Archive / Type

Santoku

A santoku is a compact all-purpose kitchen knife for cooks who want a shorter, nimble blade without giving up real utility. It is comfortable for slicing, dicing, and mincing, especially in home kitchens where board space is limited and a full-length chef knife can feel like more blade than the job needs. If you cook a lot of vegetables, boneless proteins, herbs, and everyday family meals, a santoku can be a very practical fit.

These archived santoku builds were handmade by Rick at Honest Knives in Rocklin, CA, USA. Look closely at length, blade height, steel, edge geometry, handle shape, and finish. A small change in profile or grind can make the knife feel quick, stout, laser-like, or more forgiving. The point of this page is to show real past work so you can judge whether this style lines up with your cooking. These knives are not live inventory. New small-batch availability is offered through the waitlist.

All Gyuto Nakiri Santoku Slicer
Sharkbite Santoku custom knife
Santoku

Sharkbite

Debut of a new custom texture that I'm calling sharkbite. I wasn't too sure about this at first but after showing it around that response was very good. Expect to see more of this in the future. The knife has found a home with a family of four 'super foodies' so it should get quite a workout!

Style Santoku
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Sheila Santoku custom knife
Santoku

Sheila

Sheila is a knife with a personality as bold as her design. At 6-3/4" long and 1.5" high at the heel, she's a versatile cross between a short gyuto and a santoku, making her the perfect hybrid for precise slicing and dicing. Whether you're julienning carrots, finely chopping herbs, or breaking down a whole chicken, Sheila’s size and shape strike the perfect balance between maneuverability and power. The blade is made from custom-ground AEB-L steel, renowned for its razor-sharp edge retention and resistance to rust. Professionally heat-treated with cryo, it’s designed to stand up to daily use while staying sharp longer. This means less time spent sharpening and more time gliding effortlessly through your prep work. Sheila's beauty isn’t just skin-deep. Her wa-style handle, crafted from luxurious rosewood, features a striking ebony inlay framed by white G10 liners. This combination not only looks stunning but is ergonomically designed to fit naturally in your hand, reducing fatigue during long prep sessions. Whether you’re slicing sashimi at a professional station or prepping dinner at home, Sheila offers control and comfort you can rely on. Sheila isn’t just a knife; she’s a statement. She transforms the mundane act of chopping into a craft, reminding you every time you use her that cooking can be both an art and a joy.  

Style Santoku
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Mijo Santoku custom knife
Santoku

Mijo

This knife has a fun story. Mijo translates to "my son". Mijo did not start it's life as Mijo. It was originally going to be a 9" gyuto. But the knife spirits had their own ideas and halfway through the process, after a series of grinding errors on my part, the 9" Gyuto turned into a 7" santoku. The Santoku design is shorter, lighter, thinner, and more nimble than a gyuto. This design was absolutely perfect for a different client who was a bit scared of sharp knives and not ready for the larger gyuto style. I had a beautiful piece of burl in the wood collection that matched up perfectly. The rest is history and Mijo was born. Sometimes it takes many wrong turns to find the right one, just keep going...

Style Santoku
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Sabrosa Santoku custom knife
Santoku

Sabrosa

<strong>Introducing Sabrosa: The Everyday Workhorse</strong> The Sabrosa is a 7.5" Santoku-style kitchen companion built for versatility and performance. Forged from professionally vacuum-hardened AEB-L steel with a cryogenic treatment, it strikes the perfect balance between enduring edge retention and striking aesthetics with its light distressed black acid finish. At 1.5" tall at the heel and a nimble 0.05" at the tip, this knife is designed to glide effortlessly through vegetables, meats, and everything in between. Its standard cutting profile offers a tough yet finely tuned edge, making it an ideal all-rounder for any cutting board. The handle is a true statement piece, crafted from brilliant Curly Koa and accented with a custom Turquoise inlay, ensuring that Sabrosa looks just as beautiful on display as it feels in hand.

Style Santoku
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The Books Are Closed

I'm currently focused on highly-limited batch production. Join the waitlist to get first access when the next set of blades is released.

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