There are plenty of knives that we could regurgitate stats and the provenance ad nauseum. We mostly all know those. What are some purchases that you knew little or was largely unknown about and how did that work out?
I was thinking back on purchases based on rational planning and careful execution and then got me thinking about the ones that I just took a leap of faith (more hope) with (or impulse purchases, but let's be positive), seeing how it would work out. I've acquired around 90 knives in the past year with a mixed bag of outcomes. Roughly 2/3 have been Japanese and the rest from all over the globe.
Biggest Japanese surprise: Yoshida Hamono Hap40 Wide 240 gyuto - these are pricey and relatively unknown and that's a shame. The grind and height combined with their incredibly thorough HT and tempering make about the perfect cutting machine that's one par with my Eddworks Chunka. I couldn't find any thorough reviews of this blade and the asking price was steep. I got it on sale without a handle and made my own. I can't speak highly enough on the quality of the blade and how well it cuts. I purchased one of their ZDP-189 k-tip gyutos and it isn't near the cutter that the wide gyuto is. Absolutely keeps up, rivals, or surpasses about every knife I own in cutting prowess.
Biggest Non-Japanese surprise: Francisco Vaz. Holy freaking moses!! He's Brazilian, I'll leave that statement alone. He's motivated and talented too. I asked for a 'Rugby player that could do Ballet' in knife form and he killed it. Phenomenal convex grind that he proudly does all by hand, no jigs. Perfect distal taper, crowned spine, full tang, and VERY reasonably priced. He does his HT to the Nth degree also. I still remember the first time I cut with it and my jaw just dropped. So perfectly smooth. Absolutely world-class grind. I recently acquired a knife that many consider the pinnacle of technical grinds from a well known maker, and it is all that I expected, but Vaz's work is right there with it. He doesn't do the technical grinds but his convex doesn't need it.
2nd surprise, but famous name: Karol Karys gyuto. I thought these were just more cool looking fantasy/art knives but his grind and forgework is the real deal. You (at least I don't) don't hear much about their cutting performance but I'm here to tell you it is excellent. The core is K720 and it still gets stuck in the board sometimes after a year of use and just honing, and actually comfortably to use.
3rd non-japanese: I wanted to highlight RD Knives 195mm Wilder Damast clad Apex Ultra with a stacked Bog Oak handle. Robin (RD) is a newer knifemaker that also designs and manufactures plattens for bench sanders. He sells his wares here sometimes and I got it on a BST post that had been up for some time with some steep discounts. He usually acquires pre-made billets and forges them to his specs. It is a low bevel blade which isn't my norm but he was offering a hell of a deal and it was Christmas. I wasn't expecting much but it has turned into one of my favorite mid-sized knives. The grind cuts super smooth and it is incredibly handsome to boot. Probably my best cutting low bevel knife I own. The handle was off putting at first but I realized it was one of the more comfortable I own, albeit a little unorthodox. I almost sold it but I'm glad it didn't sell. Robin is talented and knowledgeable but hasn't found his foothold in the knife community.
I haven't had any real disappointments with Japanese knives, they have all been pretty competent cutters to some degree or another but weren't my taste. My biggest disappointments have all been knives from non-Japanese makers. Either not meeting the expectation after some KKF zeitgeist, just plain bad cutters, more sizzle than steak, or their vision exceeding their ability. Some were a poor fit for me and some were lemons from an otherwise great maker.
I was thinking back on purchases based on rational planning and careful execution and then got me thinking about the ones that I just took a leap of faith (more hope) with (or impulse purchases, but let's be positive), seeing how it would work out. I've acquired around 90 knives in the past year with a mixed bag of outcomes. Roughly 2/3 have been Japanese and the rest from all over the globe.
Biggest Japanese surprise: Yoshida Hamono Hap40 Wide 240 gyuto - these are pricey and relatively unknown and that's a shame. The grind and height combined with their incredibly thorough HT and tempering make about the perfect cutting machine that's one par with my Eddworks Chunka. I couldn't find any thorough reviews of this blade and the asking price was steep. I got it on sale without a handle and made my own. I can't speak highly enough on the quality of the blade and how well it cuts. I purchased one of their ZDP-189 k-tip gyutos and it isn't near the cutter that the wide gyuto is. Absolutely keeps up, rivals, or surpasses about every knife I own in cutting prowess.
Biggest Non-Japanese surprise: Francisco Vaz. Holy freaking moses!! He's Brazilian, I'll leave that statement alone. He's motivated and talented too. I asked for a 'Rugby player that could do Ballet' in knife form and he killed it. Phenomenal convex grind that he proudly does all by hand, no jigs. Perfect distal taper, crowned spine, full tang, and VERY reasonably priced. He does his HT to the Nth degree also. I still remember the first time I cut with it and my jaw just dropped. So perfectly smooth. Absolutely world-class grind. I recently acquired a knife that many consider the pinnacle of technical grinds from a well known maker, and it is all that I expected, but Vaz's work is right there with it. He doesn't do the technical grinds but his convex doesn't need it.
2nd surprise, but famous name: Karol Karys gyuto. I thought these were just more cool looking fantasy/art knives but his grind and forgework is the real deal. You (at least I don't) don't hear much about their cutting performance but I'm here to tell you it is excellent. The core is K720 and it still gets stuck in the board sometimes after a year of use and just honing, and actually comfortably to use.
3rd non-japanese: I wanted to highlight RD Knives 195mm Wilder Damast clad Apex Ultra with a stacked Bog Oak handle. Robin (RD) is a newer knifemaker that also designs and manufactures plattens for bench sanders. He sells his wares here sometimes and I got it on a BST post that had been up for some time with some steep discounts. He usually acquires pre-made billets and forges them to his specs. It is a low bevel blade which isn't my norm but he was offering a hell of a deal and it was Christmas. I wasn't expecting much but it has turned into one of my favorite mid-sized knives. The grind cuts super smooth and it is incredibly handsome to boot. Probably my best cutting low bevel knife I own. The handle was off putting at first but I realized it was one of the more comfortable I own, albeit a little unorthodox. I almost sold it but I'm glad it didn't sell. Robin is talented and knowledgeable but hasn't found his foothold in the knife community.
I haven't had any real disappointments with Japanese knives, they have all been pretty competent cutters to some degree or another but weren't my taste. My biggest disappointments have all been knives from non-Japanese makers. Either not meeting the expectation after some KKF zeitgeist, just plain bad cutters, more sizzle than steak, or their vision exceeding their ability. Some were a poor fit for me and some were lemons from an otherwise great maker.
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