Knife blades come in a wide variety of finishes; terms like kurouchi, nashiji, kasumi, migaki, and Damascus often appear in product descriptions, but they're not always explained clearly. Some knife finishes are functional surface treatments; others are visual byproducts of the forging process, and they all have their own unique look.

In this guide, we break down the most common knife finishes found on Japanese and Western kitchen knives. This glossary-style resource is designed to help you better understand the terminology used across the knife world, with visual references throughout. 

Knife finishes are often influenced by how a knife is constructed. For a full breakdown of monosteel, San Mai, Damascus-clad, and coreless Damascus blades, check out our Knife Blade Construction guide.

Note: All images of knife finishes are linked, so if you see something you like, give it a click or tap!

Migaki (pronounced mee-gah-kee) is the Japanese term for "polished." It refers to knife finishes with a clean, shiny surface finish that can range from a soft satin sheen to a near-mirror polish. 

• Look: Mostly smooth and reflective, often with a visible transition line (hamon) when used on San Mai blades.
• Other names: Polished, Mirror Polish, Satin Polish
• Common on: Monosteel or San Mai knives, especially in high-end stainless models, and most German fully forged knives.

Kurouchi (pronounced koo-roh-oo-chee) literally means "black hammer" or "blacksmith's finish." It's the blackened forge scale that is intentionally left on the blade after heat treatment. Kurouchi knife finishes often appear split down the center, which is separated by the grinding of the blade that tapers down to the sharpened edge.

• Look: Matte black to dark gray, typically covering the upper portion of the blade.
• Other names: Blacksmith's Finish
• Common on: Hand-forged Japanese Knives.
• Modern Twists: Today, kurouchi knife finishes can be made with a synthetic and permanent kurouchi finish, which is created by oxidation/acid reactions.

Tsuchime (pronounced tsoo-chee-meh) translates to "hammered" in Japanese. These are intentional hammer marks left on the blade's surface, which aid in food release, and of course, for looks.

• Look: Repeating round or dimpled patterns, sometimes symmetrically arranged. Many makers use square or diamond shaped hammers for unique finishes.
• Other names: Hammered, Textured, Dimpled
• Common on: San Mai Japanese knives

Hollow edge knives have divots just above the sharpened edge, along the length of the blade. Originally designed by Granton Knives and known as a "Granton Edge," but are rarely referred to by this name anymore, as the style is now used by makers all over the world.

• Look: Symmetrical oval-shaped divots along the edge of a knife, on the bottom half of the blade. Sometimes they get shorter towards the tip of the knife.
• Other names: Granton Edge, Fluted
• Common on: Monosteel Knives, both German and Japanese.

Nashiji (pronounced nah-shee-jee) means "pear skin," referencing the delicate texture of an Asian pear. Think a Kurouchi knife that is polished down, removing the dark scales from the forging process, but still maintaining a bit of texture.

• Look: Subtly textured, semi-matte surface that appears cloudy or stippled
• Other names: Pear-skin finish
• Common on: San Mai knives, often with stainless cladding

Kasumi (pronounced kah-soo-mee) means "mist" or "haze." It refers to knife finishes with a cloudy, semi-polished look on the cladding at the mid-blade of a knife, creating a soft contrast with the core steel and the kurouchi or nashiji top.

• Look: Silky, fog-like surface with a clear hamon
• Other names: Hazy finish, Mist polish
• Common on: San Mai knives

Damascus refers to the visible patterning that comes from layering and folding or twisting alternating steels. It's a finish that is both a surface treatment or a part of the blade's internal structure. 

A coreless Damascus knife has the same alternating steel throughout the entire blade. In contrast, a knife with Damascus cladding has a core steel, sandwiched between two pieces of preforged Damascus sheets.

• Look: Wave-like, feathered, or swirling patterns that span the blade face
• Other names: Coreless Damascus, Damascus Cladding
• Common on: Japanese knives, hand-forged or stamped.

Stonewashed knife finishes are achieved by tumbling the blade with abrasive materials like small stones or ceramic pellets. The result is a slightly rough, matte, and often mottled texture across the entire blade surface. 

• Look: Matte, low-glare, minimally reflective, speckled.
• Other names: Rustic, heritage, matte
• Common on: Western and monosteel blades

These modern finishes range from slightly matte to rugged, industrial-like textures. These are often used to hide micro-scratches or give a modern, tactical appearance, or a Katana-like look.

• Look: Textured, hazy, matte-like, low glare
• Other names: Rustic, heritage, matte
• Common on: Western and monosteel blades

A  patina is a natural discoloration that forms on carbon steel knives through use. It develops as the blade interacts with moisture, acids, proteins, and even air. Unlike rust (which is red, flaky, and damaging), a patina is typically blue, gray, or black, and is protective, acting as a barrier against further corrosion.

Some knives come with a fully polished blade that is shiny and mirror-like, allowing the patina to develop more slowly and more visibly over time. Others may arrive with a  Kurouchi,  Kasumi, or  Migaki finish where only the edge is exposed carbon steel, which is where you'll see the patina first form.

Patina isn't technically a "finish" in the manufacturing sense, but it's a key visual element of owning and using a carbon steel knife.

• Look: Varying-sized spots and non-uniform patterns with a brown, yellow, or blue color.
• Other names: Rust, nope, that's patina!
• Common on: Only on carbon steel knives, or knives with a carbon steel core.

A  coffee finish is a finishing technique used on carbon steel knives. After the blade has been shaped and polished, it's soaked in brewed or instant coffee (yes, really) to create a dark, rich patina. The natural acids in the coffee react with the steel to darken it evenly and dramatically.

• Look: Blue, grey, brown-ish finish, that changes in the light angle.
• Other names: Coffee Patina, Coffee Finish
• Common on: Only on carbon steel knives, or knives with a carbon steel core. Many high-end, hand-forged coreless Damascus knives.

DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) and Cerakote are synthetic coatings applied to knife blades for enhanced durability and food release, with a matte-like aesthetic. These finishes are typically found on modern Western knives and modern hybrids.

• Look: Deep matte surface; non-reflective and modern in appearance.

• Other names: DLC coating, Diamond-Like Carbon, Cerakote finish

• Common on: Fully stainless monosteel knives, like the Wüsthof Performer or select tactical-style blades

Many Japanese blades have multiple knife finishes, as you've seen throughout this blog. Some of the most common combinations include:

• Kurouchi + Kasumi
• Nashiji + Kasumi
• Tsuchime + Damascus Cladding

In these cases, knife finishes are often simplified with a single description, like kurouchi, nashiji, taushimi, or Damascus.

Whether forged in a traditional Japanese blacksmith’s workshop or crafted in a modern Western factory, knife finishes on a blade tell a story, or simply look amazing. These surface treatments, like kurouchi, migaki, nashiji, kasumi, deep-etched Damascus, and more, are not just decorative; they reflect generations of technique, artistry, and material knowledge.

Some knife finishes are rough and rustic, others smooth and polished. Some highlight the blade’s construction, while others create striking visual contrast or subtle texture. Knowing the names and differences helps you recognize the care that goes into each blade and allows you to appreciate the knife not just as a tool, but as a piece of design and craftsmanship.

Whether you’re drawn to raw forge scale or mirror-polished elegance, there’s a finish that speaks to your style. And now, you know exactly what to call it.