I just bought a Kazuyuki Tanaka Ironwood -- anyone who can inspect?

[Dan E]

Hi everyone,

As the title said, I got into an incredible deal and found an ironwood Kazuyuki tanaka 210 mm Gyuto + 150mm petty.

As I am not experienced enough, it would be great if the experts among you could check out the pics and help me to confirm if the hole thing is 100% legit. The store is certified by the brand to sell, but you never know with rare knives like this one. Thank you very much in advance!

 

[Dan E]

 

[Chicagohawkie]

Looks to me these were made by the younger Tanaka. The elder if I remember correctly used a lighter, more layered cladding. The elder Tanaka stopped making knives a very long time ago.

 

[Dan E]

I read in another threat that the dammy pattern on the ones made by the father is generally more random. for example close to the cutting edge, the dammy patterns are more ‘parallel’ to the cutting edge on the Shigeki knives.

Which looks kind of like the ones above? Still puzzled in this regard. It seems like more people have these questions. Is there another indicator to figure this out?

 

[Chicagohawkie]

I think if you search back to some older threads there will some pictures and definitive proof as to what you have here. I know this topic has been discussed several times.

 

[Corradobrit1]

I would say these look more like Kazuyuki's work based on the random cladding, but thicker choil profile suggests Shigeki. Nice find whatever it is

Some comparison photos
http://chefknivestogoforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=14152

 

[Dan E]

http://chefknivestogoforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=14152
I just found this old discussion from a decade ago, and according to a pic there (I am posting this here again below) it actually seems mine are Kazuyukis.

 

[tchan001]

Compare the patterns on your knife against the patterns on this knife from a BST ad a few years ago.
https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/fs-from-eu-kazuyuki-tanaka-210mm-r2-damascus-gyuto.17933/

 

[Chicagohawkie]

Perhaps the kanji on the box can reveal the maker, try reaching out to ken hash - he could tell you what it reads.

https://www.thebestthings.com/knives/tanaka.htm

 

[Dan E]

the kanji on the large box (lower left) says Shigeki. However, this has been printed on later Kazuyuki knife boxes as well -- again not a safe tell.

 

[Grit]

It looks legit, I have a few Tanakas. And if anyone could make a copy that good, then they wouldn’t need to make copys Oh, and the father passed away 10 years ago so it’s his son Shigeki that runs the company. Not sure, but the company might still bear the fathers name, which could explain the name confusion.

 

[jonnachang]

How’s the texture on the damascus? Kazuyuki Tanaka’s usually has a more textured damascus finish then Shigeki.

 

[parbaked]

If it is from the shop near Jordan MTR, it is made by Shigeki.
Not sure why you would think otherwise...
Also, pictures of the handle mean nothing as the handles are outsourced and not made by Tanaka.