440-042 Penanto Japanese Kiridashi Brass Knife
- Knife
- 0.8 ounces
- 5 × 0.6 × 0.1 inches
This kiridashi knife is a small, purpose-built marking tool rather than an all-purpose blade, worth it if that specific shape is what you want.
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How it ranks among the 246 knifes we track
4.3★ across 255 Amazon ratings, Bayesian-smoothed toward the category average.
255 Amazon ratings, weighted on a log scale so huge counts don't drown everything.
Modest tracked demand last month.
Brand identity, imagery, description and spec coverage.
The ProductDome score is separate from the Amazon rating shown above: it combines the Bayesian-smoothed Amazon rating with evidence volume, tracked demand, and data quality across the 246 knifes we track - how the scorecard works · full knifes data report. Confidence: medium - useful but incomplete evidence.Last refreshed Aug 4, 2026. Data-computed, not a hands-on test. Compiled by the ProductDome Research Team.
Overview
The Penanto 440-042 is a Japanese kiridashi-style knife with a brass handle and a single angled edge, sized for close, controlled cuts rather than general chopping. At 0.8 ounces and just over five inches long, it sits in the pocket-knife weight class, built for marking, whittling, and fine trim work.
Kiridashi knives trade a full handle grip for a flat brass body that runs the length of the blade, keeping the whole tool thin enough to ride in a pencil case or tool roll. The angled tip is the working point on most kiridashi, useful for scoring lines before a cut rather than pushing through thick material. Specs here are limited to weight and dimensions, so fit and finish details are not confirmed.
- Japanese kiridashi-style single edge
- Brass body and handle
- 5 x 0.63 x 0.06 inch profile
- 0.8 ounce carry weight
Who it's for
Woodworkers, leatherworkers, and hobbyists after a dedicated marking or fine-cutting knife are the target buyer here. It is not a match for anyone who needs a knife to baton wood or handle heavy-duty cutting.
Strengths and trade-offs
Drawn from this product's published specifications.
- Slim enough for pocket or tool roll carry
- Kiridashi shape suits marking and detail work
- Light at 0.8 ounces
- No handle grip beyond the flat brass body
- Blade steel and edge geometry are not specified
Performance notes
The single-edge, angled-tip design of a kiridashi is built around push cuts and scoring rather than a slicing motion, which is why the blade profile looks different from a typical pocket knife. A brass body this thin (0.06 inches by spec) will flex less than it looks, but exact rigidity depends on how the blade is tempered, which is not listed here.
Specifications
| Brand | 440-042 |
|---|---|
| Model | 440-042 |
| Item Weight | 0.8 ounces |
| Dimensions | 5 × 0.6 × 0.1 inches |
How it compares
This product against the closest alternatives we track in knifes.
| Product | Amazon rating | Ratings | ProductDome score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 440-042 Penanto Japanese Kiridashi Brass KnifeThis product | 4.3 / 5 | 255 | 3.5 / 5 |
| WORKPRO W013053AU KnifeWORKPRO | 4.8 / 5 | 9,700 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Victorinox 0.6223.G KnifeVictorinox | 4.8 / 5 | 9,400 | 4.7 / 5 |
| LEATHERMAN 831426 KnifeLEATHERMAN | 4.8 / 5 | 9,800 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Gerber 31-000345 KnifeGerber | 4.7 / 5 | 16,300 | 4.6 / 5 |
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Questions about the 440-042 440-042
Common buyer questions answered straight from the product spec data - no fluff, no "it depends".
What is a kiridashi knife used for?
It is a Japanese marking and trim knife, generally used for scoring lines, whittling, and fine detail cuts rather than general-purpose cutting.
How heavy is the Penanto 440-042?
It weighs 0.8 ounces and measures about 5 by 0.63 by 0.06 inches.