This Underrated Blade Shape Has Rarely Been So Stunningly Executed

CJRB’s luxe new Sasaya brings a top-notch locking mechanism and premium materials to the unique and beloved Shilin Cutter.

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published April 7, 2025

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While the knife industry pretty consistently rolls out new items with good-looking and dependable blade shapes such as the Wharncliffe and tanto, other styles do not appear as often.

For that reason, it can be pretty noteworthy when a cool new interpretation of, say, a Persian or hawksbill does appear.

cjrb sasaya full — The Shilin Cutter’s bamboo leaf-shaped blade is often complemented by an eggplant-shaped handle.

That’s exactly the case with an upcoming release from CJRB Cutlery, because the high-end version of the Sasaya puts a luxe and lovely spin on a somewhat underappreciated shape, ye olde Shilin Cutter.

Bamboo basis

Named for its bamboo leaf-like shape, the Shilin Cutter boasts a history dating back to the late 1800s, according to a fascinating Blade Forums account.

That’s when a bladesmith named Kuo He developed the knife, complete with an eggplant-shaped handle, and began selling it in his Taipei-based cutlery shop.

While it’s probably not what creator Kuo He was envisioning a century and a half ago, the Shilin Cutter’s shape also makes it ideal for spreading condiments such as peanut butter and jelly when crafting a sandwich in the backcountry.

Perhaps for that reason, Taiwanese and Chinese makers seem to produce this style of knife more often than Western brands do.

That’s a bit of shame because the wide blade is incredibly versatile, excelling at piercing, slicing and cutting.

cjrb sasaya off side folded — The lightweight and durable titanium handle is textured to aid with grip, especially when wet.

Its width is especially handy with outdoor food prep, as you can balance your choppings on the blade when transferring.

While it’s probably not what Kuo He was envisioning a century and a half ago, the shape also makes it ideal for spreading condiments such as peanut butter and jelly when crafting a sandwich in the backcountry.

I last wrote about this blade style this past November, when Vosteed introduced the multi-deploying Shilin Cutter Vanchor Lock, and I am stoked to revisit the style with CJRB’s fresh take.

cjrb sasaya off side — The minimalist thumb slot enables one-handed deployment while the titanium pocket clip is reversible.

Before discussing the high-end treatment, I should mention there are two more affordable alternatives: a $56 version with AR-RPM9 blade steel and G10 handle scales and a $60 version with AR-RPM9 steel and wooden handle scales.

However, the most eye-popping of the three by a longshot is the one boasting the most premium materials. (I know, shocking.)

The $180 execution states its case with a formidable 3.5-inch S35VN steel blade and a titanium handle.

The latter is the main reason it weighs 3.63 ounces, a fair amount less than the G10 and wooden handled versions.

cjrb sasaya lock — This angle provides a closer look at the button lock and the subtle, grip-improving jimping on the blade’s spine.

Complementing those features are a smooth-deploying thumb slot pivoting on a ceramic ball bearing, a reversible titanium pocket clip and an increasingly common locking mechanism, a button lock.

This mechanism is popular for a reason: enabling you to tap and flick to deploy, and then tap and let gravity return the blade to its home, this mechanism is not only remarkably reliable but also quite fidget-friendly.

With an overall length of 8.23 inches, this Sasaya is not only super handy, it’s simply gorgeous to behold, in all its silvery glory.

Availability and pricing

Listed as “coming soon,” the CJRB Sasaya with S35VN blade steel and titanium handle scales should be available for purchase in the next few weeks for $180.