If you are researching for a Japanese knife to add to your kitchen, you’ve come across Miyabi. Miyabi knives are known for their eye-catching design, quality material, and incredible sharpness. Miyabi has a large collection of knives and two of its most popular collections are Miyabi Birchwood and Miyabi Artisan.
In this comparison of Miyabi birchwood vs artisan sg2, you will learn how these two knives differ in different features and their similarities.
Quick Overview: Miyabi Birchwood Vs Miyabi Artisan
You will find as many different features as a similar feature. Key different features are:
- Miyabi Birchwood core is wrapped by 50 layers of stainless steel on each side. Whereas Miyabi artisan has 1 layer of stainless steel at each side.
- Birchwood blade has a unique flower Damascus pattern. Artisan has hammered finished blade.
- Birchwood handle is made from Birchwood with white wooden color. The artisan handle is made from Cocobolo pakkawood and has a brown look.
- Birchwood handles are rounded shaped and straighter than artisan. Artisan handles are slightly contoured from the blade to the but end. As the belly has a curve so the grip is round and symmetrical. But both have a steel end cap.
- Birchwood is more pricey and artisan is more affordable.
The truth is you will find a lot of features are similar between Miyabi birchwood and artisan.
- Both knives feature an Sg2 micro carbide powder steel core. So, both knife has same Rockwell hardness that is 63.
- Artisan and birchwood both have a 9.5 to 12-degree cutting angle at both sides. Both can hold their edge for very long.
- Both of the knives support only handwash.
- Like all Miyabi knives, these two knives come with a limited lifetime warranty for any manufacturing defect.
Both of these knives are part of our best Miyabi knives review list.
Comparison Table: Miyabi Artisan vs Birchwood
| Miyabi Birchwood | Miyabi Artisan | |
| Where it’s made | Seki, Japan | Seki, Japan |
| Blade Material | Sg2 micro carbide powder steel core | Sg2 micro carbide powder steel Core |
| Blade Construction | Core is wrapped by 50 layers of stainless steel on each side. | Core is protected by another 2 layers of steel. |
| Blade Design | Flower Damascus Pattern | Tsuchime hammered finish with hazy snow finish in the middle |
| Handle Material | Birchwood | Pakka wood |
| Handle Design | Rounded handle with stainless steel end cap and red accents. | Curve at the belly with a rounded shape, steel end cap, and red accents |
| Handle Color | Shiny white | Brown |
| Sharpness ( Edge angle) | 9.5-12 | 9.5-12 |
| Rockwell Hardness | 63 | 63 |
| Full Tang | Yes | Yes |
| Edge retention | Long-Lasting | Long-Lasting |
| Cleaning | Hand wash | Hand Wash |
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime | Limited Lifetime |
| Price | More Expensive ( Check Price on Amazon) | Less Expensive ( Check Price on Amazon |
Differences Between Miyabi Birchwood and Artisan Knives
I have briefly mentioned the key difference between Miyabi artisan sg2 and birchwood sg2. There are some other differences. Lets’s dive deep into it.
Difference 1: Blade Construction
Both knives feature the same blade core made with Sg2 super powder steel. But their main difference is in construction. In birchwood, the core is wrapped with more layers than Miyabi artisan.
In Miyabi, the birchwood core is wrapped with 50 layers of stainless steel on each side. So, there is a total of 101 layers of steel considering the core. These layers protect the core from any kind of pressure or damage. And in birchwood, these layers are made with two types of steel. One softer steel layer then a harder steel layer. The harder steel layer ensures required hardness and the softer steel layer adds more flexibility.
And artisan has one layer of steel on each side of the core layer. So, it has a total of 3 layers of steel. These layers are claded together very nicely.
Difference 2: Blade Design ( Blade finish)
The difference in blade design can be noticed easily in these two knives. Miyabi birchwood has a unique Damascus finish. The whole blade has a flower Damascus pattern. Its 101 layer of steel makes this Damascus pattern. And like every piece of birchwood is hand-forged so every knife holds a unique Damascus design different from each other.
On the other hand, Miyabi artisan chef’s knife has a tsuchime hammered finish. The top half portion has this beautiful hammered finish, the middle portion has a plain matt finish and the edge portion has a mirror finish. This hammered finish not only adds beauty it also makes air pockets that prevent food from sticking while cutting food.
Difference 3: Handle material
Handle material is totally different in these two Miyabi knives. Miyabi birchwood sg2 handle is made with natural Karelian birchwood. This is a precious handle material with a look like a white diamond. Curves and lines of wood are properly visible and carry all the characteristics of natural wood.
Miyabi artisan sg2 is the handle is made with Cocobolo rosewood pakkawood. Pakka wood is not real wood, it is a composite of hardwood, resin, and other materials. It makes the handle water and moisture resistant As a resin-based material pakkawood has a shiny look, with a brown wooden color. Moreover, pakkawood doesn’t harbor bacteria so it lasts for long.
Difference 4: Handle Design
Both handle design has similarly in few features like a steel end cap with Miyabi logo, mosaic pin at the middle of the handle. And there are strips with a different color in the handle.
Miyabi birchwood has a rounded cylindrical shape. It’s not so curvy and it is more straight than Miyabi artisan. There is no aggressive curve at one side so it is quite comfortable for both left and right-handed users. And the white handle looks very attractive with a red stripe, a mosaic pin, steel end cap, and two red stripes.
On the other hand, the artisan handle is curvier than Miyabi birchwood. It has a curve at the belly that fits nicely in the palm. And the handle has a brown wooden-like finish with black lines like real wood. Moreover, other parts are two red stripes, a mosaic pin, and a steel end cap with the Miyabi logo.
