Description
The Sitka santoku is our take on the well known Japanese blade style. The relatively thin geometry and gentle edge curve of this 7 inch blade is optimized for slicing and chop cutting. The Sitka has just enough rocker that it’s also very comfortable for mincing and a bit of rock chopping. Except for the heaviest kitchen tasks, the elegant and ergonomic Sitka will be your everyday food processing companion.
The Sitka comes standard with practically indestructible G10 composite handles which are waterproof and highly stain resistant. If you want a fancier look, we offer this model with a carbon fiber handle. The CF scales are 15 grams lighter than the G10, making for an ultra light board knife overall. With CF scales, the balance point is right where the front of the handle ends, while for the G10 version it is about 1/4″ (6.4mm) rearward of the front edge of the scales.
The Sitka is made with CPM S35VN stainless steel, known for its superior edge retention. The particle metallurgy S35VN steel puts the Sitka in the upper echelons of kitchen knives; once you’ve used it, you’ll know what we mean.
Not only is the Sitka a joy to cut with, it’s rewarding to maintain. Regular honing with a steel is all you may need to keep it tomato-slicing sharp, but if you do need to sharpen with abrasives, conventional stones and tools are all you need.
The Sitka, like all of North Arm’s kitchen knives, takes its name from West Coast flora. The Sitka Spruce is the world’s largest spruce species. It is only grows naturally within an 80km range from the Pacific ocean.
We back all of our knives with a warranty and satisfaction guarantee! click here for details
jensen.jackf (verified owner) –
This is a review for 3 kitchen knives.
I recently purchased the Alder 8″ Chef, Sitka Santoku (both in CPM S35VN), and Trillium Paring (MagnaCut).
All three knives came as sharp as you could ask for and have exceeded my expectations. Don’t hesitate if you’re reading this trying to decide if they’re a good deal, these are the best value kitchen knives I’ve owned.
I’ve now used them to prepare a few large batch meals for our family over the holidays (including a dinner with 14 people) and can say they’re just a joy to use. They’re light, the handle ergonomics are great for full grip or pinch grip, and most importantly they cut and slice and stay sharp! The G10 is so reassuring in the hand compared to the thermoplastic on our previous favorite “quality German” knives.
In particular, I put the Santoku to the test against my japanese Nakiri (in Aogami Super) to prep 2 bags of carrots, a giant pile of potatoes, many onions, a couple bunches of celery, garlic, and ginger. I made sure to hone (ceramic 3000 grit) and strop (green compound on leather) both knives before starting. I used a maple edge-grain cutting board. I used the knives interchangeably every couple of minutes and I can honestly say that in terms of pure slicing and chopping there was no perceivable difference. I still like the full flat edge on the Nakiri but the ergonomics of your Santoku are superior… and it’s stainless! Maybe in another couple of months I’ll have something else to say, but at 1/2 the price and made in Canada… that Santoku is just something else!
My daughter put the small Paring knife to work (she’s 12, makes most of her own food, and prefers a small knife). The MagnaCut is just the ticket for her – she leaves it in the sink, cuts on whatever cutting board is closest, and uses that thing for tasks normally best met with a bigger knife. I checked it after a few days and it looks fully pristine with what seems to still be an exceptional edge. I just sliced up a mango with it and it’s a really nice knife to use with a long handle and just the right blade shape for precise cuts.
The larger Chef’s knife has seen less intense use so far but as expected it’s performed very well indeed. Chops and slices as it should. Made very quick work of a large ham, turkey, and bag of apples and was so light in the hand (important for those of us with arthritis!).
Luke Kilborn (verified owner) –
Very well made without the annoying quirks of European knives or Japanese knives.Those being excessively thick blades, soft steels that require frequent maintenance, or rust. Excellently thought through in design, materials, and manufacturing. A tiny bit of burr management on arrival and it was straight into use.
joneszzy (verified owner) –
Very impressed as usual with north arm knives.
If your looking for a good kitchen knife i would highly recommend. Very light with a comfortable handle and Razor sharp.
quesneltk (verified owner) –
Thanks guys! As always, your service and delivery were exceptional, matching that of your products. Even though I was late getting this order in you guys made it happen. The Sitka Santoku was a Birthday present for my wife’s Care Aid. As I have all of your knives, she gets to use them daily in our kitchen preparing my wife’s meals. While she truly loves them all, she particularly loves the Sitka Santoku. I have often heard her commenting on how awesome it is and how badly her knives at home suck. It arrived in time and she was over the moon happy with it. You can’t feign a reaction like that, she absolutely loved it. Once again guys, Thank You!
Aaron Rubin (verified owner) –
This is really an outstanding knife. I have another great santoku (from Sur La Table), so I knew I’d love the shape. But this one is even better. Light, well-balanced, beautifully machined, and just a terrific slicer. It’s probably not meant for the heaviest tasks (cutting a butternut squash, for example), but it works great for almost everything, from small to large. Love my Skaha and love my Sitka!
J Johnson (verified owner) –
Love it! I’m guessing most everyone reading through these reviews would be familiar with the steel (S35VN) used in the knives, so I don’t want to belabor the point, but the steel is fantastic. Not too brittle like japanese chef knives, and not too soft like german chef knives.
I mostly wanted to comment about the fit and finish. Fantastic! Perfectly made, and such precise tolerances. Moreover, the balance is perfect! I’m sure it’s subjective, but it fits my hand just perfectly and is extremely comfortable. Doesn’t have a clunky bolster like certain well-known chef knives, and IMO I like this flatter sided handle as opposed to more round ones on many santokus.
Before ordering it, I was a little worried that the blade profile or handle would be too clunky or camping/survival knife inspired (if that makes sense) and not as suitable for the kitchen, but nope, it’s an amazing chef knife!! A hesitation I had getting this kitchen knife was “Can a newish, small, outdoorsy Canadian company make kitchen cutlery that competes with established higher-end Japanese/German brands?” The answer is yes, absolutely!! In fact, I’d argue that this knife performs far better, and that other brands have rested on their laurels. Was very, very impressed. Overall, great steel, extremely comfortable, perfect fit, and comparable to knives that cost hundreds of dollars more. I highly, highly recommend!
Ken M (verified owner) –
From carrots to watermelons this knife slices with ease. Not much effort is needed as it’s razor sharp and has a stiff backbone allowing you to just apply pressure. The tip of this blade is also amazing at dicing potatoes. You can’t go wrong with the Sitka!
bob murray (verified owner) –
absolutely the sweetest kitchen knife I’ve ever owned. Getting rid of all of my German models now. Also bought the paring knife. The S35vn steel is the best on the market and the build quality is spot on. Going to order a Lynx this weekend.