Choppin
Senior Member
After playing with different shorter sujis for I decided that 225 edge length is pretty much perfect for my use (which means either custom or Sakai 240).
I had an old Tsourkan that had this length but it was Ashi-thin and a bit too flexy for my taste. I'm using a 9" old Nogent that is almost perfect, but the softer steel makes it also a bit flexy. I tried a Heiji 210 (220 edge length) but it was thicker than ideal. I'm Sakai-ignorant so maybe I'm missing something. Ah, my Shig 220 suji was pretty much perfect, started thick at the handle but distal taper made it thin most of the length. Of course I sold that one
Here is what I'm thinking:
- 100% carbon steel (either san mai or monosteel)
- not taller than 37mm or so
- thin grind (think Ashi but a bit thicker for stiffness), but migweight is fine also
- stiff, or mostly stiff (some flex at the tip is fine)
Any ideas?
Thanks!
I had an old Tsourkan that had this length but it was Ashi-thin and a bit too flexy for my taste. I'm using a 9" old Nogent that is almost perfect, but the softer steel makes it also a bit flexy. I tried a Heiji 210 (220 edge length) but it was thicker than ideal. I'm Sakai-ignorant so maybe I'm missing something. Ah, my Shig 220 suji was pretty much perfect, started thick at the handle but distal taper made it thin most of the length. Of course I sold that one
Here is what I'm thinking:
- 100% carbon steel (either san mai or monosteel)
- not taller than 37mm or so
- thin grind (think Ashi but a bit thicker for stiffness), but migweight is fine also
- stiff, or mostly stiff (some flex at the tip is fine)
Any ideas?
Thanks!