Hey guys been a while since i have done a proper review have been soo busy lately between work and school but i had time today and wanted to review the Marko custom i got the other day. I have only had the knife i think 2 days but used it at work both days and got a good feel for it so here it goes. Also appoligize for iphone pics really need to get a good camera one of these days.
Marko Tsourkan Custom- Specs-
Walnut D handle with metal tip
52100 steel
195g
IMG_1623 by jgraeff2, on Flickr
Fit and Finish-
Marko goes above and beyond on his work and truly delivers an amazing product. His handle work is simply amazing! This knife has very comfortable rounded spine and choil, the metal tip fits perfectly with the ferrule and is rounded as well. The finish on the blade i believe is like 800 grit ( Marko might chime in) but i know he finishes them by hand and they look great! Some prefer mirror finishes, i like them as well but Marko's finishes are just as good and compliment his handles. 10/10
IMG_1626 by jgraeff2, on Flickr
New Handle-
As some of you know Marko has been working on some new handles, mainly the D-shaped meji style with a metal tip. At first i didn't like the look, once i started looking at them more they grew on me. Once i saw it in person i was blown away at how great it feels in the hand and how nice it looks! Adds a great balance point to the knife and feels great in the hand overall. 10/10
IMG_1627 by jgraeff2, on Flickr
IMG_1625 by jgraeff2, on Flickr
Sharpening / Grind-
I got the knife the other day, it had a bevel but wasn't really sharpened. I was running out the door to work so i just grabbed my gesshin 4k and finished it on there and stropped on 1micron diamond. The edge was shaving and extremely sharp for 4k. It sharpened very quickly and easily was done on the stone is less than 5 minutes. It is very thin behind the edge and has an asymmetric grind and bevel. id say about 15 on the right side and 18 on the back. Marko's heat treat has come a long way and very impressive sharpening/ edge holding ability as well as being strong. 10/10
Performance-
First thing i had to do at work was fish, so i started breaking down the snapper and grouper. It whizzed through them like nothing. I portioned them up and started on the beef tenderloins accompanied by my honesuki. Worked very well with removing fat but had trouble with silver skin. Was great for portioning. It is a great cutter overall, had very slight wedging on hard onions but i mean very slight. I do get some sticking towards the back top part of the blade. Nothing major at all. I was very happy with the performance and cutting ability. 8.5/10
[video=youtube_share;2eijcvcFffA]http://youtu.be/2eijcvcFffA[/video]
-apologize about the music only song i had on my girlfriends computer and there was talking in the background.
Overall-
The first thing i saw when i got this knife is the influences from Shigefusa. It feels like an extension of my hand and is up to tackle any thing at work i may need it to. I was really impressed by the handle and overall feel of the knife. I have only one complaint if its even a complaint at all, i wish there were a few more millimeters on the machi, only because if i have a hard or dense item i have to press through such as cold butter i have to change my grip to like a hammer grip in order to get the leverage to push through it. Im really glad i got this knife when i did because i really feel in love with the new handle construction. Marko is really making amazing knives and im excited to have one. 9.6/10
pinch grip
IMG_1629 by jgraeff2, on Flickr
adjusted grip
IMG_1630 by jgraeff2, on Flickr
Marko Tsourkan Custom- Specs-
Walnut D handle with metal tip
52100 steel
195g
IMG_1623 by jgraeff2, on Flickr
Fit and Finish-
Marko goes above and beyond on his work and truly delivers an amazing product. His handle work is simply amazing! This knife has very comfortable rounded spine and choil, the metal tip fits perfectly with the ferrule and is rounded as well. The finish on the blade i believe is like 800 grit ( Marko might chime in) but i know he finishes them by hand and they look great! Some prefer mirror finishes, i like them as well but Marko's finishes are just as good and compliment his handles. 10/10
IMG_1626 by jgraeff2, on Flickr
New Handle-
As some of you know Marko has been working on some new handles, mainly the D-shaped meji style with a metal tip. At first i didn't like the look, once i started looking at them more they grew on me. Once i saw it in person i was blown away at how great it feels in the hand and how nice it looks! Adds a great balance point to the knife and feels great in the hand overall. 10/10
IMG_1627 by jgraeff2, on Flickr
IMG_1625 by jgraeff2, on Flickr
Sharpening / Grind-
I got the knife the other day, it had a bevel but wasn't really sharpened. I was running out the door to work so i just grabbed my gesshin 4k and finished it on there and stropped on 1micron diamond. The edge was shaving and extremely sharp for 4k. It sharpened very quickly and easily was done on the stone is less than 5 minutes. It is very thin behind the edge and has an asymmetric grind and bevel. id say about 15 on the right side and 18 on the back. Marko's heat treat has come a long way and very impressive sharpening/ edge holding ability as well as being strong. 10/10
Performance-
First thing i had to do at work was fish, so i started breaking down the snapper and grouper. It whizzed through them like nothing. I portioned them up and started on the beef tenderloins accompanied by my honesuki. Worked very well with removing fat but had trouble with silver skin. Was great for portioning. It is a great cutter overall, had very slight wedging on hard onions but i mean very slight. I do get some sticking towards the back top part of the blade. Nothing major at all. I was very happy with the performance and cutting ability. 8.5/10
[video=youtube_share;2eijcvcFffA]http://youtu.be/2eijcvcFffA[/video]
-apologize about the music only song i had on my girlfriends computer and there was talking in the background.
Overall-
The first thing i saw when i got this knife is the influences from Shigefusa. It feels like an extension of my hand and is up to tackle any thing at work i may need it to. I was really impressed by the handle and overall feel of the knife. I have only one complaint if its even a complaint at all, i wish there were a few more millimeters on the machi, only because if i have a hard or dense item i have to press through such as cold butter i have to change my grip to like a hammer grip in order to get the leverage to push through it. Im really glad i got this knife when i did because i really feel in love with the new handle construction. Marko is really making amazing knives and im excited to have one. 9.6/10
pinch grip
IMG_1629 by jgraeff2, on Flickr
adjusted grip
IMG_1630 by jgraeff2, on Flickr