deskjockey
Senior Member
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Heiji direct
- Thread starter Danzo
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RockyBasel
KKF Sponsor
You got a pair of amazing knives - can’t wait to hear about the comparison - I love my SS
Justablacktee
Well-Known Member
I asked and that was what he replied to me :
"I can not make sayas. Because I don't have good material wood to make them."
silylanjie
Well-Known Member
I heard the same thing from Heiji in regards to getting a saya. I ended up getting leather sayas from Basement Leather. Stephane is a pastry chef instructor at CIA and does sayas on the side. Cheers.
I ain’t a saya guy but those look so good!
Hey, what’s the actual edge length on your 210? I was hoping to order a 240 (think it’s time for my 3rd inquiry through the website) but if they’re over 250, maybe a 210 is the go…
245 mm on the 240 and 216 mm on the 210. Cheers.
MowgFace
Senior Member
I can give this a +1.
My 210 runs like 215ish as well. 240 SS comes in at 247, 240 Carbon comes in at 245
This thread makes me curios to try Heiji. Any one have tried to order the 240 gyuto Swedish? Or 180mm SS petty?
those 2 are my current interest.
those 2 are my current interest.
RockyBasel
KKF Sponsor
I ordered a 270 mm gyuto and a 170 mm petty, both stainless
Came in 3-4 months. Once they communicated with me, they were highly responsive. Great experience, and for the price, can’t be beat
I ordered a Heiji Ikasaki semi-stainless 180 the other day I will get a short Yanagiba instead.
I don't know if the Yanagiba is thicker or if it's in reality the same?
deskjockey
Senior Member
You might want to take a look at the Kaeru options from JNS. The Kaeru Kasumi Stainless Gyuto 240mm is one I think is similar, is significantly cheaper, delivers pretty fast from the EU, and has a lot of favorable comments.
It isn't a Heiji though.
it's the Heiji 240 Swedish carbon gyuto that I am looking at? any idea how much it is? also for the petty is Semi Stainless one.
Nah, I Kinda hate SLD. it's overrated steel. I was checking on Heiji Swedish carbon and hefty wide bevel.
Nah, I Kinda hate SLD. it's overrated steel. I was checking on Heiji Swedish carbon and hefty wide bevel.
WiriWiri
Senior Member
Fairplay, Heiji is responsive to email about orders in progress. Followed up my suji order and the next day he replied with a tempting ‘would you like to see’ message
Of course I wanted too see that!
Posted last week, so should be arriving anytime soon hopefully. Have started ordering even larger roast joints in preparation for Xmas…
Of course I wanted too see that!
Posted last week, so should be arriving anytime soon hopefully. Have started ordering even larger roast joints in preparation for Xmas…
I have been waiting almost a year for a gyuto and petty. Shipping issues, Japan Post not delivering to Canada for some reason. Private couriers are the only option but his quotes don't make sense, crazy high. If I lived 150km south, I'd have them by now 
maybe shipping by third party like zenmarket?I have been waiting almost a year for a gyuto and petty. Shipping issues, Japan Post not delivering to Canada for some reason. Private couriers are the only option but his quotes don't make sense, crazy high. If I lived 150km south, I'd have them by now
I'm not familiar but I'll look into it. Thanks.
I heard FromJapan is cheaper than Zenmarket but I've never used it before.
https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/en/
https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/en/
deskjockey
Senior Member
I don't know where you live in Canada but, I have been fortunate to have a Canadian help me in reverse with something that won't ship into the USA directly but, across the US/Canada border wasn't an issue.
I can pay it forward but, it is probably easier to find someone closer to the border where you live.
I can pay it forward but, it is probably easier to find someone closer to the border where you live.
Good morning. Just seeing this. Toronto. That's very generous. But I will try to resolve it somehow on my own. I appreciate the offer!
deskjockey
Senior Member
Best Wishes on getting this resolved.
Hopefully, after the Christmas and New Year's shipping dies down, mail to and from Japan will return to something more normal.
Funny - I just had a very similar email conversation and Heiji provided this photo of a 270 semi-stainless Gyuto in progress. I get the feeling that he enjoys providing these provocative photos to customers based this and others that I've seen. Or he has a file folder full of in-progress photos at the ready to fire off in response to customer emails. 
WiriWiri
Senior Member
Funny - I just had a very similar email conversation and Heiji provided this photo of a 270 semi-stainless Gyuto in progress. I get the feeling that he enjoys providing these provocative photos to customers based this and others that I've seen. Or he has a file folder full of in-progress photos at the ready to fire off in response to customer emails.
