25 Kiyoshi Kato (Yoshiaki Fujiwara) knives

[khashy]

Today marked my 1,000th post on Instagram under the Japanese Knives Collection account I created back in mid 2017.

Truth be told, I looked at it as free online storage for my knife photos and I never imagined somewhere down the line it will end up with nearly 40,000 followers!

Anyway for this one thousandth post, I wanted to post something special so a group photo seemed to be the way to go.

Unfortunately I am not able to take group shots right now, so I went back to my archives and remembered that I took a Kato group shot a few years back.

So here it is, my entire Kato collection as it was back then. I think it goes without saying that Kato-san has a very special place in my heart.

 

[Corradobrit1]

I bet thats more Kato's than Kato has. Congrats on the milestone.

 

[xxxclx]

For a moment I thought this was a BST thread and shocked at this extravaganza...

Congrats on such an impressive collection

 

[Wdestate]

awesome line up khash

 

[luuogle]

Congrats on the accomplishment.

 

[F-Flash]

Now, can you name them all?

Is there 3 kikuryus and famous Shigefusa x kato yanagi in there?

Or is one of those the legendary tamahagane kato?

 

[TB_London]

That’s a set and a half!

 

[khashy]

I bet thats more Kato's than Kato has. Congrats on the milestone.

Ha! I doubt any maker keeps many of their own knives tbh

 

[khashy]

awesome line up khash

Thank you sir, culmination of many years of searching. Some of them was just a matter of right time right place tbh

 

[khashy]

Now, can you name them all?

It would make for a tedious read to list 25 knives. How about this:

Knife types: Gyutos (240s, 210s, some shorter ones), Yanagibas, Santoku, Petty, Parer, Suji, Nakiris

Steel: White steel, Blue Steel, WH steel

Cladding and Finishes: Kasumi, KU, Suminagashi, Kikuryu

Is there Shigefusa x kato yanagi in there?

Unfortunately not, however there is a Kikuryu yanagiba there which is absolutely the bee’s knees

Or is one of those the legendary tamahagane kato?

Not in this particular photo

 

[GorillaGrunt]

Jesus H Tapdancing Christ on a jumped up chariot driven crutch

 

[rebornhj]

Wow awesome! What's your favorite out of 25?

 

[Anton]

those Yanagiba's - what joy must these be to hold in hand

 

[parbaked]

PM sent...

 

[Runner_up]

I will buy this.

 

[khashy]

Wow awesome! What's your favorite out of 25?

Very difficult to single one out. The Kikuryus are obviously special, as are the suminagashies. The Kikuryu yanagi is just nuts and though it may not look it, the small yanagi is all kind of unique too. It is the oldest one of the entire lot - it was made before Kato-san started engraving the tangs of his single bevels. The western handle gyuto is incredible, I mean they are all my babies tbh

 

[khashy]

those Yanagiba's - what joy must these be to hold in hand

Agreed. I explained above about the small yanagi actually

 

[Nagakin]

I almost admire your patience more than the collection. Looks museum worthy.

 

[nakiriknaifuwaifu]

@khashy rare to see a kamagata nakiri. nice.

 

[Luftmensch]

Holly... ****...

Incredible collection. Each to their own... but I am glad the majority have modest handles!

Didn't know you are to Katos what @Zweber12 is to shigs!!

 

[Luftmensch]

@khashy rare to see a kamagata nakiri. nice.

The last third looks like a gentle up sweep? Santoku?

 

[spaceconvoy]

The last third looks like a gentle up sweep? Santoku?

The actual nakiri has more curvature tho

I'm curious which ones you use, if any. The western gyuto is the only one that looks like it has patina.

 

[nakiriknaifuwaifu]

The last third looks like a gentle up sweep? Santoku?

I'm probably overthinking this and it's just a santoku but...

I would call it kamagata nakiri because the downward dive of the blunt point is far more steep than a santoku, such as the one right beside it. Granted it is shorter too, but still the overall geometry of the tip is still different. If you're talking about the curve, most nakiris are curved towards the tip too. The kamagata version actually has less curvature at the tip compared to the nakiri beside it.

If you had only a silhouette, it would look like a kamagata usuba more than a santoku. Below is an example of a kamagata nakiri (double bevel).

 

[lechef]

Wow, that is beautiful. Hope you have a good safety system, that is worth a small fortune.

And me that thought I was one of Maksim´s better customers..

 

[Luftmensch]

such as the one right beside it.

Right you are... My mistake. I thought we were talking about that one!! I didn't see the sheep's foot drop on the smaller kuro nakiri. Perhaps I was too dazzled by the collection!!

I agree, that smaller kuro nakiri looks like a kamagata style

 

[khashy]

I almost admire your patience more than the collection. Looks museum worthy.

Ha! Thanks. Actually it’s more passion than patience that drives this forward for me

 

[khashy]

@khashy rare to see a kamagata nakiri. nice.

Well spotted and correctly identified as a nakiri.

It is indeed rare.

It can be mistakes for a santoku but it’s not. I do have a KU santoku, maybe I should post side by side photos of both to illustrate the difference

 

[khashy]

Holly... ****...

Incredible collection. Each to their own... but I am glad the majority have modest handles!

Didn't know you are to Katos what @Zweber12 is to shigs!!

I think it is evident that I’m not a fancy handle guy. The ones with non-stock handles were all rehandled by their previous owners

 

[RockyBasel]

Amazing and a real treat, and a true collectors collection

bravo! Makes my day, even though I don’t have a 240 WH

 

[khashy]

Amazing and a real treat, and a true collectors collection

bravo! Makes my day, even though I don’t have a 240 WH

Thanks!

Also, everyone should have a 210 or 240 Kato, everyone that has any passion for cutting what so ever