The Oboro Knife Series of NSK Diamond Stones offers all the incredible qualities of the Hakuto Series (fast cutting speed, incredible grit accuracy, and grit consistency) while boasting a level of extra hardness and an astounding degree of aggressive abrasive qualities. In general, all stones from the Oboro Knife Series are harder than those found in the Hakuto and Kyokuha Series. In addition to the hardness of this series, they are recognized to cut deeper than the Hakuto Series, making the Oboro Knife Series can be incorporated with use of the Hakuto Series. By moving between different hardness within a certain grit range, a sharpener can customize and tailor their work to the job at hand.customize and tailor their work to the job at hand.

These harder stones provide more feedback and crisp lines when working with single-bevel blades and wide-bevels in general; whereas a slightly softer stone at the same grit will give different feedback and less consistency in finish.

This is what makes the Oboro Knife 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, 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.

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.