Current Top 5 and Top 10 Gyutos

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DitmasPork

DitmasPork

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Admittedly, I’m nerdy enough to rank my gyutos—the rankings change on a monthly basis. I go through phases—sometimes I’m in a workhorse mood, or fancying lighter gyutos, or wanting Sanjo or French gyutos on the cutting board, etc.

What’re you top 5 and 10?

Here’re my Top 5 and 10:

[My Top 5 in no particular order]
225 Yanick Puig
240 Kikumori x Nakagawa, w1
240 Takada, b1
225 Bryan Raquin
240 Tetsujin, b2

[My Top 6–10 in no particular order]
240 Kato, workhorse
240 Yoshimi Echizen, blue super
240 Oul, ginsan
240 Jiro, w1
210 Shigefusa
 
I'll play along since others haven't as yet/might not.


Will preface by saying this list is my own preferences. Where I tend to lean into more pure cutting feel and lighter knives.

Would also mention, I tend to release the ones that I don't prefer as much so my list is already curated to my preferences and what I like. Not to say there aren't smiths whose work won't fit into my list somewhere.

List In Order

Bidinger AEBL B-Grind 248mm ----------------- Pure performance joy. From cutting to food release
Birgersson N/A 248mm ------------------------- Close second. Just balances cutting feel with food release really well.
Yanick 135Cr3 254mm -------------------------- Really well balanced knife. First thing I noticed was the high level of Fit and Finish.

The next four are actually quite interchangeable and similar. Each being convex grinds with various levels of convexity, and exhibit a high level execution.

Kippington AEBL 240mm ------------------------ I compare all new arrivals to this one. Stainless too.
Xerxes WH 1.2695 275 mm ---------------------- Hefty but cuts like a laser. Huge complements to the balance, doesn't feel like a 275.
Nine W2 Honyaki 250mmm --------------------- Super similar to the Comet. Pretty hamon with the performance to back it up.
Comet 26C3 Honyaki 216mm ------------------- See above.

Masashi B1 242mm ------------------------------ Profile is a bit awkward for me. But it's my polish knife anyways

I have three other knives. But it's a paring, bread knife and a Zwilling beater.


Pending Arrivals
Yanick 135Cr3 244mm
Shihan AEBL 225mm-235mm

Possible Wants - Would love to re-evaluate how these slot in
Milan
Kamon

Someone sell me some 230s 😅
 
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Scott said:
I'll play along since others haven't as yet/might not.


Will preface by saying this list is my own preferences. Where I tend to lean into more pure cutting feel and lighter knives.

Would also mention, I tend to release the ones that I don't prefer as much so my list is already curated to my preferences and what I like. Not to say there aren't smiths whose work won't fit into my list somewhere.

List In Order

Bidinger AEBL B-Grind 248mm ----------------- Pure performance joy. From cutting to food release
Birgersson N/A 248mm ------------------------- Close second. Just balances cutting feel with food release really well.
Yanick 135Cr3 254mm -------------------------- Really well balanced knife. First thing I noticed was the high level of Fit and Finish.

The next four are actually quite interchangeable and similar. Each being convex grinds with various levels of convexity, and exhibit a high level execution.

Kippington AEBL 240mm ------------------------ I compare all new arrivals to this one. Stainless too.
Xerxes WH 1.2695 275 mm ---------------------- Hefty but cuts like a laser. Huge complements to the balance, doesn't feel like a 275.
Nine W2 Honyaki 250mmm --------------------- Super similar to the Comet. Pretty hamon with the performance to back it up.
Comet 26C3 Honyaki 216mm ------------------- See above.

Masashi B1 242mm ------------------------------ Profile is a bit awkward for me. But it's my polish knife anyways

I have three other knives. But it's a paring, bread knife and a Zwilling beater.


Pending Arrivals
Yanick 135Cr3 244mm
Shihan AEBL 225mm-235mm

Possible Wants - Would love to re-evaluate how these slot in
Milan
Kamon

Someone sell me some 230s 😅
Click to expand...
I appreciate your write up/observations on the knives—I thought about doing the same, but laziness got the better of me. Gotta get my Birgerssons back into the mix, very good cutters.
 
