Santoku is a Japanese knife model that resembles a classic chef's knife but has a shorter blade and rounded tip. The name "santoku" means "three tasks", referring to its ability to cut, dice and chop. Ran, which means "the excellent" in Japanese, is a fitting name for this knife series. The blades consist of 69 layers of damascus steel with a core of hard VG10 steel and outer layers of softer, rust-resistant steel, which gives the knives extreme sharpness and long durability. The blades have been hammered and polished to create a beautiful grain which gives character and beauty to the knife. The handles are made of black micarta, produced by combining linen cloth and special plastic under high pressure, which gives a hard, water-resistant and hygienic material, perfect for a kitchen environment. The handles are attached with two strong steel rivets and have a stainless button at the end to ensure perfect balance.