Zanmai Splash III

You’ll no doubt remember the Zanmai Hybrid Splash range of knives. In our opinion, they’re among the most beautiful knives in our range. A beautifully patterned Damascus steel blade with a matt guard and an elegant handle. Add to that high-quality materials, and you’d think there was simply no room for improvement. The master craftsmen at Marusho Industry had a different view.

In keeping with the Japanese approach, they have retained what has proven its worth and improved upon what could still be improved. The materials, the bolster and the sophisticated handle remain unchanged. Surprisingly, it is the blade that has been refined. A special etching process has given it a dark background, against which the intricate Damascus pattern stands out even more strikingly. By layering softer and harder corrosion-resistant steel around a core of hard VG10 cobalt steel, the metallurgists at Takefu Special Steel have created what is known as a ‘packet’. Multiple hot-rolling processes create the basic layered material (33 layers) for the knife manufacturer. The process of revealing the individual layers remains closely guarded know-how. And this is where Marusho Industry takes the lead. Just take a look at the Zanmai Ultimate Aranami blades or the newly launched Zanmai Splash III range. The imaginative combination of waves and circles gives your imagination boundless scope. The manufacturer has switched to monochrome branding, so you will no longer find the red logo on the blade. 

The handles are the same as those on the original Hybrid Splash model, which we really appreciate. The hexagonal shape, which flows smoothly into a circle, fits comfortably in anyone’s hand. It is made from brown stabilised pakkawood. The decorative inlay, together with a narrow red stripe, enhances the overall aesthetic appeal. The same goes for the matt bolster made from a nickel and silver alloy.

The Zanmai Splash III knives raise the bar set by their predecessor – which was already set very high – even higher. 

©2026 Copyright Roman Ulík, Nippon Knives, www.japonskenoze.sk all rights reserved. 

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