Its almost impossible but i do my best..

top 5:
Yanick 240
Milan 230 honyaki 130c
Kono FM B2 240(heavier example).
Kipp WP 250 52100
Mazaki W2 210(my most used blade).

top 6-10:
Kato STD 240
Mazaki B1 240
Denka 225 western
Kochi migaki 240
B.Raquin 235 classic grind

Left out but almost in: Shihan AEBL 240, Jiro western 225, Myojin R2 240, Takada b1 240, Toyama 240, Simon Maillet 220, Nakagawa&Morihiro B1 240.

all are great, really depends on my mood..

i have extra thick B1 Fujiyama which is still BNIB as well. Too many good blades out there
 
I’ll play.

Tier 1: Haburn 240 in 51200; Devin Thomas 230 in 1.2519. These two are really in a league of their own.

Tier 2: Halcyon Forge 175 in CruForge damascus (petite gyuto or XL petty—not sure. I love it, so I’m counting it. If it was a 210, it would like be in Tier 1); Lisch 240 Damascus; Ryusen Blazen 240 in SG2

Tier 3: Watanabe Pro 240; Kato WH 210; ShiHan 240

Tier 4: Hattori KF 270; Wusthof 9” Ikon (I know Wusthof doesn’t get any love around here, but it’s tough as nails and never corrodes, so I like it when I’m cooking something new and acidic and know I won‘t have time to worry about my nicer knives).

Edited to add these are all 10 that I own. Burke, Rader, Xerxes, Kippington, and Newham are my current wish list.
 
I feel like I am just picking randomly among many favorites, but here is how I'd group them at the moment...

1-5
Migoto White 1 259 mm
Shihan Telegraph W2 248 mm
Toyama Damascus or Stainless 243 mm (can't decide)
Halcyon Forge Wrought 1.2519 228 mm
The Nine Wrought Blue 2 235 mm

6-10
Jiro White 1 250 mm
Gesshin Kagekiyo White 1 226 mm
Takada Blue 1 230 mm
Konosuke Fujiyama FM Blue 1 230 mm
Kochi Migaki 241 mm

Tied 6-10 :)
Migoto Suminagashi Blue 1 243 mm
Markin ШХ-15 262 mm
Birch & Bevel Wrought ApexUltra 257 mm
Manaka Blue 1 243 mm (242 g version)
Tetsujin Metal Flow Blue 2 232 mm
Takeda NAS 255 mm
Wakui Seiryu 248 mm
Yoshikane SKD 243 mm
 
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Top 5:
1. Konosuke FM Togo Reigo
2. Yanick Gyuto
3.Togashi Blue 1 "The James"
4. Shigefusa kasumi
5. Newham Magnacut

Top10:
6. Halcyon Forge Bridge Wrought iron
7. Tansu HVB blue 2 gyuto
8. Togashi x Morihiro white 1 Honyaki
9. Milan Gyuto
10. Isasmedjan Dense twist damasteel

Honestly no particular order, things could definitely jump around.
 
Top 5 (alphabetical)

Gengetsu 210 • SC semi-stainless

Markin 237x53 • WX-15 (52100) mono

Takada No Hamono Suiboku 270 gyuto • IC blue 1

Tanaka x Kyuzo 240 k-tip extra height • IC blue 1 migaki

Yanick Puig 242x59 • wrought iron clad 135Cr3 kurouchi

Top 10 (alphabetical)

Dalman x Birgersson 247x60 • silversteel warikomi

Halcyon Forge 260x54 • wrought iron/nickel suminagashi clad 1.2519

Kochi 240 • IC v2 kurouchi

Migoto/Tanaka x Nomura 240 • IC blue 1 shinogi

Shi.Han 247x56 • 52100 mono kurouchi

Reflections

A mildly (and surprisingly) excruciating exercise. I feel like I could try this again tomorrow and at least half the list would be different.

