Suisin Honyaki Wa-Gyuto: is it worth its price?

I am hesitating to buy this knife. It is very well considered, but it is extremely expensive (˜350 euros).

This knife would replace my Konosuke GS. I am very happy with it, but I am attracted with the idea of having a mono-steel laser. In the laser-type knife, I also have a Shibata Kotetsu, which I love.

Any advices or recommendations?

Note:
- I live in Europe, I am a leftie, I sharpen on a wicked edge, no problem with carbon but prefer stainless, I use a end-grain oak board, Wa or Yo handle are fine

Hi,

since you come from germany... I just wrote a comparison review of the Kono GS and the Suisin IH (my go-to-Gyuto for years). Conclusion for me in short:

A Kono GS is a really nice knife. Compared geometrywise you wouldn't gain much when buying the Suisin. The profile on the Suisin seems a little flatter, what I like. Handle I leave beside, because the GS that I tested had an aftermarket handle.

Sharpenabiliy I'd prefer the Kono. What you gain mostly with the Suisin IMHO is edge retention. That's it more or less.

Regards, Iggy

Danke for the info Iggy! Do you have a link to this comparison review?

- mathieu

It's personal of course, but to me it is. One of the best production gyutos I know. Here is my review: https://japaneseknifereviews.wordpress.com/2015/05/22/suisin-inox-honyaki-versus-ashi-hamono-ginga/

Hey Mark, indeed I know your very nice and informative review. Like all the reviews on your blog, BTW. It is among the thing that makes me want to buy this knife.

ashi ginga = way better deal:

http://www.japanische-kochmesser.ch...amono-Wa-Gyuto-240mm-Schwedenstahl::2890.html

I've had a Gesshin Ginga and SIH at the same time and preferred the Ginga. If I need to buy another along these lines I want to try a Tatasuna INOX.

Thanks a lot for all these info guys! I really appreciate it. Looks like there are a lot of options for a mono-steel laser out of the suisin!

@Daveb: do you have a link to the "Tatasuna" knife: google seems not to know it.

zetieum said:

@Daveb: do you have a link to the "Tatasuna" knife: google seems not to know it.

Click to expand...

I assume Dave is referring to this: http://aframestokyo.com/ikkanshi-tadatuna-wa-gyuto-240mm-inox-bl240.html

That would be the one.

Tadatuna / Tadasuna. Always been curious about A Frames seeming to use the two names interchangeably. They are the same?

Considered it in the past - my problem is, your shopping list is always your ballot in everything, and I kind of feel uncomfortable voting for what I am not sure is an appropriate use of the honyaki label...

Thanks to you guys, I am reading a lot on the differences between all these lasers: Konosuke HD / GS, Suisin Inox, Gesshin Ginga , Tadasuna. It seems that there is no obvious winner there.

The excellent blob post from mark76 (https://japaneseknifereviews.wordpress.com/2015/05/22/suisin-inox-honyaki-versus-ashi-hamono-ginga/) points out the better edge retention of the Suisin vs the Ashi ginga.

In this post in another forum: http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/882903/ , the Suisin in said having a better retention than the Tadsuna.

In short the Suisin seems better, but it seems marginal. Price-wise it is by far the most expensive. But reading all that I am wondering if I will gain a lot compared to Konosuke GS.

zetieum said:

The excellent blob post from mark76 (https://japaneseknifereviews.wordpress.com/2015/05/22/suisin-inox-honyaki-versus-ashi-hamono-ginga/) points out the better edge retention of the Suisin vs the Ashi ginga.

Click to expand...

That's correct. But don't forget you can probably also get it sharper than any of the knives you mentioned. In theory AEB-L (with Ginsang as a good second) should be best in this area. But in practice the Suisin is. Plus, it's got a great geometry and profile.