Hi,
I am currently in kyoto and I have some questions that I have not been able to get answers to. I am quite new to professional knives but got a good rough lecture before I traveled here and I have been doing some reading over the last days. The one giving me the rough lecture was a japanese man that has a professional knife shop in my country and he recommended me to buy an Aogami or Shirgami carbon steel knife from Aritsugu if I traveled to Kyoto. I have done some research on stainless stell vs carbon steel and I think I want to a VG10 or an Aogami or Shirogami Carbon steel. From what I understand Aritsugu does not produce any VG10 steels my question below is regarding carbon steel. They are very polite and kind here in Kyoto but unfortunately not so proficient in English so I get answers that don't line up with what I read.
Apparently the 100% Blue steel (Aogami) is sold out and they have two Sontuko models available in the store. One model with SK95 carbon steel (what I understand is SK4?) and one model with the inside/middle part being blue steel (aogami) and surrounded on both sides by stainless steel (which makes it heavier and the handle is not equally as nice in my opinion). The SK4 knife costs ~18k Yen for 21cm and the other model costs ~16k Yen for 19/20cm.
Is it worth it to buy a SK4 knife from Aritsugu or should I look for pure aogami knives from other brands (and if so, what should I look for here in Kyoto). I was recommended to buy aogami or shirogami and I got very insecure when they only had SK4 carbon steel and they can't really explain the difference in the store and all I can read about it is that it is quite low quality of carbon steel?
Unfortunately I will travel from Kyoto on Sunday and therefore have limited time...
Thanks in advance for all help that I can get!
I am currently in kyoto and I have some questions that I have not been able to get answers to. I am quite new to professional knives but got a good rough lecture before I traveled here and I have been doing some reading over the last days. The one giving me the rough lecture was a japanese man that has a professional knife shop in my country and he recommended me to buy an Aogami or Shirgami carbon steel knife from Aritsugu if I traveled to Kyoto. I have done some research on stainless stell vs carbon steel and I think I want to a VG10 or an Aogami or Shirogami Carbon steel. From what I understand Aritsugu does not produce any VG10 steels my question below is regarding carbon steel. They are very polite and kind here in Kyoto but unfortunately not so proficient in English so I get answers that don't line up with what I read.
Apparently the 100% Blue steel (Aogami) is sold out and they have two Sontuko models available in the store. One model with SK95 carbon steel (what I understand is SK4?) and one model with the inside/middle part being blue steel (aogami) and surrounded on both sides by stainless steel (which makes it heavier and the handle is not equally as nice in my opinion). The SK4 knife costs ~18k Yen for 21cm and the other model costs ~16k Yen for 19/20cm.
Is it worth it to buy a SK4 knife from Aritsugu or should I look for pure aogami knives from other brands (and if so, what should I look for here in Kyoto). I was recommended to buy aogami or shirogami and I got very insecure when they only had SK4 carbon steel and they can't really explain the difference in the store and all I can read about it is that it is quite low quality of carbon steel?
Unfortunately I will travel from Kyoto on Sunday and therefore have limited time...
Thanks in advance for all help that I can get!