Inexpensive Aogami Super to Try?

[SwampDonkey]

What are some good, inexpensive makers to try for aogami super?

I (or someone else) put a big chip in a Shiro Kamo "Akuma" bunka while at a beach house, I had to take a bunch of height off the heel and thin, making it a bit of a project knife and giving to a friend. While sharpening and testing to see how I liked new profile I realized it takes a nasty edge and I don't have any AS knives left.

I've tried a Yoshimi Kato AS gyuto and didn't like the profile, also found it to be one of my only microchippy knives past initial sharpening; I'm pretty gentle on knives. Also tried a Shinko Seilan (Kamo) gyuto, though he takes the Akuma series to a harder 65 HRC so it's a bit more fun.

Thinking $250 range but I'm just curious here for non-TF tier favorites.

 

[Mikeadunne]

Moritaka

 

[Carbonara]

Shiro Kamo from homebutcher. I got a 240mm kiritsuke for like $70.

 

[Jovidah]

Wa or yo handle?
For western this one comes to mind, though it's currently sold out:
https://japanesechefsknife.com/products/aogami-super-knife-deep-impact?variant=29537701635

 

[MowgFace]

Zakuri

 

[jedy617]

Hinoura

 

[Matt Jacobs]

I have found Harukaze AS Marado or the matching Tsunehisa line to be really good. I have owned a couple and after a quick rounding of the shoulders these are great inexpensive AS knives. CKTG has a 210mm for $129.00, the only possible drawback is height.

 

[jaydee]

Hatsukokoro Kurosagi is one of the more affordable lines in AS which i had my eyes on, being a sucker for good value.

There is some reviews around here.
I believe @tostadas and @HumbleHomeCook have/had something from that line.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Hatsukokoro Kurosagi is one of the more affordable lines in AS which i had my eyes on, being a sucker for good value.

There is some reviews around here.
I believe @tostadas and @HumbleHomeCook have/had something from that line.

I had two Hatsukokoro knives. A bunka and a gyuto, both from Home Butcher. I think that was the line for the gyuto. Either way, the steel on both was very nice and they were both good values.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

What are some good, inexpensive makers to try for aogami super?

I (or someone else) put a big chip in a Shiro Kamo "Akuma" bunka while at a beach house, I had to take a bunch of height off the heel and thin, making it a bit of a project knife and giving to a friend. While sharpening and testing to see how I liked new profile I realized it takes a nasty edge and I don't have any AS knives left.

I've tried a Yoshimi Kato AS gyuto and didn't like the profile, also found it to be one of my only microchippy knives past initial sharpening; I'm pretty gentle on knives. Also tried a Shinko Seilan (Kamo) gyuto, though he takes the Akuma series to a harder 65 HRC so it's a bit more fun.

Thinking $250 range but I'm just curious here for non-TF tier favorites.

Agreed on the Moritaka recommendation.

I also wouldn't be afraid of Tsunehisa here. They're made in the same factory as Akifusa and my Akifusa AS gyuto is excellent. Tsunehisa may be a touch thicker, not sure though.

 

[tostadas]

Hatsukokoro Kurosagi is one of the more affordable lines in AS which i had my eyes on, being a sucker for good value.

There is some reviews around here.
I believe @tostadas and @HumbleHomeCook have/had something from that line.

The kurosagi I had was an interesting one. They have thick spine with minimal taper, so very blade heavy. Grind I believe was a flat grind to shinogi but decently thin behind the edge. General performance was good, but I'd expect some degree of wedging in thick dense stuff. If you can dig up my old sale thread, I should have a better description in there.

 

[Tler]

morihei makes some nakiri and bunka in aogami super for around $250

https://tetogi.com/products/morihei...me-stainless-clad-nakiri-165mm-ho-wood-handle

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

https://knifejapan.com/shop-by-steel/yss-aogami-super/

 

[SwampDonkey]

https://knifejapan.com/shop-by-steel/yss-aogami-super/

Well now I feel like moron for forgetting you could sort there.

