Features of the OEM Swedish Steel Nashiji

OEM, also known as Original Equipment Manufacturer, is a leading producer of both knife handles and blades for the cutlery industry. Thanks to its large-scale production, the company is able to employ specialists in every stage of the manufacturing process. This results in an excellent balance between quality and price. Although OEM is often regarded as a commercial manufacturer, this does not reflect the quality of its products. The company produces knives of a consistently high standard.

This knife features 17 outer layers with a Swedish Steel core, a hard stainless steel that is well suited for maintenance on whetstones. The blade is finished with a Nashiji finish, which literally translates to "pear skin." This traditional finish gives the blade its distinctive textured appearance. The knife is completed with a lightly charred oak wood handle, creating an elegant and durable design.

Swedish Steel

Swedish steel is renowned for its excellent quality and performance. This is due to the high purity of the iron ore found in northern Sweden, which forms the foundation of this exceptional steel.

Because of its fine grain structure, Swedish steel remains very easy to sharpen on a whetstone, even with the addition of chromium. Chromium normally makes steel tougher and more resistant to corrosion, but Swedish steel maintains excellent sharpening properties while offering the benefits of stainless steel.

Thanks to the addition of chromium, it is a fully corrosion-resistant steel type, making it an ideal choice for both professional chefs and enthusiastic home cooks.

Elwin de Veld about OEM

An Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is a company that manufactures an original product that is sold under another company’s brand name. In the case of knives, an OEM might manufacture a knife and sell it to several different companies who then simply add their price margin and sell the knife under their own brand name. This is a common practice in the Japan knife industry. Does it affect quality? No it doesn't, in fact, it can mean a stable production for the knifemaker. 

In this particular OEM case, a well known knifemaker from Sakai, provides knives from other producers from the region. A well overthought choice, to provide a beautiful blade with a stunning handle.