo Horn and Olive Wood used in the handle are a beautiful and durable Materials that accent’s the blade’s Damascus pattern. You will find it hard to not want to use this knife for every task in your kitchen because it can handle them all while looking good.

Whether you are processing midsize fish, meat, or vegetables, a Utility knife is go to nights. Be sure to not let corrosive juices stay on the knife for long. 

Tip: Wash and dry your knife after use to ensure it stays sharp and rust free. Avoid cutting into extremely dense materials like bone, ice, or coconut shells.

About Xinzuo

XinZuo has been manufacturing kitchen knives for 20 years and have mastered the core technologies of Damascus knives, including steel and craftsmanship, blade cutting & Grinding methods, handle structure, blade thickness and blade angle. They use the latest and most advanced technology and design concepts and is committed to researching Damascus kitchen knives. Their products are renowned for their precise cutting, high hardness, corrosion resistance and durability.

For an in-depth read on the 12 processes of manufacturing Xinzuo & Hezhen knives click here.

To know more about Xinzuo & Hezhen Read my blog article Why Buy a Xinzuo or Hezhen Knife.

For a real deep dive into my journey to find the best manufacturer to deliver Damascus Kitchen knives, that delivers on my decades old business slogan of “The Best For Less shipped To Your Door” Click Here for Xinzuo: The Untold Story of A Great Chinese Kitchen Knife Maker.