OUL Aogami Super Paring Knife 80 mm / 3.1" – Cherry Handle

Pinpoint Control for Delicate Off-the-Board Prep

When preparing ingredients in hand rather than on a cutting board, standard utility knives feel clumsy and unwieldy. Coring strawberries, fluting button mushrooms, peeling citrus zest, and scoring decorative garnishes require a blade that moves as an immediate extension of your fingertips.

The OUL Aogami Super Paring Knife 80 mm is built specifically for high-accuracy detail work. At 80 mm (3.1") along the cutting edge, this compact blade centers the balance directly inside the palm. It eliminates the leverage strain and awkward wrist angles caused by larger knives, giving you total apex control for intricate cuts.

Hitachi Aogami Super Core: 64–65 HRC Slicing Bite

Forged from authentic Hitachi Aogami Super (Blue Super Steel) and heat-treated to an uncompromising 64–65 HRC, this blade sits at the pinnacle of Japanese high-carbon metallurgy. Enriched with elevated carbon, tungsten, and molybdenum, Aogami Super achieves an exceptionally refined micro-carbide structure:

• Surgical Edge Retention: Holds an aggressive, toothy slicing apex through thousands of peeling and trimming cuts before requiring a whetstone touch-up.
• Effortless Deburring: Sharpens with the crisp, immediate feedback characteristic of premium Japanese high-carbon cutlery.

Understanding Aogami Super Carbon Steel Care & Patina

This knife is forged from high-carbon performance steel; it is not stainless, but carbon steel maintenance is simple and rewarding:

• The Protective Blue Patina: With regular use on acidic produce (such as citrus, tomatoes, or apples), the exposed steel will naturally oxidize into a safe, non-toxic blue-gray patina. This patina is a hallmark of genuine Japanese carbon cutlery and acts as a natural barrier against damaging red rust.
• Simple 2-Step Carbon Care:
1. Wipe the blade dry with a clean towel immediately after cutting acidic items.
2. Hand-wash with warm water and mild soap immediately after use, dry thoroughly, and store dry. Never wash in a dishwasher.

Natural Japanese Cherry Wood Handle

Mounted to the blade is a traditional Japanese Wa-style handle crafted from natural Cherry wood. Naturally dense, dimensionally stable, and rich in warm, golden-amber grain tones, cherry wood provides a tactile, non-slip grip that stays secure even when your hands are wet with fruit juices. The symmetrical contour provides balanced, neutral handling for both right- and left-handed cooks.

Artisan Provenance: Fukui Co., Ltd. (Sakai, Osaka)

Offered under the OUL banner by Fukui Co., Ltd., this knife represents the generational craftsmanship of Sakai, Osaka—the historic epicenter of Japanese hand-forged culinary knives. Sakai blades are celebrated globally for precise distal tapers and balanced geometries that favor pure cutting efficiency.

Technical Specifications

What’s in the Box?

• OUL Sakai Presentation Box: Custom-fitted Japanese packaging designed for secure transit and storage.
• Protective Edge Sleeve: Guard shielding the factory-honed cutting edge during transit and unboxing.

Authorized OUL Dealer Direct

Hasu-Seizo is an authorized direct partner for OUL cutlery from Fukui Co., Ltd. in Sakai, Japan. Prior to dispatch, every knife undergoes individual quality inspection at our Seattle area warehouse to verify straightness along the spine, bevel symmetry, and flush handle alignment.

Sharpening & Care Guidelines

• Whetstone Maintenance: Hardened to 64–65 HRC, Aogami Super provides crisp tactile feedback on Japanese whetstones. Maintain the fine cutting edge using a medium whetstone (#1000 grit) to re-establish bite, followed by a fine whetstone (#5000 to #8000 grit) and leather stropping for edge refinement.
• Technique: Designed for intricate off-the-board peeling, coring, and carving. Avoid lateral prying against hard pits.
• Prohibited Uses: Do not cut bones, frozen food, hard fruit stones, or nutshells; hacking hard targets will cause the thin edge to chip.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an 80 mm paring knife best used for? An 80 mm paring knife is designed for intricate off-the-board prep, such as peeling fruit, coring strawberries, fluting mushrooms, and trimming citrus where larger chef knives are awkward and cumbersome.

Will Aogami Super steel rust easily? Aogami Super is a high-carbon steel that will rust if left wet. However, wiping the blade dry after use and allowing a natural protective blue patina to develop prevents red rust.

How does an 80 mm paring knife differ from a 135 mm or 150 mm petty knife? An 80 mm paring knife is optimized primarily for in-hand, off-the-board peeling and detail trimming. A 135 mm or 150 mm petty knife provides extra length and knuckle clearance for board slicing.

Where does this knife ship from? All inventory is inspected, packaged, and shipped directly from our warehouse located in the Seattle area.