Description

For more than half century, Ichiro Hattori has stood apart — not merely as a knife maker, but as a craftsman who refused to compromise. From the earliest days of his career, when stainless steel was still viewed with skepticism by the traditional knife world, Hattori was already pioneering its potential. He was among the first in the industry to pursue high-quality stainless steel as a serious material for functional, precision-ground knives — and he never looked back.

At the heart of that vision was one steel above all others: VG-10.

Hattori did not simply use VG-10. He studied it, trusted it, and devoted his craft to unlocking everything it could offer. To him, Solid VG-10 Mono Steel construction was not a specification — it was a statement of intent. A blade ground entirely from a single billet of VG-10, without lamination or cladding, demands a level of skill and precision that few craftsmen can sustain. The grinding process is unforgiving. There is no margin for error, and no shortcut that does not show.

For the decades, Hattori maintained this standard through a carefully selected circle of master craftsmen — artisans from Seki, Japan's legendary blade-making city, chosen not just for their skill, but for their shared commitment to excellence. These were not ordinary production workers. They were specialists, each responsible for critical stages of the process, working at a level that Seki itself rarely sees.

But that world is changing.

The craftsmen who have carried this process alongside Hattori represent a generation of specialists whose expertise took decades to develop. As they age, the continuity of this extraordinarily demanding work — grinding Solid VG-10 Mono Steel to Hattori's exacting standard — has become increasingly difficult to sustain. This is not a reflection on the talent of today's artisans, but on the sheer rarity of a skill refined over a lifetime.

Going forward, Hattori will transition to a three-layer laminated construction (SAN-MAI) — and the steel he has chosen for that future is one he knows intimately: VG-10, clad in 420J2 stainless steel.

This is not a compromise. In Hattori's hands, the SAN-MAI (“three-layer”) construction is a deliberate evolution. The VG-10 core is preserved in full — its outstanding sharpness, edge retention, and smooth cutting feel unchanged. The outer layers of 420J2 enhance toughness, durability, and corrosion resistance, while making re-sharpening more accessible. The result is a knife that feels, in use, remarkably close to a Solid VG-10 Mono Steel blade — because Hattori would accept nothing less.

But for Hattori, the Solid VG-10 Mono Steel blade carries a weight that no laminate can fully replace. It is the blade that defined his career. The blade he built his reputation on. And so, before that chapter closes, he has chosen to mark it — properly, and permanently.

Introducing the 傘 SAN-GECKO Limited Edition.

Four of Hattori's most enduring classic models — the #841 and #845, each available in Brown Jigged Bone and Mahogany Wood handles — produced one final time in Solid VG-10 Mono Steel construction. Each model is limited to just 25 serial-numbered pieces. 100 knives in total. Worldwide.

These are not commemorative pieces made for display. They are the same knives Hattori has always made — built to the same uncompromising standard, finished with the same obsessive care.

Hattori #845 Natural Little Hunter — Mahogany Wood Handle

The #845 is a compact drop point utility knife that reflects Hattori's lifelong belief in simplicity and purposeful function — a knife designed not to impress, but to perform. Its 75mm Solid VG-10 Mono Steel drop point blade offers a strong, versatile tip and a smooth cutting edge — a shape favored by those who value control and reliability in everyday use. The Mahogany Wood handle brings a warm, classic elegance to the knife — a natural material that develops character with use, and sits comfortably in the hand with understated confidence. Comes with a Brown leather sheath and a Hattori original gift box.

Solid VG-10 Mono Steel in 3.5mm thick, 75mm blade, 172mm overall, Weight 72g

In the final finishing work, Hattori checks every detail — blade grinding and polishing, warping, angles, handle shaping and fitting. Every knife that does not meet his standard is returned to be reworked from the beginning, or discarded entirely. This is not a policy. It is simply who Hattori is.

Hattori's uncompromising approach has earned him the title of “World's Best Knife Craftsman” and the Excellent Skilled Craftsman Award from the Seki Knife Industrial Association.

When you hold Hattori knife in hand and actually use it, you will know — and admit — that Hattori truly deserves it.

Serial Numbers: #1 to #25. 25 pieces only.

Specification
Knife Model: Hattori 傘 SAN-GECKO Limited Edition GECKO-38 #845 Natural Little Hunter (Mahogany Wood Handle)
Blade Material: Solid VG-10 Mono Steel / Non-Laminated
Blade Style: Drop Point
Rockwell Hardness (HRc): 60 to 61
Handle Material: Mahogany Wood
Leather Sheath: Included
Overall Length: 172mm
Blade Length: 75mm
Blade Thickness: 3.5mm
Weight: 72g