 

[M1k3]

Deep Impact from JCK and Ikazuchi from JKI are some less expensive options.

 

[Gshep91]

I have found Harukaze AS Marado or the matching Tsunehisa line to be really good. I have owned a couple and after a quick rounding of the shoulders these are great inexpensive AS knives. CKTG has a 210mm for $129.00, the only possible drawback is height.

Tsunehisa was my first thought as well. I have a 135 petty from Tokushu for ~100 and a 180 gyuto for like $130 on eBay.

Pretty decent for the price

 

[Mytola]

Another vote for Tsunehisa here. I got a paring knife from Cleancut by Tsunehisa that's really nice overall. I like the oval handle on it, suits the blade very well and looks a bit different.

Only nitpicks would be that in general I prefer the spine and choil rounded, but I am not expecting that for anything close to that price so it's not a complaint. Lots of bang for the buck.

 

[Seemore]

Well now I feel like moron for forgetting you could sort there.

Sorting by steel is also possible at the unmentionable one’s website. For vendors without that sorting function, I’ve had good luck typing ““super” in the main search field.

 

[Seemore]

I came across this while knife-surfing for other stuff. $175+

https://tetogi.com/products/hitohira-imojiya-th-blue-super-gyuto-210mm-pakka-handle-gray

 

[plantgainz]

Kurosaki's as bunka has the hardest steel I have in house, don't know even how is rated but way harder than my kamo as. Not a cheap option though

 

[SwampDonkey]

Kurosaki's as bunka has the hardest steel I have in house, don't know even how is rated but way harder than my kamo as. Not a cheap option though

Which Kamo did you have? He tends to play with hardness levels for different lines.

 

[Nemo]

It's pretty hard to go past the Shiro Kamo Shinko Selian.

Cheap. Good grind. Might not be the hardest HT of AS but it is great to sharpen, takes a wicked edge, and has pretty good edge retention.

 

[plantgainz]

Which Kamo did you have? He tends to play with hardness levels for different lines.

Kurouchi stainless clad, seems identical to akuma line but different handle (octagonal walnut, white spacer, maple ferrule)

 

[chefwp]

The Shiro Kamo nakiri I had was inexpensive and had amazing edge retention, I got mine from knives and stones US, it was the Seilan line.

 

[SwampDonkey]

The Shiro Kamo nakiri I had was inexpensive and had amazing edge retention, I got mine from knives and stones US, it was the Seilan line.

I had a Shinko Seilan 210 gyuto that was kinda wedgey, ended up selling it but honestly I think I just got a fatty. I've tried a couple Shiro Kamo styles from Cleancut and really enjoyed them. Black Dragon would fit the bill nicely but it's fun to branch out.

 

[MowgFace]

Zakuri

If you happen to be in LA, and happen to be at JKI. (Disclaimer: you should) He usually has a Zakuri laying around you can test out on some stones.

Two birds… *nudge*


Zakuri, quite literally, sings on the stones.

I have a Kohetsu AS, which in my experience leans towards the tough as fux AS. Though in its defense I got used from Charlemagne and was thickened up a bit. And I have not ever had that knife very thin at all.

 

[enrico]

Curious how these will be


https://miuraknives.com/japanese-kn...apanese-knife-miura-knives.html#/36-size-24cm

 

[SwampDonkey]

Curious how these will be


https://miuraknives.com/japanese-kn...apanese-knife-miura-knives.html#/36-size-24cm

Looks similar to the tosa-ichi I got from Sharp Knife Shop, I forgot I tried that one. Blueway has the same thing, they're good cutters but too short for me. I like at least 50 mm at the heel.

 

[MowgFace]

Curious how these will be


https://miuraknives.com/japanese-kn...apanese-knife-miura-knives.html#/36-size-24cm

Yeah looks like a rebrand of the ones that everyone has.