IIZA knives

[blokey]

I was checking out some cooking video, come across this IIZA petty which looks nice, the chef also loves it, he also own some Takamura red handles.
I was checking out some cooking video, come across this IIZA petty which looks nice, the chef also loves it, he also own some Takamura red handles.

A quick search in the forum shows IIZA used to be made by Ryusen, now by Takamura, not sure if this is correct ,but if it is either of them are very reputable makers.
While not available by most vendors, they can be directly purchased from Amazon.JP and Ramires, anyone have experience with the IIZA knives?
https://search.rakuten.co.jp/search/mall/包丁+iiza/http://www.iiza.jp/

 

[blokey]

I might just order one to see how it is.

 

[ThirdJewel]

They have 240s listed so I'm both a little skeptical and super excited about the prospect of them being made by Takamura.

 

[blokey]

They have 240s listed so I'm both a little skeptical and super excited about the prospect of them being made by Takamura.

Takamura makes 240, just not in their budget range.

 

[ThirdJewel]

Takamura makes 240, just not in their budget range.

I know they exist but I haven't seen a new one available from a retailer in years.

 

[blokey]

I know they exist but I haven't seen a new one available from a retailer in years.

Shirasagi just had some this week, MTC also got a batch early this year if I remember it right

 

[blokey]

Got the 24cm (yeah I’m basic and the 150 is out) and let’s see how it is. There’s a chance this is Ryusen OEM tho, the pattern looks similar to their coreless stainless handle steak knives, and the Rakuten page says it is out of production, so it might be some of the last Ryusen OEM stuff.

 

[blokey]

Sent them an email, the address is no longer in use, their last twitter and face book was 3 years ago… Guess they went defunct, what’s left is old stock now, which make sense if they were made by Ryusen. I might send a email to Ryusen, just ask them if they did these series, tho I don’t expect answers.

 

[blokey]

Ryusen confirmed it was made by them in collaboration with other Echizen blacksmiths.

 

[blokey]

The 240 1310 coreless arrived, it is… fine. The grind is not Takamura or the current Ryusen level, it is thin enough but not super thin at the edge, there’s no spine taper, unlike some of the current Ryusen offering. The surface finish is very factory looking, pattern is fine. Funnily I always thought VG2 to be an analogue of AEB-l, but looking at Takefu website it is closer to 12c27, which is also fine. At the end of the day the edge retention is gonna be somewhere between vg10 and vg2, so not impressive but ok. Which is kind the whole theme of the knife.
One great detail worth mention is the connecting part of the blade and the handle, which in most welded handled Damascus knife often end the patterns abruptly, but iiZA did a great transition here, the pattern extended to the metal bolster with no obvious weld line, unlike Shun or most other factory Damascus knife.
In the end tho, it is a fine knife, but at the price (44000 yen), it is kind hard to justiy unless you are really into coreless or metal handle. The current Ryusen Blazen is better in my opinion.

 

[madmotts]

Crazy handle. That’s wild man

 

[blokey]

The 240 1310 coreless arrived, it is… fine. The grind is not Takamura or the current Ryusen level, it is thin enough but not super thin at the edge, there’s no spine taper, unlike some of the current Ryusen offering. The surface finish is very factory looking, pattern is fine. Funnily I always thought VG2 to be an analogue of AEB-l, but looking at Takefu website it is closer to 12c27, which is also fine. At the end of the day the edge retention is gonna be somewhere between vg10 and vg2, so not impressive but ok. Which is kind the whole theme of the knife.
One great detail worth mention is the connecting part of the blade and the handle, which in most welded handled Damascus knife often end the patterns abruptly, but iiZA did a great transition here, the pattern extended to the metal bolster with no obvious weld line, unlike Shun or most other factory Damascus knife.
In the end tho, it is a fine knife, but at the price (44000 yen), it is kind hard to justiy unless you are really into coreless or metal handle. The current Ryusen Blazen is better in my opinion.
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The choil is bit misleading as always, it's actually quite thin after the heel. Tho I still think the grind could be better

 

[Qapla']

Where is the point of balance?

 

[superworrier]

Honestly seems pretty good for someone who really wants a single piece knife but wants something with decent performance. How grippy is the handle?

 

[blokey]

Where is the point of balance?

Around the start of the branding

Honestly seems pretty good for someone who really wants a single piece knife but wants something with decent performance. How grippy is the handle?

It’s stainless so not much grip in the surface, but the contour helps, with pinch grip it shouldn’t be much of a problem.