ibuki wa handle custom knife making kit for beginners White #2 steel petty 105mm
What's in the Kit — At a Glance
- 1 × Hand-forged petty blade — White #2 steel, 105 mm, Kurouchi finish, San Mai construction, heat-treated and sharpened
- 1 × Yama sakura wood blank (rectangle) — raw, unfinished; you shape and fit it yourself
- 1 × D-shape walnut wa handle blank — pre-shaped with a drilled tang hole; easiest option for first-timers
Price covers all three items. Epoxy resin or wood bond is not included — see assembly notes below.
Blade Specifications
- Style: Petty, double-edged (50/50 grind)
- Steel: White #2 (Shirogami 2) core — Yasuki Hagane, renowned as top-grade Japanese cutlery steel
- Construction: San Mai — White #2 core clad in soft iron, hand-forged in the traditional way
- Finish: Kurouchi (rustic black forge scale) — natural minor rust spots and forge marks on the body and tang are normal, not defects
- Blade length: 105 mm
- Total length: 200 mm
- Blade width: 30 mm
- Blade thickness: 2.7 mm (spine) → 1.2 mm (edge)
- Tang length: 75 mm | Tang width: 10.5 mm | Tang thickness: 2.6 mm
- Weight: 40 g
- Origin: Made in Japan (2023 model)
Handle Option 1 — Yama Sakura Wood Blank
- Shape: Rectangle — you carve and finish the final profile yourself
- Material: Japanese Yama sakura (mountain cherry), natural wood grain, no coating
- Dimensions: 148 mm long × 26 mm wide × 21 mm thick
- Pre-drilled tang hole: 65 mm deep × 9 mm wide × 3.0 mm tall
- Weight: 53 g
- Natural wood — minor surface variation and small scratches are normal.
Handle Option 2 — D-Shape Walnut Blank (Recommended for Beginners)
- Shape: Traditional Japanese D-shape, pre-formed — minimal shaping needed
- Material: Japanese kurumi walnut, natural wood grain, no coating; black resin bolster
- Dimensions: 131 mm long × 26.6–21 mm wide × 22.5–17 mm thick (tapered)
- Pre-drilled tang hole: 100 mm deep × 10 mm wide × 3.2 mm tall
- Weight: 33 g
- Natural wood — minor surface variation is normal.
Required Assembly Work
Skill level: Beginner-friendly ✔ — No metalwork or heat treatment required. The blade arrives fully forged, hardened, and sharpened.
You will need to:
- Test-fit the tang into your chosen handle blank — the hole is pre-cut to approximate size.
- Fine-tune the fit by lightly filing or sanding the hole opening so the tang slides snugly (work slowly; remove a little at a time).
- Secure with epoxy resin or strong wood bond — not included; available at any hardware store.
- (Optional) Sand, shape, and oil your handle for a personalised finish — especially satisfying with the sakura blank.
Most first-timers complete the assembly in 1–2 hours. The walnut D-shape blank is the quickest route because the hole depth and profile are already close to final.
👉 Step-by-step beginner guide: How to attach a tang to a ready-made wa handle — ibuki beginner instructions
Why White #2 Steel?
White #2 (Shirogami 2) is a pure, easy-to-sharpen carbon steel beloved by Japanese craftsmen. It takes an exceptionally keen edge and responds well to a basic whetstone — ideal for a first custom knife because you can feel every stage of sharpening clearly. It does require a light coating of oil after use to prevent surface rust, which is a great habit to build as a knife maker.
Ready to Build Your First Custom Knife?
Only 1 kit in stock. Once it's gone, restocking takes time — hand-forged blades are made in small batches.
Add to cart now and start your knife-making journey with a genuine Japanese hand-forged blade and two handle blanks, shipped directly from Japan.
