Archetypal lasers

[shobudonnie]

So which Japanese laser knives have defined “laser” up to this point? And are still going strong?

 

[NickMinton]

Kono FM / Myojin
Shibata
Tetsujin
Tanaka x Kyuzo varieties
Hado varieties
Kagekiyo

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

I'd put Akifusa and JCK Kagayaki in that category.

 

[esoo]

Kono HD2
Ashi W#2 and Swedish

 

[Jovidah]

Ashi Ginga, Takamura, Konosuke HD (which might be an Ashi knife)... there's some derivatives but I don't think those are very easy to find these days.

I don't know why all the Tanaka is suddenly pushed into laser category?
Wouldn't necessarily include JCK's stuff in that category either.

 

[nopomo]

I don't know why all the Tanaka is suddenly pushed into laser category?
Wouldn't necessarily include JCK's stuff in that category either.

The term has lost all meaning besides “thin behind the edge”. Yoshikane and Shindo are frequently invoked as lasers these days (do a search if you doubt it).

 

[TheDza]

In addition to the others listed, I'd add Kei Kobayashi

 

[jaydee]

Sakai Takayuki grand chef wa line. (not sure about the western handled ones)

 

[JASinIL2006]

In addition to the others listed, I'd add Kei Kobayashi

Definitely Kobayashi!

 

[shobudonnie]

If I always wanted a 240mm Takamura with a wa handle, would kobayashi be the way to go?

 

[nopomo]

If I always wanted a 240mm Takamura with a wa handle, would kobayashi be the way to go?

Cladistically I would suggest Ryusen (if you can live with a K-tip) but here is a discussion.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Cladistically...

Today I learned a new word.

 

[shobudonnie]

Cladistically I would suggest Ryusen (if you can live with a K-tip) but here is a discussion.

I have a ryusen. It’s not a laser.

 

[nopomo]

Today I learned a new word.

Now that you mention it, I think I actually meant “symplesiomorphically”—been a while since I took a biology class.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Now that you mention it, I think I actually meant “symplesiomorphically”—been a while since I took a biology class.

Well now you're just showing off.

 

[shobudonnie]

Do the handles on the kobayashi feel anything like those laquered Kagekiyo handles?

 

[SwampDonkey]

The term has lost all meaning besides “thin behind the edge”. Yoshikane and Shindo are frequently invoked as lasers these days (do a search if you doubt it).

And they're WRONG. Laser-ish, certainly.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Do the handles on the kobayashi feel anything like those laquered Kagekiyo handles?

Haven't tried Kagekiyo but the red Kobayashi handles felt good. Definitely that plastic/resin feeling over hard wood but it wasn't slick or slippy in my experience. The handle fit my hand well and felt nice, twas gorgeous in person. I held on to my 210 longer than I would've just because I liked looking at the handle on the rack.

 

[azn_knives_4l]

And they're WRONG. Laser-ish, certainly.

Now do workpony.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Now do workpony.

Munetoshi gyuto. Next question

 

[Jovidah]

The term has lost all meaning besides “thin behind the edge”. Yoshikane and Shindo are frequently invoked as lasers these days (do a search if you doubt it).

Yeah and as someone who owned a Yoshikane I very much disagree with calling it a traditional laser. At best it's like a 'laser with a fat spine'.
But just calling everything that's thin behind the edge a laser is useless... it was far more narrowly defined if you look at the discussions 5-10 years ago.

 

[Heckel7302]

I'll add HADO to the list

 

[Barmoley]

I'd put Akifusa and JCK Kagayaki in that category.

I wouldn’t call Akifusa a laser, more a mid weigh. Not that there is a definition, but compared to classic lasers like takamura or ashi ginga, akifusa doesn’t qualify.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

I wouldn’t call Akifusa a laser, more a mid weigh. Not that there is a definition, but compared to classic lasers like takamura or ashi ginga, akifusa doesn’t qualify.

Yeah, that's fair and I know a lot of folks don't. It does have some swell down the midline. I guess for me and what I'm used to, these and the JCK's are lasers. But I wouldn't argue it hard with you or @Jovidah either.

 

[JPAU]

Kono FM / Myojin
Shibata
Tetsujin
Tanaka x Kyuzo varieties
Hado varieties
Kagekiyo

+ TNH, Ashi, Takamura, Kobayashi, some Yamaguchi varieties

 

[shobudonnie]

I wouldn’t call Akifusa a laser, more a mid weigh. Not that there is a definition, but compared to classic lasers like takamura or ashi ginga, akifusa doesn’t qualify.

Does takada no hamono qualify?

 

[mockit]

Does takada no hamono qualify?

I’d say yes

 

[Carbonara]

I’d say yes

The HH and Suiboku do, Reika is more on the WHS end.

 

[shobudonnie]

Kono FM / Myojin
Shibata
Tetsujin
Tanaka x Kyuzo varieties
Hado varieties
Kagekiyo

myojin/morihiro grinds??? Lasers? I don’t know about that. True lasers are in a whole different world.

Current Tanaka/kyuzo I understand. These are like thicker end lasers with a wide bevel grind. Something very very special.

 

[aporigine]

Ogata