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Anseong Daejanggan - South Korea

In the South Korea city Anseong, known for its metalworking and other handcraft, a blacksmith shop run by Master Shin In-young produces a collection of hand-forged kitchen knives in the traditional style of the region. Trained by his uncle in the 1960's, Master Shin upholds the traditions of the craft, designing and developing a range of culinary as well as outdoor tools. The carbon steel used is repurposed from railroad track, high in manganese, making the finished product, hard, strong, and wear resistant. Likewise, the chestnut handles are dried for years in sunlight, making them strong, lightweight, and long-lasting. Marked with an 'X' using the dang ghi technique, and with a steel band wrapped around the handle, the knives are denoted as coming from a trained maker using high-quality materials, a traditional method of distinguishing the work of the best makers.