The Vibrant Stabilized Wood Knives: Adding Color to Knives

What is stabilized wood? It is a specially treated type of wood infused with resin to enhance its durability, resistance to water, and prevent cracking, while still showcasing the natural beauty of the wood grain. This process also allows the wood to take on vibrant colors, creating eye-catching marble-like patterns.

In recent years, stabilized wood has been widely used in various items—from writing utensils such as ballpoint pens to guitar bodies—so you may have already seen these colorful patterns. Until recently, most knife handles were made with either black or plain plywood, offering very limited choices. However, with the introduction of stabilized wood, knife handles now come in a wide range of colors, giving craftsmen the freedom to create more unique and expressive designs.

In other words, just like choosing your favorite plate, you can now select the handle of your knife based on personal taste and style. And since every piece of stabilized wood is unique, your knife becomes truly one-of-a-kind—a reliable and special companion in the kitchen.

In this article, we will introduce the characteristics and maintenance techniques of stabilized wood handles, along with our recommended stabilized wood handle knives from JIKKO Cutlery.

Stabilized Wood Knives: Vibrant Colors That Express its’ Uniqueness 

Stabilized wood is a special type of material created by permeating natural wood with resin, making it harder, more durable, and resistant to damage. Because the resin can be dyed in countless colors, it allows for knife handles with striking hues and marble-like patterns that were never possible before.

One of the most fascinating aspects of stabilized wood is that no two pieces are ever the same. Each handle carries its own natural grain and resin flow, making your knife truly one-of-a-kind—something that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world. This sense of exclusivity is highly valued and adds to the emotional connection you build with your knife.

In Japan, visiting one of JIKKO’s stores gives you the opportunity to experience this uniqueness firsthand. You can carefully choose your favorite handle from a variety of patterns and colors on display—an experience as special as selecting a work of art. Owning such a knife is not only about function, but also about enjoying the joy of choosing something that is uniquely yours.

Color Variations: Choose the Color That Suits You 

In the past, knife handles were usually made from natural woods, so the actual color of the wood was used as is. As a result, the only options available for the handles were plain wood handles like Magnolia wood, dark-colored handles made from woods such as ebony wood, or completely black handles made from plywood.

However, now that the stabilized wood stepped in, knife handles became more colorful; it is now possible for the craftsmen to manufacture handles in colors that were previously unavailable, such as red, green, and orange.

Each Knife is Unique and Distinctive: The One-of-a-Kind Stabilized Wood

Each piece of stabilized wood has a different marble pattern. Therefore, even the same products have unique characteristics, making each knife special, and one of a kind. In other words, no two stabilized woods are exactly the same.

The photos below show handles of the same product, but you can see that the marble patterns are quite unique from each other. Can you see the differences in the patterns in the photos? Even if you use the same color resin, the pattern differs depending on where the resin has permeated.

Boost Your Motivation with the Vibrant Colored Knife 

A knife is a tool that has the power to completely change the atmosphere of your kitchen. The vibrant colors of the handles can add new colors to your kitchen, and surely will boost the motivation of the chef.

Many people choose colors of the handles based on their personal or lucky color, or simply colors that match their kitchen or restaurant. We encourage you to choose a color that can boost your motivation just by holding it!

Characteristics of JIKKO’s Stabilized Wood Knives 

At JIKKO, we carry a wide selection of stabilized wood handles with beautiful colors. From our selection of knives, we, JIKKO, would like to introduce and recommend to you our stabilized wood handle knives that we carry,  as well as our custom order services.

Stabilized Wood Knives: JIKKO’s Recommendations 

With over 120 years of history, JIKKO’s knives embody the spirit of Japanese craftsmanship. The vibrant stabilized wood handles, paired with beautiful blades, turn each knife into more than a tool—it becomes a piece of art.

Here are our recommended selections that combine tradition, innovation, and one-of-a-kind beauty.

【Umeda VG10】 Series 

The Umeda VG10 series from JIKKO Cutlery are featured with refreshing blue stabilized wood handles. The slightly curved shape fits comfortably in your hand, so you can easily grip the knife. The knife has simple blades that enhance the vivid blue colors.

【Kappa SG2】 Series 

The Kappa SG2 series from JIKKO Cutlery are knives with sophisticated black blades with beautiful Damascus patterns. The stabilized wood handles come in luxurious red and black colors. The blade is crafted with powdered high-speed steel, which provides excellent sharpness that lasts for a long time.

