APEXULTRA Gyuto ($300 Price Range) Poll

[bill_zeng]

Hello,
This poll does not represent a purchase intention; I just want to know what style of knife the KKF friends prefer.
Earlier this month, I released a Honyaki product and received orders from several friends. I am very grateful to these friends. Some friends needed a change in materials, and I offered 52100 steel as an alternative. Recently, I received an email asking if I could use APEXULTRA steel to make a mono-steel Gyuto. I have previously made knives for myself using APEXULTRA steel, with a heat treatment hardness of 66 HRC. It consumes more belts and takes more time to grind compared to 52100, T10, and 1095 steels, and the steel itself is more expensive. Therefore, I decided to release the APEXULTRA Gyuto as a standalone product rather than an option for my Honyaki product (APEXULTRA is also very difficult to produce hamon lines).

To better control costs and batch processing, I can keep the price at a very reasonable level, around $300 including shipping. I would like to conduct a survey about the specifications and dimensions of the APEXULTRA Gyuto. Personally, I prefer making laser specifications because I like the sharp cutting feel. Of course, I also offer the workhorse option. This poll does not represent a purchase intention; I just want to know what style of knife the KKF friends prefer.
This post is just me asking you what type of knives you prefer. Because recently I have received a lot of custom orders with very unique designs. I began to reflect on whether my favorite design meets the aesthetic needs of more KKF friends. Your vote will allow me to better design and manufacture works that meet the needs of our KKF friends.

APEXULTRA Gyuto Specifications:

• Surface Finish: 300-grit brushed finish
• Blade Construction: Mono steel
• Handle Type: Wa handle
• Spine: Rounded and polished
• Finger Choil: Mirror polished
• Hardness: HRC 65-67

Currently, I cannot announce the sales time for this batch of knives because I don't have enough steel. I placed an order for the steel today. If things go smoothly, it can be shipped from the U.S. to China in a week. If not, it may get stuck in customs for a long time.

Thank you.

 

[Just a DK]

At the risk of looking like a old fart dum dum... not sure how to vote...

 

[bill_zeng]

At the risk of looking like a old fart dum dum... not sure how to vote...

This post is just me asking you what type of knives you prefer. Because recently I have received a lot of custom orders with very unique designs. I began to reflect on whether my favorite design meets the aesthetic needs of more KKF friends. Your vote will allow me to better design and manufacture works that meet the needs of our KKF friends.

 

[Just a DK]

This post is just me asking you what type of knives you prefer. Because recently I have received a lot of custom orders with very unique designs. I began to reflect on whether my favorite design meets the aesthetic needs of more KKF friends. Your vote will allow me to better design and manufacture works that meet the needs of our KKF friends.

Yep was thinking of voting.. but not sure if something with the poll is wrong but.. I can't click on it or register a vote.

 

[Matt Jacobs]

240 x 53. I also cant figure out how to vote?

 

[bill_zeng]

240 x 53. I also cant figure out how to vote?

thank you. i get There might be an issue with the settings on my post. However, I checked several times and didn't find any restrictions on voting settings.

 

[bill_zeng]

Yep was thinking of voting.. but not sure if something with the poll is wrong but.. I can't click on it or register a vote.

There might be an issue with the settings on my post. However, I checked several times and didn't find any restrictions on voting settings.
Could it be that only sponsoring members can initiate polls, and I haven't activated my sponsoring membership?

 

[enrico]

Pretty sure this is like a BST portion of the forum.

Maybe posting in the general forum would work?

 

[enrico]

But I'd say if you could do in between the 2 and create a middleweight apex ultra that isn't dangerously thin. Would be a great knife for someone working in the industry.

 

[WhilemyKnifeGentlyWeeps]

But I'd say if you could do in between the 2 and create a middleweight apex ultra that isn't dangerously thin. Would be a great knife for someone working in the industry.

I second that.

 

[enrico]

I second that.

In hindsight, one restriction may be the stock pieces they get to start off with.

 

[enrico]

I’m going to spam a little bit. But i also cant edit comments on this post. Interesting, maybe it is the reason

 

[bill_zeng]

But I'd say if you could do in between the 2 and create a middleweight apex ultra that isn't dangerously thin. Would be a great knife for someone working in the industry.

thank you~

 

[Nemo]

My preferred length is 240 to 270. I like lasers AND workhorses. And most grinds in between. How would you grind the workhorse? Convex? Wide vevel? Convex wide bevel...?

 

[Justinv]

None of the above. For a 210, 47mm is not tall enough, 50-52mm is better. Middleweight is where its at. I find 210mm too long for most tasks but thats an unpopular opinion here.

 

[bill_zeng]

None of the above. For a 210, 47mm is not tall enough, 50-52mm is better. Middleweight is where its at. I find 210mm too long for most tasks but thats an unpopular opinion here.

thank you i get

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Poll worked for me.

 

[ditomura]

If this becomes a mass drop/group buy, I’m in. A $300 apex ultra knife would be hard to pass on. Any of the knives listed above are good. Make whichever one you excel at.

 

[aporigine]

I cannot find a vote option, but I’d go with the 240 laser, ideally reprofiled for a 51 heel height.

 

[Tler]

no idea how humblehomecook was able to vote, but my vote goes to the 240 laser, 53 tall

 

[nopomo]

240x53 laser sounds good but 255x55 would be even better.

 

[tostadas]

Most members do not have privilege to post in this subforum. I guess voting is lumped with that privilege.

 

[jaydee]

None of the above. For a 210, 47mm is not tall enough, 50-52mm is better. Middleweight is where its at. I find 210mm too long for most tasks but thats an unpopular opinion here.

210/47mm is a classic gyuto "shape" like they (almost) all used to be.
Look at manufacturers like Masamoto and others who have been around for decades. typical sizes: (210x46mm, 240x52mm)
The classic shape preserves a nimbleness that you can never achieve with taller blades. (imho)

Not saying anybody is wrong here of course!
Yes, the trend here at KKF (weirdly) changed from "classic" to tall workhorses.
But then KKF isn´t mostly pro cooks but lots of home cooks and/or collectors too.

Would be really interesting to make a poll that is open only to pro cooks and another poll for the rest.

 

[TB_London]

240 workhorse with 53mm heel height set up with wide bevels that can be lightly convexed in to the edge with a v small edge bevel that can be maintained easily by working the wide bevels.
Easily removable handle would also support ability to customise

 

[samjj234]

in for the 240 mid-weight!

 

[Arkman]

240x53 laser

 

[Achedis]

240x53 midweight for me!

 

[bill_zeng]

240 workhorse with 53mm heel height set up with wide bevels that can be lightly convexed in to the edge with a v small edge bevel that can be maintained easily by working the wide bevels.
Easily removable handle would also support ability to customise

The easiest to replace would be the WA handle. However, for convenient handle replacement, I did some experiments last year.
It's easy to disassemble, but customers may have difficulty finding suitable replacement parts since they are all custom-made products.

 

[Chef DB]

Anything from 250 to 280 would be my preference. Something more workhorsey but with a distal taper to a finer tip. (Oh and I'm a sucker for k-tips)

 

[aporigine]

Anything from 250 to 280 would be my preference. Something more workhorsey but with a distal taper to a finer tip. (Oh and I'm a sucker for k-tips)

Not this old white rabbit. I stay away from k-tips and any swayback/recurve along the spine. Perhaps this belongs in Unpopular Opinions.