Gyuto recommendations

[DreamSun]

What’s a sub 1000USD gyuto that will out perform (blade geometry heat treat cutting ability) Ashi Hamono, Takamura Hamono, Ryusen Hamono, Myojin Riki and Shibata (knives I currently own)

 

[stringer]

What’s a sub 1000USD gyuto that will out perform (blade geometry heat treat cutting ability) Ashi Hamono, Takamura Hamono, Ryusen Hamono, Myojin Riki and Shibata (knives I currently own)

What are you cutting?
Where do these knives currently fall short?
Knives are about compromises. Which compromises make sense to you is based on your technique. Easiest way to improve performance is improve your technique.
The knives you have are very good performers already.
It will be difficult for anyone to make any relevant suggestions without more info about what you are looking for.

Do you prefer lasers or workhorses?
Ghosting through food or food release?
A wispy pointy tip or a sheepsfoot santoku?
Edge retention or ease of sharpening?
Carbon or stainless?
High heel or low heel?
Long or short?
Clad or mono?

I would recommend filling out the questionnaire.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/new-knife-questionnaire.63548/

 

[DreamSun]

What are you cutting?
Where do these knives currently fall short?
Knives are about compromises. Which compromises make sense to you is based on your technique. Easiest way to improve performance is improve your technique.
The knives you have are very good performers already.
It will be difficult for anyone to make any relevant suggestions without more info about what you are looking for.

Do you prefer lasers or workhorses?
Ghosting through food or food release?
A wispy pointy tip or a sheepsfoot santoku?
Edge retention or ease of sharpening?
Carbon or stainless?
High heel or low heel?
Long or short?
Clad or mono?

I would recommend filling out the questionnaire.

Sorry, I think what I’m trying ask is to get a subjective answer, like which knife would you prefer to use over the knives I own and why. Yup that’s more of my question and curiosity.

 

[sumis]

i have some of the knives you have, or equivalents. and nothing 'outperforms them'. but subjectively, at the moment, i also like a sanjo/yoshikane style knife for a 'best of several worlds' kind of thing – currently in rotation is a nihei (kono sumiiro), which is pretty close to a desert island do it all gyuto imho. people are sleeping on these since for some reason nihei's work hasn't been subject of any real hype, yet.

something that in certain ways would definitely outperform your current stable is a soft stee beater. like a vic

.

 

[Barmoley]

Sorry, I think what I’m trying ask is to get a subjective answer, like which knife would you prefer to use over the knives I own and why. Yup that’s more of my question and curiosity.

Subjectively, all your knives seem to be similar to each other in the laser/laserish category. Performance not withstanding, since unless you define what that is for you, you should probably try something different. Thicker spine, distal taper, more convex grinds. In general though @stringer is absolutely right, your question in its current form is a bit nonsensical and is very difficult to answer without more details. For one you need to define what performance is to you. You have good knives, so if you are asking to get validation that your knives are good and you don’t need to buy anything else, here you go. Your knives are good. If you want to try something else though there is a world of choices out there that are very different from the knives you have. To suggest something meaningful you need to tell us what you are looking for.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

If you just want to play with something different than the style you have, Munetoshi is a good way to dip a toe into Sanjo-style knives.

 

[DreamSun]

If you just want to play with something different than the style you have, Munetoshi is a good way to dip a toe into Sanjo-style knives.

Thank you, that’s the answer I’m looking for. I want to try something just as good or even better but towards a different direction.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Thank you, that’s the answer I’m looking for. I want to try something just as good or even better but towards a different direction.

Of course there are exceptions in all things, but generally speaking, Sanjo and Tosa offerings will be thicker spined and often with super thin edges.

https://naturalwhetstones.com/japanese-knives-blacksmiths-sharpeners-regions-and-resellers/

 

[DreamSun]

If you just want to play with something different than the style you have, Munetoshi is a good way to dip a toe into Sanjo-style knives.

Would you say Mizuno Tanrenjo will be in the similar category as Munetoshi?

 

[jedy617]

no

 

[SwampDonkey]

Get this Merion for a great price and live happily ever after. Will be very different than anything you have.

WTS - Merion Forge 280mm Integral Knife

 

[Nemo]

Are you trying to build a knife teir list by stealth?

Seriously, though, one of the really interesting things about this hobby is the large number of variables in knife performance and the compromises between them that makers make.

This means that there are many great knives but no perfect knife.

Exploring the different ways that these compriss can be executed is what keeps the hobby interesting.

