The Kanji is a non-issue w/me. Cost is a factor, but doesnt make a difference in the ultimate decision. Profile is my main concern. I have spent a lot of time with a pass around Suisin 270 honyaki gyuto, and undeniably love it. It's awesome for me... period. I LOVE my Suisin INOX Honyaki 240 Gyuto. It is my number one favorite knife out of all my Konosukes, Tanakas, Moritakas, Carter, Kanehiros, Tamahaganes, Tojiros, Kyoceras, etc., but I always wanna try something different. I can't imagine any package being better for me then the Suisin, but you never know till you try.
They [Tad & Sui] both have 260mm cutting edges & they both are 50mm tall. Perfect for me, and the Suisins have something very distinct whereas they have the slightest of concave in their spine created from where the tip actually begins to rise off centerline as it extends away from the heel. Very hard for me to describe, but extremely noticeable. This is the major discernable difference I can recognize in their profile from any other knife I see. The R!chmond Laser exhibits a curiously similar profile, but I cant imagine Ill see the same F&F from them as I have from Suisin. The Tsutomu Kajihara share said concave, but they dont have the same rise with their tip, they employ way too much belly for me, they are too tall with too much of that height carrying all the way up to the tip, and theyre reactive.
I love both HD & 19c27 steels, but I prefer my second generation Kono Hds steel to my Suisins INOX. In the same breath, I prefer Suisins profile and size. My Kono is 276mm at the edge. I love her, but the 260 is slightly more versatile for me.
Like I said, the Suisin is really perfect for me, but I cant help but hope that maybe - just maybe theres something else. The Tadatsuna is really the only plausible competition I can see, but from a picture, she just doesnt impress me.
Honestly, the impetus to my question is in that I will be acquiring a 270 Suisin soon
unless I can find an option I have yet to find. Im slightly hesitant because I already have the 240. The Tadatsuna just doesnt look to have the aspect of the profile Im looking for, and Im hearing nothing definitive that really steers me to her otherwise. I just saw her listed @$320 though, sans saya, I think.
That deal left me thinking...
Thank you for your input, thus far.