Difference 5: Weight
Though both knives have the almost same size there is a difference in their weight. Miyabi artisan is more lightweight than Miyabi birchwood chef’s knife.
Miyabi birchwood has a weight of 18.8 ounces. That may look a little higher but with its proper balance and weight distribution, you will hardly feel this extra weight. Moreover, this extra weight helps to cut through anything without any extra pressure.
On the contrary, Miyabi artisan chef’s knife has almost half the weight of Miyabi birchwood chef’s knife. It is only 9.6 ounces that ensure a fatigue-free cut for a long time.
Difference 6: Price
There is a noticeable difference between the price of Miyabi artisan sg2 and Miyabi birchwood sg2.
Miyabi birchwood is a high-end collection of Miyabi with all premium materials. It is one of the most pricey Miyabi knives with unique beauty.
Whereas, Miyabi artisan is a middle-range collection of Miyabi. But when you will compare it to knives of other companies a middle-range Miyabi is a very high-end knife.
Difference 7: Product Offering
When it comes to product offering Miyabi birchwood and artisan has both similarities and differences.
In the Miyabi birchwood line, there is a chef’s knife, gyutoh, nakiri knife, santoku knife with rocking santoku. Other knives like prep, slicing knife, paring knife. There is also a steak set of 4 pieces.
Miyabi artisan line has chef’s knife, santoku knife, utility knife, prep knife, bread knife, slicing knife, and paring knife. There are also a set of artisan knives like Miyabi artisan steak knife sets and sets of chefs and a paring knife.
| Knife/ Set | Birchwood | Artisan |
| 8” chef’s knife | Available | Available |
| Santoku knife | Available | Available |
| Rocking Santoku | Available | Not Available |
| Nakiri Knife | Available | Not Available |
| Utility Knife | Not Available | Available |
| Shotoh knife | Available | Not Available |
| Prep knife | Available | Available |
| Slicing Knife | Available | Available |
| Bread Knife | Available | Available |
| 9.5-inch gyutoh | Available | Not Available |
| Paring Knife | Available | Available |
| Steak knife set | Available | Available |
| 2 piece knife set | Not Available | Available |
| 8/7 piece knife set | Available | Not Available |
Similarities Between Miyabi Birchwood and Artisan Knives
We have gone through all differences, lets now talk about the difference between Miyabi artisan sg2 vs birchwood sg2 Knives.
Similarities 1: Blade Material
The main similarities between these two knives are their core material. Both Miyabi artisan and birchwood are made from micro carbide SG2 powder steel which is also known as super gold steel. Sg2 steel is a high carbon alloy of powder stainless steel. The main component of sg2 steel is carbon, nickel, chromium, and cobalt.
Carbon components increase the hardness of the steel core. Chromium makes the knife rust-resistant and other components contribute to the strength and durability of the knife.
Similarities 2: Hardness
As both of these Miyabi knives are made from the same material and using the same process, they both have the same hardness. In Rockwell scale, both Miyabi artisan and birchwood have 63 hardness. With this hardness, it retains its edge for a long.
Similarities 3: Sharpness and Edge Retention
Both of this knife features a hand-honed blade finish with an extremely sharp katana edge. Each knife has an incredibly sharp 9.5 to 12-degree cutting angle that can be hardly found in any western Japanese knife. This edge ensures effortless and precise cutting.
As both of this knife are made with hard material both retains its edge for long. But birchwood retains its edge longer than artisan when it is compared between Miyabi birchwood vs artisan. As birchwood has more steel layers protecting the core.
Similarities 4: Clean and Maintenance
Both Miyabi birchwood and artisan are only handwash safe. So, just wash the knife with clean water after every light use and you can use cloth and soap after heavy uses. Never put these two knives into the dishwasher that may damage the edge and cause chips.
And for storing this two knife you can use a wooden block or extra sheath. None of these come with any sheath, they come with only a beautiful box.
Similarities 5: Where they are made
Birchwood and artisan knives are made in Seki, Japan using traditional Japanese knife-making techniques.
Seki is called the knife-making capital of Japan and has 700 years of history in knife and sword making. Each Miyabi knife takes 100 steps and 42 days to make it a worthy knife.
As Miyabi is a part of famous german knife maker Zwilling. Every knife is a combination of Japanese tradition and modern Garman technologies.
Similarities 6: Warranty
Like all other Miyabi knives, Miyabi artisan and birchwood chef’s knife comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
As Miyabi is a part of famous knife maker Zwilling, Miyabi uses all premium material and technology for their knives. So, they have full confidence in their knife of every type. So, For any kind of manufacturing defect, they provide warranty service.
If you want to have a Miyabi knife follow those instructions that come with the knife. Handwash the knife and if you find any kind of manufacturing defect use the warranty service.
Conclusion ( Should You Buy Miyabi Birchwood or Artisan Knives? )
Now you may have got a proper idea about the difference and similarities between birchwood and artisan from this full Miyabi birchwood vs artisan. It’s time to decide which knife is best for you.
If you want a knife with a straight rounded handle and real wood then birchwood is better for you. And if you like a handle with a curve that fits in the palm and like a handle made from a resin-based material artisan is for you.
If Damascus finish attracts you more than birchwood chef’s knife has a unique flower Damascus pattern. And if you prefer a hammered finish then artisan will be more useful for you.
Both knives have extreme sharpness and hardness. And both retain their edge for long. Though the birchwood has long edge retention than artisan as birchwood has more steel layers that make it more flexible.
Finally comes affordability. As birchwood is one of the most high-end knife Miyabi its price is higher than artisan. If you want a knife with less cost then you can go with mid-range Miyabi artisan Sg2.
If you want to read particular review about these two knife . Then here it is Miyabi Birchwood Sg2 Review , Miyabi Artisan Sg2 Review .
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