View attachment 155506
I‘ve enjoyed purchasing from Heiji direct. He’s blunt and clearly pretty inflexible, but there seems a sense of pride in his keenness to show off the work he does accept. And he’s a bit of a tease too - check out this beauty of a giftwrapped package that arrived in the middle of a (virtual) meeting I was hosting
Never expected an unboxing treat like that tbh. Couldn’t even bring myself to rip open recklessly in the coffee break, so will take the time to unwrap properly and enjoy later on. Actually a little impressed
PS:He may be a bit too proud and clear when it comes to the customs declaration mind. $115+ extra added - the joys of customs in the UK
Giovanny Torres
Well-Known Member
I'm waiting for mine too and should be here next month. Let us know your first impressions on the blade please.
silylanjie
Well-Known Member
Nice! I can't wait to get my order which got delayed to arrive late January or early February.
WiriWiri
Senior Member
Well I’ve got as far as carefully opening up the packaging and cooing appreciatIvely now. Photos to follow when the light gets better, but this thing looks good.
At a shade over 300mm and approaching 250grams it also feels gratifyingly purposeful. @daveb ‘s description of ’**** just splitting apart’ when it approaches seems apt, and a passing hobbit did pipe up to say ‘that sword may be a little too big for me, actually’
It’s passed a couple of thin paper slicing tests with aplomb and is eagerly awaiting more consequential testing, after which I’ll happily report back. Finish and grind look pretty good - better than I was expecting and more than comfortable enough in use for a suji.
That boneless rib roast for Xmas is in a world of trouble for sure.
FYI The stock edge will survive it never makes board contact.
Forgot to post in this thread, but finally remembering now.
I placed my order with Heiji-san on 7/23/21, asking for a 230mm KU Gyuto in his carbon steel and a 180mm KU K-Tip Petty in his semi-stainless. For the petty, he said he would have to forge out a 210 and cut it, would be extra. It was like $10-$20 dollars extra, so nothing big.
My order shipped out on 12/1/21 and I received them on 12/10/21. Here’s what I got:
243x55 (video says 56, but it’s actually 55), 254g
185x35, 138g
My thoughts? Heiji-san was a pleasure to work with, and the work was delivered on time. The knives, though, are ROUGH. I was expecting bad fit and finish, but these babies need a lot of work. Some of the things I noticed that need to be done right off the bat:
1) Spine and choils need to be rounded on both.
2) Bevels seemed to have been left on like a 500 grit level, so they’ll need a working polish….okay, I guess they don’t need a polish, but they definitely deserve one.
3) Gyuto needs minor thinning, maybe just a blending of the bevels. The petty needs a complete overhaul, though. Right now, it’s so thick BTE, it can only function as an off-the-board slicer. Deep cuts into root veg steer to the right. Trying to figure out how to do this while maintaining the most KU I can. Here’s a quick video I shot to show the problem:
4) Petty is installed slightly tilted into the handle, as seen from the choil shot.
5) I would like to expose a bit more of the tang, so that my finger can fit into the choil.
Overall, I like the steel he works with, and yes, the price for both of these knives was on the cheaper side, but is it worth it? I’m still going to have to send these to a professional to work on since I don’t have the time plus I don’t have the tools to do this kind of heavy work, and that’ll cost a pretty penny. I have been debating just to say “f- it” and sell the knives as is, but I really do like how tall the gyuto is and the profile and weight on the petty. Decisions decisions...
I placed my order with Heiji-san on 7/23/21, asking for a 230mm KU Gyuto in his carbon steel and a 180mm KU K-Tip Petty in his semi-stainless. For the petty, he said he would have to forge out a 210 and cut it, would be extra. It was like $10-$20 dollars extra, so nothing big.
My order shipped out on 12/1/21 and I received them on 12/10/21. Here’s what I got:
243x55 (video says 56, but it’s actually 55), 254g
185x35, 138g
My thoughts? Heiji-san was a pleasure to work with, and the work was delivered on time. The knives, though, are ROUGH. I was expecting bad fit and finish, but these babies need a lot of work. Some of the things I noticed that need to be done right off the bat:
1) Spine and choils need to be rounded on both.
2) Bevels seemed to have been left on like a 500 grit level, so they’ll need a working polish….okay, I guess they don’t need a polish, but they definitely deserve one.
3) Gyuto needs minor thinning, maybe just a blending of the bevels. The petty needs a complete overhaul, though. Right now, it’s so thick BTE, it can only function as an off-the-board slicer. Deep cuts into root veg steer to the right. Trying to figure out how to do this while maintaining the most KU I can. Here’s a quick video I shot to show the problem:
4) Petty is installed slightly tilted into the handle, as seen from the choil shot.
5) I would like to expose a bit more of the tang, so that my finger can fit into the choil.
Overall, I like the steel he works with, and yes, the price for both of these knives was on the cheaper side, but is it worth it? I’m still going to have to send these to a professional to work on since I don’t have the time plus I don’t have the tools to do this kind of heavy work, and that’ll cost a pretty penny. I have been debating just to say “f- it” and sell the knives as is, but I really do like how tall the gyuto is and the profile and weight on the petty. Decisions decisions...
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