Wa-Petty: Petty Knives with Japanese Style Handle
What is a Wa-Petty Knife?
"Wa-Petty" refers to a Petty knife with a Japanese-style handle since "Wa" is a Japanese word that signifies "traditional Japanese style". They are ideal for detailed food preparation such as peeling, slicing and decorative work. The blade size can vary from 120mm to 150mm and is quite light in hand. If you mostly use it for peeling vegetables and fruits, 120mm is better. If you are more likely to cut fruits than peel them, the 150mm size is easier to use.
How to Choose the Blade Materials - Carbon Steel vs Stainless Steel
The adventages of carbon steels (e.g. White Steel) are their sharpness and ease of resharpening. On the other hand, they are susceptible to moisture, and if not maintained properly, the blades will rust.
Stainless steels (e.g. Silver Steel#3, VG1, VG10, ZA18) are resistant to rust and easy to maintain. The sharpness of the blade is getting better year by year, but they are still more difficult to sharpen than carbon steels.
We recommend carbon steel to people who value sharpness and ease of sharpening while recommend stainless steel to people who value rust resistance and ease of maintenance.
How to Choose a Japanese Kitchen Knife for Beginners
Japanese kitchen knives are famous for their design, history, and cutting performance. This guide will help you select the best knife for your needs.