The chef knife is the most used knife in the kitchen so you want that knife to be comfortable in your hand, you want it to be sharp and you want that sharpness to last. The Birchwood is made of a super steel, SG2 and it goes through a special hardening process, Cryodur, which makes the knife hard, durable and sharp. This knife is not only beautiful but also an example of what a great Japanese knife is made of.
I really like the additional length you get on a 9.5" knife over an 8". the light weight of the steel and the handle , coupled with the incredible hardness and sharpness of the blade make this an easy knife to work with. the handle and blade pattern truly make a lovely presentation
Not too long nor short...this SG2 steel knife does everything. Wrapped 100 times in addition for stability and maintain sharpness, it also stays nice and sharp. The real birchwood handle in addition to Damascus pattern makes each one unique.