 

[jedy617]

A western workhorse would be different, like this: 245 mm Hunter Valley Blades gyuto in 52100

 

[DreamSun]

no

How would you categorize Mizuno Tanrenjo, really interested in the brand.

 

[M1k3]

How would you categorize Mizuno Tanrenjo, really interested in the brand.

Sakai style.

 

[jedy617]

How would you categorize Mizuno Tanrenjo, really interested in the brand.

Why? They aren't going to be any better than anything else you listed

 

[DreamSun]

Why? They aren't going to be any better than anything else you listed

I heard 水野貞昭 is one of the legendary makers in the Japanese knife world

 

[jedy617]

I heard 水野貞昭 is one of the legendary makers in the Japanese knife world

That's marketing man...there are quite a few other makers who are probably more well regarded these days. So many knife makers use their ancient past lineage of family sword smithing to sell knives, but they are so far removed from that, and doesn't make the knives better lol. I can also tell you if they were so legendary it wouldn't be so easy to just buy a knife in stock at multiple retailers.

But anyway you have $1000 to spend, why not grab one for a couple hundred bucks then and see if you like it?

 

[Barmoley]

Mizuno blue 2 honyaki I had was very good as was KS style blue 1 mizuno. Both excellent and up there among the better knives.

 

[DreamSun]

That's marketing man...there are quite a few other makers who are probably more well regarded these days. So many knife makers use their ancient past lineage of family sword smithing to sell knives, but they are so far removed from that, and doesn't make the knives better lol. I can also tell you if they were so legendary it wouldn't be so easy to just buy a knife in stock at multiple retailers.

But anyway you have $1000 to spend, why not grab one for a couple hundred bucks then and

That's marketing man...there are quite a few other makers who are probably more well regarded these days. So many knife makers use their ancient past lineage of family sword smithing to sell knives, but they are so far removed from that, and doesn't make the knives better lol. I can also tell you if they were so legendary it wouldn't be so easy to just buy a knife in stock at multiple retailers.

But anyway you have $1000 to spend, why not grab one for a couple hundred bucks then and see if you like it?

see if you like it?

I thought the current maker the grandson is also one of a few makers who has the ability to make a perfect mt Fuji honyaki

 

[blokey]

I heard 水野貞昭 is one of the legendary makers in the Japanese knife world

Most of the knives are not made by him by rather by Jun Mizuno and other apprentices

 

[jedy617]

I thought the current maker the grandson is also one of a few makers who has the ability to make a perfect mt Fuji honyaki

Regardless you aren't getting that 1k or under. And perfect? Depends who is asking I guess. Most of the modern Honyaki makers do a good mt fuji, it just depends what aesthetics you like best for the hamon.

Here are Togashi, ikeda, and nakagawa. What makes one perfect?

 

[jedy617]

Mizuno blue 2 honyaki I had was very good as was KS style blue 1 mizuno. Both excellent and up there among the better knives.

Not doubting that at all, I've heard great things. Just trying to dispel the idea that they are somehow so much more legendary or better than many of the other smith/brands around these days. The market is ripe with good knives from "legendary" makers these days haha

 

[enrico]

This is clearly the best honyaki

 

[jedy617]

This is clearly the best honyaki

View attachment 293269

Is that real? I need more details. I need a puppy honyaki

 

[Barmoley]

This is clearly the best honyaki

View attachment 293269

Is this a second? Cats are upside down, must be a second…..

 

[Barmoley]

Not doubting that at all, I've heard great things. Just trying to dispel the idea that they are somehow so much more legendary or better than many of the other smith/brands around these days. The market is ripe with good knives from "legendary" makers these days haha

You are correct, just saying that mizuno has good offerings as well, their version of KS was excellent, especially at its original price.

By the way the profile on the bottom knife you posted above looks great to me.

 

[blokey]

You are correct, just saying that mizuno has good offerings as well, their version of KS was excellent, especially at its original price.

By the way the profile on the bottom knife you posted above looks great to me.

I really want one of that, tho current JCK price is bit high

 

[jedy617]

You are correct, just saying that mizuno has good offerings as well, their version of KS was excellent, especially at its original price.

By the way the profile on the bottom knife you posted above looks great to me.

I have been tempted by the blue 2 honyaki for quite awhile. Maybe one day.

And yeah it's a sweet one: Honyaki Mt.fuji Chef knife mirror finished

Almost positive that jikko is a nakagawa. I have some reservations about ever trying a white 3 honyaki, even though I hear Jun recommending it as one of his favorites.