4th Generation Yoshikane knives

Saw this on Rakuten Global at very high prices for a damascus western gyuto. Bolster looks like Shige western. Name is Kazuomi Yamamoto. Yoshis seem to be going down in quality and availability lately, is this a changeover? Anybody have any knowledge of this?

Clicky?

Pretty pricey...

How have you assessed this drop in quality?

Well, the handle looks like crap

No full knife pic? That's quite strange for any knife, and given the sum of this particular one, even stranger.

NO ChoP! said:

How have you assessed this drop in quality?

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maxim talks about it here
http://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/showthread.php/13971-Value-Added/page4?highlight=heiji

I did not mean drop in quality on all they stuff ! Some custom made and high end knives is still super !! However when you order big like i told in that thread then there will be a problem

That is an insane price for a gyuto.

Brad Gibson said:

That is an insane price for a gyuto.

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Expensive, but not out of the ordinary for a western forged integral suminagashi.

It's not made of Gold so I'll pass.

lus1:

Timthebeaver said:

Expensive, but not out of the ordinary for a western forged integral suminagashi.

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You will see western shigs, Honyakis, KD or kitaeji Katos in same price bracket . Hinoura twisted Gyuto will set you for double that , if You are fortunate enough to win lottery and then win Bob Kramers lottery you may get a 240mm gyuto for $$$$$ ...
I don't think any of them are made of gold or will cut 4 times better then $400 gyuto but I do know and appreciate great amount of craftsmanship behind those knives . I don't see myself dropping a grand on a gyuto in near future but they certainly have a market and I am happy for those people who are lucky enough to have them