K18 Itamae Bunka Bocho
The K18 Itamae Bunka Bocho is part of Spyderco's Murray Carter Collection of kitchen knives.
Appearance in catalogs
- 2019 Spyderco Reveal Volume 2
- 2020 Spyderco Product Guide
- 2021 Spyderco Product Guide
- 2022 Spyderco Product Guide
- 2023 Spyderco Product Guide
- 2024 Spyderco Product Guide
Designer
History, mentionings etc. from the forums
- Spyderco/Murray Carter Kitchen Knife Collaboration., posted by forum member fixall
- Murray Carter in December's Byte!, posted by forum member Stuart Ackerman
Information from the Spyderco catalog on the web
K18 Itamae Bunka Bocho
An all-purpose knife suitable for preparing meat, vegetables, and fish, the Bunka Bocho literally means "cultural knife" because of its role in making traditional Japanese cuisine in the home. Closely related to the Santoku ("three virtues") knife, the Bunka Bocho has a more acute and utilitarian point.
Literally meaning "in front of the cutting board," Itamae is an extremely prestigious title reserved for highly skilled sushi chefs. Consistent with that elite status, the Murray Carter Collection's Itamae Series -- the highest tier in the Collection -- proudly features premium materials and uncompromising craftsmanship.
The blades of Itamae Series knives are expertly crafted from laminated steel consisting of an Aogami Super Blue core clad between layers of SUS410 stainless steel. The classic three-layer construction allows the outer layers to protect and support the ultra-hard carbon-steel center layer that forms the blade's edge. Ground exceptionally thin and straight for unparalleled cutting performance, the blades also feature Murray Carter's signature "Carter Elbow" -- a distinctive taper from the spine to the point that reinforces the blade's tip.
The elite blades of the Itamae Series are paired with traditional "wa-style"(octagonal) handles made from stunning burl G-10 and highlighted with black G-10 ferrules. Created for those who demand the very best, the Itamae series faithfully captures the spirit of Murray Carter's coveted handmade kitchen knives and sets a new standard in high-performance kitchen cutlery.[1]
Variations
The K18 is originally made in Seki City, Japan, and:
- features a modified Drop Point Blade shape
- features a polished G-10 handle
- as one of few exceptions in Spyderco's line-up, it does not feature Spyderco's trademark round hole
| SKU | Handle | Edge | Steel | From/To | MSRP | Note | Number made | Grind | Collectors club |
| K18GBNBK | Black, White and Brown G-10 | PE | Super Blue/SUS410 | 2020 - | $395.00 (2021) | Part of Spyderco's Murray Carter Collection | N/A | Full Flat |
Most collectible variation
The original K18 Itamae Bunka Bocho, complete with original box and papers in mint condition is likely to be the most collectible version.
Questions regarding collecting the K18
Some interesting questions we are looking for an answer to:
Questions with an answer:
Technical information
Measurements (mm and grams) of the K18 Itamae Bunka Bocho:
| Variation | Length overall | Length blade | Length edge | Blade thickness | Weight |
| K18GBNBK | 319mm | 195mm | 183mm | 1.9mm | 173g |
Measurements (inches and ounces) of the K18 Itamae Bunka Bocho:
| Variation | Length overall | Length blade | Length edge | Blade thickness | Weight |
| K18GBNBK | 12.57" | 7.69" | 7.20" | 0.075" | 6.1oz |
References
- ↑ The K18 Itamae Bunka Bocho in Spyderco's online catalog
Pictures
Related
- K15 Itamae Petty
- K15 Wakiita Petty
- K15 Minarai Petty
- K16 Itamae Funayuki
- K16 Wakiita Funayuki
- K16 Minarai Funayuki
- K17 Itamae Nakiri
- K17 Wakiita Nakiri
- K17 Minarai Nakiri
- K18 Itamae Bunka Bocho
- K18 Wakiita Bunka Bocho
- K18 Minarai Bunka Bocho
- K19 Itamae Gyuto
- K19 Wakiita Gyuto
- K19 Minarai Gyuto
