The choil on my Wat nakiri is beyond rough. I'll have to get my TF in before I can declare a winner there though
Help with choice of Nakiri
- Thread starter Miguelito's Blade
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i’m actually interested in opinions on Denka Nakiris. They are not discussed much. Gyutos get all the discussion.
nakiriknaifuwaifu
Senior Member
They look like they've been dragged behind a truck on a long gravel road!
No, I've neither seen nor owned one.
WTFWTF.......
No, I've neither seen nor owned one.
WTFWTF.......
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First a pic …
As part of my TF Chronicles I purchased and used two TF nakiri’s as shown in the picture above. They are a 165mm Denka and a 195 Maboroshi which I had tuned by Ryan Swanson at District Cutlery. The reason I suspect you don’t read much about TF Nakiri’s is because fewer people seek and use Nakiri’s relative to gyutos … and the TF Denka nakiri is one of the more expensive Nakiri’s that you can buy. The 195 Maboroshi is a monster. Here are pics of each on my scale …
And two pics of the Nakiri’s in action …
Bottom line … the 165mm TF Denka Nakiri is, with one qualification, the best nakiri I’ve owned and used … which is several. I like Nakiri’s and use them in most vege prep. What’s the qualification? … Stiction, as shown in the potato test. The starchy potatoes cling’d tenaciously to the blade and required the use of a “finger flick” to free them from the blade. For everything else the 165 Denka was a pure joy in hand. The AS steel core arrived scary sharp in the box and I suspect would stay that way for a prolonged period of time due to the outstanding heat treatment offered by TF in the Denka line. Great balance in hand (IMO) and takes up just the right amount of real estate on a small (ish) cutting board. If you can afford it, it’s the Nakiri to have.
The 195mm Maboroshi takes the award for the most fun knife in my kitchen. My cleavers cower in the crevices and corners of my kitchen when I take it out. Though I haven’t had the courage to unleash my inner animal with the 195 I’m sure it’s capable of shearing a sizeable squash in one decisive wack! … yet thanks in part to Ryan, was sharp enough to easily score the tough pork belly skin in the pic above. Why … check out this “top view” pic of both TF Nakiri’s.
Clearly the 195 TF demands a “materials surcharge” when pricing.
In the interests of “full disclosure” I have to admit that I sold my 165 Denka nakiri. Why would I do that when I rate it so highly. Two reasons … first I acquired 12 TF’s as part of my TF chronicles. Nobody needs 12 TF’s in their kitchen and I was offered a good price for it. Second … I have other nakiri’s that I love. Top of that list is a 165 Nakiri by William Catcheside that is a pure joy to use. His “forged geometry” just works! Don’t know why … but it just does. I have a more or less unique mini cleaver/tall nakiri from Bjorn Birgerrson that’s very sweet and of course my 195mm TF mega monster.
But if I could only have one nakiri … it would be the 165mm TF Denka.
I ordered the 180 pro Nakiri on 4/22. lol, Shinichi’s email also said 10 week wait. He shipped DHL and I got the knife today 5/6. Midwest USA. DHL gave me a 5/11 delivery date. So not a bad wait at all.
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bradmacmt
Well-Known Member
My Toyama 180mm Nakiri arrived today. 5 days from Denmark (JNS) - I'm amazed.
It's incredible... 188 g's, 60mm tall at the heel. Goes through produce like a laser, but has a nice amount of heft for root veggies. I think I'm in love
In comparison with my Sakai Kikumori 165mm:
It's incredible... 188 g's, 60mm tall at the heel. Goes through produce like a laser, but has a nice amount of heft for root veggies. I think I'm in love
In comparison with my Sakai Kikumori 165mm:
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bradmacmt
Well-Known Member
Now I'm tempted to try a Denka Nakiri
I'm still waiting for them to see if they can do a custom mega-kiri though...
Lol…same response to me after my second… follow up e mail to him.
I recently picked up a Denka nakiri. It's big. Haven't used it much yet, but it's been fun when I have. I'll concur with Brian Weekley who said it handles more like nakiri than cleaver.
I will also point out that the 195 Mabs were consistently heavier than the Denkas. In the 330s for Maboroshi, just over 300 for the Denkas. I found the Denka a bit more comfortable and Iiked the balance being a little farther back toward the handle.
I have a Yukihiro Sakai 240mm, shirogami 1 coming in from Japan soon if you want a big Nakiri?
