The Hakuto Series of NSK Diamond Stones offers all the incredible qualities of the Kyokuha Series (fast cutting speed, and incredibly grit accuracy and grit consistency) while adding an astounding degree of granularity in customization. In general, all stones from the Hakuto Series are harder than those found in the Kyokuha Series; but each grit within the Hakuto Series can be had in five separate hardness. The Hakuto Series comes, in order from Hardest to Softest, as ‘1’, ‘1S’, ‘2’, ‘2S’, and ‘3’. By moving between different hardness within a certain grit range, a sharpener can customize and tailor their work to the job at hand.

A harder stone might work better and provide more feedback when working with a honyaki blade; whereas a slightly softer stone at the same grit may work better for a clad knife. But at the same time, you could find that a softer, finer stone may work better for double-bevel honyaki when moving past #1500 grit.

The ability to pick the exact correct tool for the job at hand is what makes the Hakuto Series of NSK Diamond Stones so exceptional. While this level of detail and granularity in selection does require much more skill and knowledge from the end user, meaning we don’t recommend these for beginners; they do represent the ultimate in possibility for sharpening and polishing. It is for this reason that Ivan Fonseca now exclusively uses the Hakuto and Oboro Knife Series for all his work before the final polish with Natural Stones.

Across all the grit ranges available, the Hakuto Series Diamond Stones don’t produce mud during sharpening, making it easier to keep track of the progress of work you’re doing. Additionally, each stone comes with a ‘resurfacing wafer’, meant to be used after flattening to return the surface of your diamond stone to optimal.

Available Grits:

#200 - #400: Used to reset bevels, aggressive thinning, and cleaning up chips and damage to blades.

#600 - #800: Used to progress geometry established by the previous grit range. All used to maintain a blade between full progressions. Fast enough to fix minor chips that might normally require a #400 grit stone from a standard synthetic line.

#1500 - #3000: Used to further refine geometry, or for setting up a blade to move to Natural Stones for a final polish. With excellent technique, a blade’s surface can go straight from #3000 grit to Koma Nagura. Also good for final edge work; produces a refined edge that still has great bite.

#6000-#10,000: Used to produce amazing refinement in both edge formation, and blade geometry (especially for wide bevel knives). Can be used to take a blade to a Mirror Finish. Allows for perfect surface preparation before moving to natural polishing stones.