TOG Elite Japanese Kitchen Knives are the creation of UK-based
product designer Bert Beagley-Brown. Bert was inspired by meeting
a Samurai smith in Japan and set out to create the best
kitchen knives in the world. TOG Knives combine the best of
British design and Japanese craftsmanship and the knives
incorporate ancient making principals as well as modern
materials and manufacturing processes. They are used and endorsed
by many top chefs in the UK but are also very popular with keen
amateur home cooks.
TOG 6½” / 17cm ‘SANTOKU’ (MULTIPURPOSE)
Santoku' in Japanese means 'three virtues', relating to its
proficiency with meat, fish and vegetables (or with mincing,
slicing and dicing). This multipurpose is perhaps the most
versatile of all knives. More tech specs, reviews and press
coverage are available on the TOG Knives website.
• Small batch-produced, numbered, elite Japanese knives,
hand-finished by artisan makers - each has minor
variations.
• Roll-forged, 21-layer, phenomenally sharp blade that stays
sharp due to Acuto 440 high carbon Japanese steel cutting edge
hardened to HRC 58-60.
• Ten antimicrobial copper layers give TOG blades their
distinctive orange stripes.
• Full tang, bolstered, 3-rivet handle for durability and
balance.
• Kebony le wood handle, a sustainable and highly durable
alternative to tropical hardwoods. Handle sculpted to provide
excellent grip and control and laser-etched with Japanese
pattern.
TOG Santoku (Boxed)
TOG Steel
This cross section shows the 21 layers that are roll-forged to
produce TOG steel. The high carbon central core is made of ACUTO
440, one of the best Japanese steels available for making.
This gives the knives their edge retention. Softer, stronger
layers of steel protect the core, following the principal of the
Samurai .There are also ten layers of copper which is
naturally an antimicrobial metal, for hygiene.
Kebony Handles
The handles of TOG Knives are made of a Norwegian material
called Kebony. This is a environmentally friendly processed le
that's more durable than any hardwood. The handles have a unique
scoop feature for comfort and control and are laser etched with a
600 year old pattern.
Laser-etched Numbering
TOG Knives are small batch-produced by many craftsmen, each
skilled in a particular part of the process. As a result, each
TOG is unique and we reflect this by etching a number into
each blade.
Form and Function
Some 'designer' knives look great but don't perform. When TOG
Knives were designed, Bert placed equal emphasis on form and
function, ing to make the best performing knives in the world
as well as the best looking!
About the Startup
Describe your product in 3 words.
Quality, Beauty, Craftsmanship
How did you come up with the idea for this product?
In 2004, I had the rtunity to work with a small family-owned
making company in Seki, the Samurai capital of Japan.
While I was there I met a Samurai smith and I just found the
whole experience the most inspiring thing ever! As a product
designer, I saw an rtunity to bring together my skills and
Japanese craftsmanship to try and create the best knives in the
world and in 2013 I launched TOG Knives.
What makes your product special?
TOG Knives are special because they are the result of a
collaboration between a designer and a small, artisan Seki-based
maker. There is such a high level of skilled craftsmanship
in each and we've numbered them to highlight that each
is unique.
What has been the best part of your startup experience?
When you create a brand, you have to build brand awareness from
nothing. I sent some knives to some of the best chefs in the UK
for feedback and one of the more rewarding parts of my experience
was the support that I got from them. Twelve chefs including Phil
Howard and Anthony Demetre were happy to provide testimonials
free of charge just because they loved the products so much.