This is a Yanagiba knife from Masamoto Sohonten. The blade length is approximately 18.5 cm. The steel type is unknown. The handle is made of black buffalo horn. The "Masa" from Masamoto and "Honten" from Sohonten are faintly disappearing due to polishing. A part of the spine appears to have been slightly shaved down (there is a small dent). If you don't mind this, I recommend it. The forge-welding pattern on the back is appearing like ripples. It doesn't seem to be simply mud applied, so I was impressed by the blacksmith's skill. Overall it is clean, and due to its compact size, it is recommended as a sub-knife for professionals or for general use. It has been finished with a Kitayama 8000 grit whetstone, a Shapton 12000 grit whetstone, and a natural whetstone. It is in a very sharp condition and ready for immediate use. ● Size: Blade length approx. 185mm ● Blade thickness: Approx. 3.1mm at the thickest part of the heel ● Overall length: 340mm ● Weight: 102g #knife #yanagiba #masamoto #18.5cm