Reach for this when the task is slicing rather than rocking. The reverse-tanto tip punches through the heel end of a salmon fillet, a daikon, or a block of firm tofu without the tip snagging - then the long, nearly flat belly carries straight through in a clean push cut. It's a different cutting motion to your chef knife, and once you've used it for that style of work, you won't want to go back to the curve.
The Bunka Profile, Built for Push Cutting
A bunka is a Japanese all-purpose knife with a flat-to-slightly-curved belly and a reverse-tanto tip that angles upward sharply at the point. That geometry rewards a push cut more than a rock chop. Use it for shaving fennel paper-thin, slicing raw fish for a quick crudo, or breaking down a whole red cabbage into even strips without the tipped belly snagging on the board. The 8-inch length gives you enough reach to work through a whole chicken breast in two or three strokes instead of five.
3-Layer Steel in a Knife Built to Last
The blade is 3-layer 10Cr15CoMoV composite: a hard high-carbon core flanked by two outer layers of softer stainless for corrosion resistance. Vacuum heat-treated to 60-62 HRC, the core holds a fine edge through a full session of push-cutting without the brittleness you'd get from a single-steel hard blade. The octagonal Red Wood handle with genuine black buffalo horn collar gives you a reliable pinch grip whether you're using it light-handed for fish or with more force on a butternut.
Specifications
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Blade Steel: 3-Layer 10Cr15CoMoV Composite Steel
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Hardness: 60-62 HRC (Vacuum Heat Treated)
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Blade Profile: 8-inch Bunka, reverse-tanto tip
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Handle: Red Wood & Black Buffalo Horn (Octagonal), full tang
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Use: Push-cutting vegetables, slicing raw fish and firm proteins, and any task where a flat-bellied blade with a sharp tip is faster than a rocking chef knife.
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Series: Retro Series (PM8S)
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Model: PM8S-10QFD
Complete Your Set
Pair it with the Retro 8.5" Chef Knife (PM8S-CS) for rock-chopping tasks where this flat profile runs short, and the Retro 7" Santoku (PM8S-RS) for lighter push-cut vegetable work when you don't need the full length.
