Best Boning Knife Series at Kyokuknives (2026)

Which Kyoku boning knife setup fits your kitchen?

Every listing here centers on the same job — separating meat from bone — but Kyoku packages it nine different ways across four series (Samurai, Gin, Shogun, Daimyo), as a lone blade, a two-piece pairing, or a three-piece butchering set. The real decision isn't whether the boning knife itself is good; it's how much knife you want around it and which steel and handle you're buying into.

A few things only become visible once the listings sit next to each other. Kyoku's boning knives come in exactly two lengths across the whole range — 6.5 in. (Samurai, Daimyo) and 7 in. (Gin, Shogun) — despite the different series names. And the 3-piece sets don't upgrade the boning knife itself: the Samurai 3-piece and 2-piece sets both list the same 6.5 in. boning knife spec, and the Gin 3-piece and 2-piece sets both list the same 7 in. one. The extra piece (butcher or scimitar) is the only thing that changes.

Single boning knives

If you only need one blade, three series offer it alone. 6.5" Boning Knife | Samurai Series is the Samurai 6.5 in. version in Japanese high-carbon steel at 56-58 HRC with a 13-15° edge and a pakkawood handle.

6.5" Boning Knife | Samurai Series$23.79Check price at Kyokuknives

7" Boning Knife VG-10 Damascus Steel | Shogun Series steps up to 7 in. and 67-layer VG-10 Damascus steel, described as a flexible "Honesuki"-style blade — though the listing doesn't state its hardness or edge angle.

7" Boning Knife VG-10 Damascus Steel | Shogun Series$42.99Check price at Kyokuknives

6.5“ Boning Knife 440C Steel | Daimyo Series is the Daimyo 6.5 in. option in 440C steel at 59-60 HRC, the highest hardness figure stated for any boning knife in this lineup, paired with a rosewood handle.

6.5“ Boning Knife 440C Steel | Daimyo Series$20.99Check price at Kyokuknives

Two-piece pairings

Boning + Slicing Knife Set | Samurai Series pairs the same 6.5 in. Samurai boning knife with a 12 in. slicing knife, both in German 1.4116 steel at 56-58 HRC.

Boning + Slicing Knife Set | Samurai Series$39.99Check price at Kyokuknives

Boning + Slicing Knife Set | Gin Series does the equivalent pairing in the Gin series — a 7 in. boning knife with a 12 in. slicer, in VG-10 at 58-60 HRC with a silver ion coating mentioned in the description.

Boning + Slicing Knife Set | Gin Series$68.99Check price at Kyokuknives

For a chef's-knife pairing instead of a slicer, Chef + Boning Knife Set | Gin Series and Chef + Boning Knife Set | Shogun Series both combine an 8 in. chef's knife with a 7 in. boning knife. Their specifications — blade lengths, weights, hardness, edge angle — match exactly. The only difference the listings state is that the Gin set (Chef + Boning Knife Set | Gin Series) mentions a silver ion coating on the blades, while the Shogun set (Chef + Boning Knife Set | Shogun Series) does not mention it.

Chef + Boning Knife Set | Gin Series$68.99Check price at Kyokuknives

Chef + Boning Knife Set | Shogun Series$56.99Check price at Kyokuknives

Three-piece sets

Boning + Slicing + Butcher Knife Set | Samurai Series is the Samurai 3-piece set: the same 6.5 in. boning knife and 12 in. slicer as the 2-piece version, plus a 10 in. (per specs, 11.3 in. blade) butcher knife, all in German 1.4116 steel.

Boning + Slicing + Butcher Knife Set | Samurai Series$62.39Check price at Kyokuknives

Boning + Slicing + Scimitar Knife Set | Gin Series is the Gin 3-piece equivalent: the same 7 in. boning knife and 12 in. slicer as the Gin 2-piece set, plus a 10 in. scimitar knife, all in VG-10 steel with the silver ion coating mentioned.

Boning + Slicing + Scimitar Knife Set | Gin Series$141.99Check price at Kyokuknives

Who each one suits

If you want just the boning knife, 6.5“ Boning Knife 440C Steel | Daimyo Series carries the highest stated hardness figure and 7" Boning Knife VG-10 Damascus Steel | Shogun Series the longest blade of the solo options. If you want a slicer alongside it, the 2-piece sets (Boning + Slicing Knife Set | Samurai Series, Boning + Slicing Knife Set | Gin Series) give you that without paying for a third blade you may not need — since the 3-piece sets don't change the boning or slicing knife specs, only add one more piece. If a chef's knife is more useful to you than a slicer, Chef + Boning Knife Set | Gin Series and Chef + Boning Knife Set | Shogun Series are functionally identical on paper, so the silver ion mention is the only stated point of difference between them.

$62.39 $39.99 $141.99 $68.99 $68.99 $56.99 $23.79 $42.99 $20.99