【JIKKO-Shiki】 Series 

The JIKKO-Shiki series includes Sakana-Kiri (for cutting fish), Sushi-Kiri (for cutting sushi), and Niku-Kiri (for cutting meat), so you can choose a knife that suits your purpose. These unique knives have a uniquely curved shape, which makes it special and attractive. You can use the curved knife to easily move and cut ingredients of your choice; and it’s a perfect knife for those who want to cut stylishly!

JIKKO’s Popular Stabilized Wood Handles 

There are various types of stabilized wood handles. Below are some examples of what we carry. All the stabilized wood handled at JIKKO Cutlery are colorful and unique; you’ll definitely be able to see a knife that you have never seen before!

We will continue to stock new items, so please check out JIKKO Cutlery's Instagram page.

[View JIKKO Cutlery's Instagram page]

Custom Order Our Stabilized Wood Handles! 

At JIKKO Cutlery, we accept custom orders of knife handles. Please choose your knife, and let us know your preferred stabilized wood handle via email or chat.  

You can choose your preferred stabilized wood from photos on JIKKO Cutlery's Instagram, etc., and contact us any time. Once you have contacted us with a request such as “I would like to have stabilized wood handles with (this) type color”, we will let you know the stabilized wood handles we have available at that moment. 

The customization price includes the cost of the original price of the knife, and the price of the stabilized wood handle (+23,100 yen). If you have chosen a knife that already has special handles such as ebony wood, we will charge you the difference of the two handles.

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Caring and Maintaining Stabilized Wood Knives to Last for a Long Time 

From here, we will explain how to care for your beautiful stabilized wood handled knives. As you know, Stabilized comes from the term“stable”. The reason why this term is used, is because the resin is permeated into the wood to create a stable, high-quality handle.　

Daily Maintenance Methods

Stabilized wood feels like just resin when you touch it, but it is still wood material. Therefore, it should not be left in the water. Leaving the knife in the water can weaken the wood, so once you have finished cutting, wash the knife immediately after use, and wipe off any moisture off with the cloth.

Also, wood does not do so well with temperature changes and dehydration. So, please do not put your knives in the dishwasher or dryer.

Caring Techniques to Protect the Stabilized Wood Handle 

The color of the Stabilized wood may fade over time. 

Enjoying the color change of the handle is one option, but to maintain the handle’s beautiful color, we recommend you regularly apply oil to keep the color. Soak the cloth with wood oil, and polish the handle to restore the vibrant color of the stabilized wood. We recommend using linseed (flaxseed) oil or camellia oil if available.

Please note that if you use a knife right after you apply oil to the handle, the handle will be slippery, so avoid applying oil before using your knife to cook.

Enhancing Your Cooking Environment with Your Knife 

Stabilized wood knives bring beautiful colors into the kitchen, and can brighten your mood. JIKKO Cutlery's stabilized wood handles enhance the glamours of the knives with its beautiful vibrant colors and unique patterns it has.

We hope that you’ll be able to choose your knives with the same excitement you feel when choosing your clothes or accessories. With the stabilized wood knives, we hope that it can enhance your cooking environment in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions About Stabilized Wood 

From here, we’ll answer some of the frequently asked questions about Stabilized Wood.

Question: What are the advantages of stabilized wood?  

Answer: Stabilized wood has many advantages. First off, its beautiful appearance is a major advantage for many. The resin permeated into the wood makes the wood grain more vivid, and you’ll be able to enjoy the unique and vibrant color patterns. For this reason, stabilized wood is widely used in different places, including high-end furniture, knife handles, and decorative items.

Question: What are the materials used in stabilized wood?  

Answer: The materials used in stabilized wood are primarily a combination of natural wood and a special type of resin. First, burl wood or woods with beautiful grain patterns are selected to provide the unique patterns and coloration. Next, acrylic resin or polyester resin is used to strengthen the wood. By injecting the resin into the wood under vacuum state, the wood can be strengthened from the inside. This process not only enhances the appearance of the wood, but also increases resistance from mold and corrosion, reducing deformation and cracking that may be caused by humidity and temperature changes.

Question: What kind of wood is stabilized wood?  

Answer: “Stabilized wood” is not a specific type of wood. Therefore the term refers to a process of making the wood uniform and stable. Once resin is permeated into the wood, it hardens uniformly and stabilizes, hence is named that way.

Bonus Footage: One of the Japanese SuperStar, Mr. Kamenashi Using the Stabilized Wood Knives! 

On January 6, 2024, member of KAT-TUN, a famous Japanese idol band group, Kazuya Kamenashi requested us if we can lecture him about knife sharpening, and we, JIKKO Cutlery, collaborated with Kamenashi Kamenashi Channel on YouTube.

Now, Mr. Kamenashi loves using our knives with the Pink Stabilized Wood Handle, that matches his member color in his group.

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