Japanese kitchen knife Spyderco Wakiita Nakiri K17GP

Meaning "vegetable cutter," the Nakiri's unique rectangular shape and slightly upturned edge make it the perfect tool for precisely push-cutting all kinds of vegetables. The knife's blade shape also allows its length to remain consistent after years of sharpening.

Wakiita literally means “near the cutting board” and is a term used to refer to senior apprentices skilled enough to assist high-ranking chefs. Equivalent to sous chefs or journeyman chefs in Western kitchens, they are accomplished culinary professionals well on their way to becoming expert chefs. As the second tier of Spyderco’s Murray Carter Collection, the Wakiita Series captures the spirit of the journeyman chef by expressing Carter’s highly refined designs with solid stainless steel blades.

The blades of Wakiita Series knives are precision ground from CTS® BD1N – a high-carbon, nitrogen-enriched stainless steel that provides a superior balance of hardness, edge holding, and corrosion resistance. Like all knives in the Murray Carter Collection, they are ground exceptionally thin and straight for superior cutting performance and proudly feature the signature “Carter Elbow” – a distinctive taper from the spine to the point that reinforces the blade’s tip.

In classic style, the knives of the Wakiita Series showcase traditional “wa-style” (octagonal) handles. Painstakingly crafter from solid black G-10, a durable fiberglass and epoxy laminate, the polished handles ensure both comfort and precise control.

A remarkable fusion of time-tested traditional designs and state-of-the-art modern materials, the Wakiita Series accurately translates Murray Carter’s prized custom designs into high-performance cutlery that is sure to please even the most discriminating cooking enthusiasts.