Help me find and knife for a colleague

A colleague of mine wants to find a gyuto in a blue steel with a western handle. He likes the Masamoto HC gyuto but not the edge retention, hence the blue steel. Recommendations?

 

Stainless or iron clad? Laser? Workhorse? In between? Budget?

Toyama/Watanabe
Shinko Seilan
Ikazuchi
Suien VC
Tanaka from K&S
Makoto or Yu Kurosaki

 

Sakai Takayuki Aoniko, there are probably more out there too

 

Oihishi makes western handled blue super I believe

 

budget is $300. Something in between a laser and workhorse. Cladding doesn't matter.

 

The JCK Natures Deep Impact is a good option for western handle, AS steel:
https://japanesechefsknife.com/coll...to-180mm-to-240mm-3-sizes?variant=29537701635

 

i think jck has a few different interesting series to look into.

 

Suien VC is a beast. More a workhorse than a lightweight. Very well made, excellent F&F. Needs a good sharpening with some thinning OOTB. Strongly right biased, good food release. Neutral balance. Excellent edge retention.

 

Have used them on crappy poly boards. Best edge retention I've seen so far.

 

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