Hello everyone, I have been reading a fair bit about knives lately but I have gotten to the point where i would appreciate feedback from members who have actually used knives before. I will be moving to england for a year and will be on my own so I have a very small budget and need to get the very basics. I have been looking at ebay since most places in toronto are over priced. I am looking at picking up a chefs knife and a paring knife, as I should be able to do everything with those. I have zero skill cutting and very little skill cooking but I am learning slowly.
The following are knives ive been looking at:
YAMAWAKU water proof chestnut Gyuto chef knife Houchou210- Around $69, plus shipping if I want it registered.
-appears to be a great price for what you get
-blue steel
-length at 210
-handle
Japanese Hideyuki Tanaka stainless silver3 chef knife hand forged pear Gyuto 180-US $53.33 plus shipping if I want it registered.
-price
-still good steel
-kind of small
-a negative is the lack of a full tang
Japanese Kazuki Tanaka 16 Damascus blue st JP chef knife Gyutou 180mm HRC63+ $85 plus shipping if I want it registered.
-pretty
-vg-10
Negatives:
- price
-kind of small
I.O Shen- 270mm -around 66
-handle looks neat
-price is great for the size
-cons- metal is unknown, i have searched and havent found much on the knives if anything at all, other than they are popular in Britain
Zhen Japanese Steel Gyuto Chef Beef Cutting Knife 9.5in【Z014M-2-95】- price 45 and up depending on bid, plus 10 shipping
-vg-10 core
-I have found reviews for this, seems pretty good
-decent sharpness
-price may be great depending on what it ends at
negative
-made in taiwan
Zhen Japanese Cooking Chef Knife 8" - price 35 and up buy it now is 50 something plus 10 shipping
-vg-10 core
-I have found reviews for this, seems pretty good
-decent sharpness
-price may be great depending on what it ends at
negative
-made in taiwan
tojiro japanese knife sushi chef dp cobalt alloy steel gyuto 210mm sanjo japan-100 including shipping
cons- price
May consider a CCK cleaver, there is an official distributor at a nearby mall- i think their around $40
Pairing Knife:
victorinox- $5.25- i can get this local
maybe a henckels twin master yellow handle paring knife- price unknown
I know both will be stamped, but I have a hard time justifing the extra expense right now.
I know I will get asked about sharpening so here it goes.
-I have little money for stones so I have been using 400, 1000 and 2000 grit sandpaper taped to glass so its perfectely flat. i then have been following up with cleaning/polishing compound (its green) on mdf board that I had lying around. (makeshift strop).
-I picked up a cheap 9inch steel which I havent used yet.
-I have practiced on a few knives now and although I have been getitng better, still cannot get razor sharp. i can get the knives to slice paper easily, but cannot shave at all.
-I probably dont have any money for a stone, but if i did it would probably come from lee valley.
-i was instead thinking of getting some diamond film from lee valley as its cheap and light, and i already need to fit a ton of crap into one suitcase. What grit would be good to get.
I am looking for anyones advice as i am new to the world of knives and simply looking to get the best deal for my dollar. I appreciate everyone taking the time to read this lengthy post.
The following are knives ive been looking at:
YAMAWAKU water proof chestnut Gyuto chef knife Houchou210- Around $69, plus shipping if I want it registered.
-appears to be a great price for what you get
-blue steel
-length at 210
-handle
Japanese Hideyuki Tanaka stainless silver3 chef knife hand forged pear Gyuto 180-US $53.33 plus shipping if I want it registered.
-price
-still good steel
-kind of small
-a negative is the lack of a full tang
Japanese Kazuki Tanaka 16 Damascus blue st JP chef knife Gyutou 180mm HRC63+ $85 plus shipping if I want it registered.
-pretty
-vg-10
Negatives:
- price
-kind of small
I.O Shen- 270mm -around 66
-handle looks neat
-price is great for the size
-cons- metal is unknown, i have searched and havent found much on the knives if anything at all, other than they are popular in Britain
Zhen Japanese Steel Gyuto Chef Beef Cutting Knife 9.5in【Z014M-2-95】- price 45 and up depending on bid, plus 10 shipping
-vg-10 core
-I have found reviews for this, seems pretty good
-decent sharpness
-price may be great depending on what it ends at
negative
-made in taiwan
Zhen Japanese Cooking Chef Knife 8" - price 35 and up buy it now is 50 something plus 10 shipping
-vg-10 core
-I have found reviews for this, seems pretty good
-decent sharpness
-price may be great depending on what it ends at
negative
-made in taiwan
tojiro japanese knife sushi chef dp cobalt alloy steel gyuto 210mm sanjo japan-100 including shipping
cons- price
May consider a CCK cleaver, there is an official distributor at a nearby mall- i think their around $40
Pairing Knife:
victorinox- $5.25- i can get this local
maybe a henckels twin master yellow handle paring knife- price unknown
I know both will be stamped, but I have a hard time justifing the extra expense right now.
I know I will get asked about sharpening so here it goes.
-I have little money for stones so I have been using 400, 1000 and 2000 grit sandpaper taped to glass so its perfectely flat. i then have been following up with cleaning/polishing compound (its green) on mdf board that I had lying around. (makeshift strop).
-I picked up a cheap 9inch steel which I havent used yet.
-I have practiced on a few knives now and although I have been getitng better, still cannot get razor sharp. i can get the knives to slice paper easily, but cannot shave at all.
-I probably dont have any money for a stone, but if i did it would probably come from lee valley.
-i was instead thinking of getting some diamond film from lee valley as its cheap and light, and i already need to fit a ton of crap into one suitcase. What grit would be good to get.
I am looking for anyones advice as i am new to the world of knives and simply looking to get the best deal for my dollar. I appreciate everyone taking the time to read this lengthy post.