Genuine V10 Japanese Damascus Steel, don't be fooled by imitations.
The Shoto shear is comparable to the $3,000.00 Matsuzaki Venus 7-Star Galazy series shear but priced much lower. The Shoto has the same V10 Japanese Damascus Steel found in the Matsuzaki 7 Star Shears.
What is V10 Japanese Damascus steel? This is a special steel created in the ancient Samurai Sword tradition of layered or laminated steel called Tajyusou. Only Bonika Shears can offer you this exquisite treasure at this low of a price that can be passed on to future generations.
A shear of this quality takes a little explanation. In the past there was a dilemma on how to create a hard blade yet give it flex so that the blade would not break when dropped like a ceramic blade shear. By using a layering structure with selective hardening a superior metal can be created. This shear steel is called Damascus steel or Tajyusou in Japan. The Japanese version of Damascus steel is far superior to the Damascus steel found in European countries. Japanese bladesmiths trained through the generations by their fathers, create this steel through a layering or laminate technique. The modern V10 top quality Japanese steel used consists of a high carbon content, vanadium, cobalt, chromium, and molybdenum. This steel is folded on itself 15 times which creates more than 5,000 layers of steel. This increases the strength of the blade without giving up flexibility. It is this flex that gives the buttery cut feeling when the blades cross. The blade of the shears will have a unique fine wood grain type pattern much as a finely polished hardwood tabletop. This is a complicated method. There is actually a different steel at the core than at the edge giving properties to your shears that can not be created in any other way. On the outside of the cutting edge you will see a misty line. This is not a bevel, since the blade is completely convex or hamuguri style. This is a tempering line" also called the hamon line. This is created to form a hard sharp edge without increasing the brittleness of the entire blade.
Once the steel is formed, a master bladesmith called a Sensei creates the shear. Mr. Lee pictured below is the blade master at the factory in Taiwan that creates this shear from beginning to end. The shear is totally handworked to an ultimate level of perfection. This process will take 5 days before the shear is ready for the hand of a master stylist.
How does this shear cut different than other quality shears? It is in primarily in the feel. If you close the blade of your best shears with your eyes shut, you can at any point see in your mind exactly where the blades cross. These shears are so smooth and effortless that if you tried this experiment, you would not be able to tell how far apart the blades are open or closed without visibly looking at them. In other words, the blades ride on each other perfectly matched and smooth.
The Damascus steel or Tajyusou pattern is subtle and your shear will appear as other shears except on close examination in the light when the beautiful pattern of the layered steel is revealed. Each shear has its own personal pattern, much as a fingerprint. These shears can be sharpened, when needed in the ordinary way, but be sure to use a sharpener who has the top equipment and training and understands the demands of sharpening Damascus steel. Because of the time consuming process, the Bonika Shoto Shears have a limited production. Each will be consecutively numbered for the collector and for insurance purposes. The Shoto here is right handed, but it is available in a left handed style by special order or practically any style you desire by special order. Please call for special orders.
