Iris · Damascus Petty Santoku 5", side view
Iris · Damascus Petty Santoku 5", on white background
Iris · Damascus Petty Santoku 5", in the kitchen (photo 2)
Iris · Damascus Petty Santoku 5", in the kitchen (photo 3)
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IrisDamascus Petty Santoku 5"

$99 $129 Free tracked shipping
Blade length
5" (13 cm)
Steel
67-layer damascus, 10Cr15CoMoV core
Hardness
60 ± 2 HRC
Handle
Abalone shell in resin, steel bolster, rivets and decorative mosaic pin

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The Iris petty santoku puts the shape of the 7-inch santoku on a 5-inch blade weighing 4.7 oz. It handles quick jobs, a tomato, a shallot, fruit, a chicken breast, with a taller blade than the utility knife, which leaves room for your knuckles on the board. It also suits smaller hands. Abalone shell handle in resin, with green and blue highlights.

The petty santoku puts the santoku shape on a short blade: flat edge, dropped tip, forward-push cutting. It is perfect for small everyday jobs, a shallot, a tomato, fruit, a chicken breast, and for smaller hands that find a chef knife too bulky. Japanese-style blade, thin and hard.

Blade and Handle

The Iris Damascus Petty Santoku 5" has a blade made of 67 layers of damascus steel around a 10Cr15CoMoV steel core, hardened to 60 ± 2 HRC. The handle is abalone shell set in clear resin: it shifts from green to blue to violet as the light moves. Every shell is different, so every handle is one of a kind. A steel bolster joins handle and blade, and a gold mosaic pin sets off the shell.

Shipping and Returns

Damascus Knife ships free with tracking across the United States: 1 to 3 business days to prepare, then 8 to 14 business days in transit, import duties included. You have 30 days after delivery to return your order.

See also: Damascus Paring and Utility Knives · Iris Abalone Damascus Knives

In the kitchen

Our knives at work

the Christmas gift
Iris · the Christmas gift
the board after dinner
Magma · the board after dinner
watermelon on the terrace
Azur · watermelon on the terrace
salmon in a tiny kitchen
Marea · salmon in a tiny kitchen
steak at the campsite
Cobalt · steak at the campsite
a late-night tomato
Carmin · a late-night tomato
first cooking lesson
Cosmos · first cooking lesson

Our models in use (styled scenes).

Iris · Damascus Petty Santoku 5", side view

Fig. 01 · Damascus Petty Santoku 5"

Specs

The blade, by the numbers

Steel67-layer damascus, 10Cr15CoMoV core
Layers67
Hardness60 ± 2 HRC
Blade length5" (13 cm)
Overall length9.5 in (24.1 cm)
Spine thickness2.2 mm
HandleAbalone shell in resin, steel bolster, rivets and decorative mosaic pin
Weight4.7 oz (134 g)
EdgeDouble bevel
SKUCD-AB-PSAN13

Care

3 habits, years of sharp

01

Hand-wash it

Warm water, a drop of dish soap. Never the dishwasher.

02

Dry it right away

One towel, ten seconds. Never leave it in the sink.

03

Sharpen on a stone

1000 grit rebuilds the edge. Low, steady angle.

Questions

Before you buy

Petty santoku or utility knife?

Both handle small jobs. The petty santoku has a taller blade that leaves room for your knuckles on the board and scoops food up; the utility knife is narrower and pointier, better for trimming.

Can it replace a full-size santoku?

For one or two people and small quantities, yes. For a cabbage or a large squash, a santoku or chef knife is more efficient.

Is the abalone handle fragile?

The abalone is set in resin that protects it from water and everyday knocks. Just avoid drops on tile floors, abrasive cleaners and the dishwasher, which would dull the finish. A soft cloth brings the shine back.

Do I need to oil my Damascus knife?

You only need to oil a Damascus knife regularly if the blade is carbon steel or the handle is unfinished wood. A thin coat of food-safe mineral oil or camellia oil protects against moisture. Stainless Damascus needs oil only now and then, for storage. Avoid WD-40 and cooking oils that turn sticky on a kitchen knife.

Can Damascus knives go in the dishwasher?

No, Damascus knives should never go in the dishwasher. Heat, long exposure to moisture and harsh detergents dull the pattern, encourage rust and damage the handle. The blade also knocks against dishes and loses its edge. Hand-washing with warm soapy water and drying immediately takes under a minute and keeps the knife in shape.

Can you sharpen a Damascus knife?

Yes, you can sharpen a Damascus knife like any kitchen knife, ideally on a whetstone. A medium grit around 1000 rebuilds the edge and a finer stone polishes it. Japanese-style blades are usually sharpened at a lower angle than Western knives. Skip pull-through sharpeners, which are too harsh for hard steel, and use a ceramic honing rod between sessions.

Which Japanese-style knife should I buy first?

The best first Japanese-style knife is a chef knife (gyuto) or a santoku. Both slice, dice and chop meat, fish and vegetables, so one blade covers most daily cooking. Pick a gyuto if you like a longer blade and rocking cuts, a santoku if you prefer a shorter, lighter knife. Add a nakiri later if you cook a lot of vegetables.