This is an Aritsugu Tako-hiki (octopus slicer) knife. The blade length is approximately 23.5 cm. The steel type is unknown. The handle is made of buffalo horn. With a blade length of 23.5 cm, it's a convenient size that I believe can be useful for slicing sashimi and skinning. There is a chip on the lower part of the heel of the buffalo horn handle. This occurs when sharpening the heel, and most knives of this type end up in this condition. Conversely, if the handle in this area were normal, you would not be able to sharpen the heel with a regular whetstone. Half of the Aritsugu inscription has been polished away. The blade was mirror-finished after removing scratches and rust marks. Some fine scratches remain from the mirror finishing, but I recommend it if they don't bother you. Both the cutting edge and the flat are almost mirror-finished. The weight is light and the overall condition is clean, so I believe it can be used for a long time. I recommend it as a secondary knife for professionals or for general household use. The knife 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 can be used immediately. ● Size: Blade length approx. 235mm ● Blade thickness: Approx. 2.7mm at the thickest part of the heel ● Overall length: 385mm ● Weight: 73g #Knife #Tako-hiki #Aritsugu #23.5cm