Crafted for serious chefs and collectors, the X09 Retro Series features authentic Japanese ZDP-189 powder metallurgy steel from Hitachi Metalsone of the highest-performance kitchen steels in the world. With ~3% carbon and ~20% chromium, ZDP-189 pushes hardness and edge retention to the extreme, while still resisting corrosion and chipping when properly heat-treated.

Features:

• Brand: Hezhen
• Series: X09 Retro Series
• Total layers: 49
• Blade Length: Utility Knife 5.55 Inches, Bunka Knife 8.3 inches, Nakiri Knife 7.09 Inches
• Blade Width: Utility Knife 1.30 Inches, Nakiri Knife 2.09 Inches
• Overall Length: Utility Knife 10.87 Inches, Nakiri Knife 13.11 Inches
• Tang: Traditional Japanese octagonal handle design
• Blade Center Core: Japanese Hitachi ZDP-189 powder steel
• Blade Core Hardness: 65-67 HRC
• Blade Thickness: 2.0 mm
• Tip Angle: Utility Knife 40, Nakiri Knife 100
• Cutting Edge Angle: 15
• Damascus Blade Material: 24 layers per side of SUS420J2 steel with a center core of Hitachi ZDP-189 powder steel
• Damascus Pattern: Newly designed pattern, with interwoven black/white layers with captivating contrast
• Handle Material: Traditional Japanese structure handle with all black and phosphor bronze, resin accented by Cupronickle spacers
• 12 Processes: 12 Processes of Manufacturing and Quality Control
• Heat Process: Vacuum Deep-Cooling Heat Treatment
• Includes: Utility Knife 5.5 inches, Bunka Knife 8.3 inches, Nakiri Knife 7.09 inches

Each blade is produced with a 49-layer Damascus construction, using a Hitachi ZDP-189 core sandwiched between 24 layers of SUS420J2 stainless cladding per side. The result: a razor-thin cutting edge, rock-solid strength, and striking black-and-silver Damascus patterning.

Performance

• Hitachi ZDP-189 core steel imported from Japan
• 6567 HRC hardness via vacuum heat-treat & deep-freeze cryogenic processing
• ~15 cutting edge per side for ultra-precise slicing
• Engineered to deliver elite edge retention and clean performance on proteins and produce

ZDP-189 is considered the upper limit of hardness appropriate for kitchen use. While hard steels can be brittle, this formulations chromium content and optimized heat-treat improve toughness, supporting a keen edge without the chipping risk normally associated with super-hard steels.

Craft & Construction

• 49-layer Damascus with bold interwoven light/dark grain contrast
• Multiple hand-polishing stages for refined texture and seamless finish
• Rounded spine & heel for fingertip comfort during long prep sessions
• Curved heel transition to avoid catching or nicking fingers during board contact

Traditional Japanese Handling

A modern interpretation of a classic Japanese handle form:

• Octagonal Wa-style handle
• Gloss-black resin with phosphor-bronze and cupronickel spacers
• Balanced center of gravity for fatigue-free cutting and fast blade control

Presentation

• Premium solid acacia wood gift box
• Elevated Japanese styling suitable for gifting or professional presentation

Summary

The Hezhen X09 Retro ZDP-189 Series blends true Japanese steel pedigree, modern powder metallurgy, and refined hand-finishing. It offers the cutting experience, precision, and longevity typically reserved for custom bladesmith worknow accessible in a complete chef-ready series.