Many notable names are missing. No FM, Jiro, Kato, Nakagawa, or Myojin (despite the latter probably featuring in my collection/daily drivers more frequently than any other smith or sharpener - see below). In fact, more of my high value knives don’t make the list than do (really, only HF and Yanick).

Y Tanaka blue 1, on the other hand, appears 3 times despite me thinking that I didn’t have an especially strong affinity for his work. Apparently I do. I’d also have thought Sanjo gyutos would appear more frequently given how many I own. Apparently I don’t like them as much as I thought?

No stainless and only one semi-stainless (despite the fact that the two most used gyutos in my kitchen are a Myojin SG2 210 and Kagekiyo ginsan 240).

Two for two with JKI-released gyutos in my collection.

Yep, Yanick is up there for me too.

100% sure that a (hopefully) incoming Kippington would bump the Takada from (today’s) top 5 which would mean DxB or Shi.Han drop out of (today’s) top 10.

I really need to try a Bidinger and a Milan.
 
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Justinv said:
But what are your top 5 Santokus?
Click to expand...
I see you were wise enough to not suggest top 10 santokus, but it's still wishful thinking that many have 5 and even less probable 5 being used enough to rank. Perhaps, just start off light, something like" Does anyone have a Santoku they kinda like."
 
Not sure I have enough knives to make a meaningful list, but the 5 I reach for most often are:
1. Birgersson 225 - Smooth cutter but feels tough and worry-free
2. Brian Hanson 180 - Thinned to my personal preference and low price point so I don’t mind abusing and generally wearing out
3. Markin 225 - Has some heft but always surprisingly thin BTE to drop through food
4. Kamon 220 - Interesting geometry I’m still learning, always a bit of fun discovery whenever I pick it up
5. Yoshikane SKD 210 - Yeah, I still get that “whoah” feeling all over again every single time
 
Top5 (in no order of priority):
45671768mu.jpeg


Top10 (in no order of priority):
Merion Forge (really, almost in the Top5),
add some more Kamon and Bidinger

Interesting exercise. I found out 2 things:
1) I couldn’t make a full KAMON Top10. Challenge accepted. :angel:
2) There is no Japanese knife in my Top10. If I had to choose my favourite Japanese knife, it would probably be a Watanabe iron clad with Stefan Keller handle.
 
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JuniperGhosts said:
Nope, we’re still out here. I visually don’t like the shape
Click to expand...
I’d borrowed a friend’s Mazaki santoku, they look cool to me, fun to use—but honestly couldn’t see why’d I’d get a santoku, or why I’d grab a santoku over a gyuto. If working in a small space, I’d rather use a smaller gyuto or nakiri tbh.
 
My Top 5 in no particular order:

IMG_8452.jpeg


225 Kamon Gigantoku
200 Milan Monosteel 135cr3
225 Kippington WP
230 Yanick Gyuto
235 Milan Western Workhorse

My Top 6–10 again in no particular order:

IMG_8510.jpg


215 Milan Deep Etch Twist Gyuto
230 Milan Deep Etch Workhorse
290 Halcyon Laddered Damascus Workhorse Gyuto
260 Kamon Gyuto
220 Newham Integral Honyaki

I should note that the position of the 260 Kamon gyuto will likely be taken by a Bidinger custom I have coming in based on the performance of a Bidinger I have traded. Since I don't have it in hand yet though I can't put it in the list. Once this happens it'll be in the top 5.

Edit: this is a hard challenge to do. Even after posting this I changed my mind. I think top ten is easy but limiting to five is tough.
 
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Jville said:
I see you were wise enough to not suggest top 10 santokus, but it's still wishful thinking that many have 5 and even less probable 5 being used enough to rank. Perhaps, just start off light, something like" Does anyone have a Santoku they kinda like."
Click to expand...
Wait, I do own a santoku, a stainless, vivid pink, under-$10 santoku my mom gave me years ago. Before coming to my senses and traveling with a knife roll, I’d cooked up many a fine meals with that colorful, versatile, kitchen workhorse.
B3081B72-C555-423F-93D2-9CFCDE0B1B5E.jpeg
 
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