Kato Alert

[jacko9]

Ah so priced the same? Talk about winning the lotto twice. I don't think I've ever timed it so I could put one in my cart, let alone see the asking price.

I just wasn't interested in a Shigefusa no handle western style blade. Like I mentioned earlier I already have the 210 Kato Workhorse (a really fine blade).

 

[Corradobrit1]

I just wasn't interested in a Shigefusa no handle western style blade. Like I mentioned earlier I already have the 210 Kato Workhorse (a really fine blade).

Agreed. My 210WH @216x48 and 206g is just about perfect for me. This and the TF Denka 210 Yo are my 2 fav knives in the collection.

 

[jacko9]

Agreed. My 210WH @216x48 and 206g is just about perfect for me. This and the TF Denka 210 Yo are my 2 fav knives in the collection.

I have two T-F blades a very heavy 240mm Nashiji Gyuto and a very nice 150mm Nashiji Petty (both with ebony handles). My second favorite blade after my Kato is a Konosuke Fujiyama 240mm FT B#2. I also have the older style grind Kono Fujiyama B#2 210 Gyuto in third place.

 

[bahamaroot]

At 75 years old I'm also a grandfather. I just bought my 20 year old granddaughter a 180mm Watanabe Pro Nakiri with matching Saya. She likes to cook a lot of veggies and I figure that knife will allow me some quite time with her teaching her to sharpen.

At 53 years old I'm a grandfather. At two she loves her vegetables but is far from ready for a Kato. But she may be 20 before I ever actually get one in my cart and checked out....

 

[Jville]

At 53 years old I'm a grandfather. At two she loves her vegetables but is far from ready for a Kato. But she may be 20 before I ever actually get one in my cart and checked out....

Uhh, 20 years from now, is he going to be still making them? I would think not

 

[bahamaroot]

And they'll probably be easier to get then....

 

[Codered]

I am happy i could buy one on BST a couple of months ago since i doubt i will be able to afford one in the future. And i don't think its about the build but rather the fact that this guy is a legend both in japan and the west and he is 75 so will not be making more soon. Carter was saying in a video about Shiraki that smithing is a hard environment with toxic gases and hard labour and most smiths will retire when in their 70s due to health issues. I think Shiraki retired.
I only wish Kato was making western handle gyutos since i haven't seen one for sale ever. I wonder how hard it is to make western vs wa. Is it more time consuming or a bit more material?
Also is he making any damascus?

 

[jacko9]

As far as I know Kato is as old as me and I'm 75 so I suspect that he won't be producing knives for many more years (if he even still making them).

 

[Nemo]

Newbie question: Could someone point towards a thread or other resource about cross sectional geometry?

Thanks in advance.

These 2 are a good start:

https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/a-basic-explanation-of-asymmetry.33951/

https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/food-release-stiction-and-the-grind.35641/

This one is a little more complex:

https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/asymmetry-–-the-real-deal.5656/#post-92345

 

[tchan001]

Just wondering. When was the last time a Kato damascus gyuto come up on the market from an online retailer? Haven't seen any in ages.

 

[jacko9]

Knife Merchant 6/11/2017 had both 210mm and 240mm Kato Damascus - they have since taken Kato off their online page.

 

[FoRdLaz]

There aren’t any at retailers cos he’s not making any. Neither will he

 

[tchan001]

So they just become rarer and rarer. Thanks for the info.

 

[M1k3]

So they just become rarer and rarer. Thanks for the info.

Not unless someone is destroying them.

 

[Matus]

Not unless someone is destroying them.

... or simply keeping them in use or collection.

 

[M1k3]

... or simply keeping them in use or collection.

That doesn't make them less rare. Just less available.

 

[tchan001]

Let's rephrase that. Unused BNIB Kato kikuryu gyutos are becoming rarer and rarer.

 

[Matus]

I would rather believe that most existing kikuryu are still BNIB ... just not available on the market.

 

[Corradobrit1]

I would rather believe that most existing kikuryu are still BNIB ... just not available on the market.

Or at least purport to be. I don't think they had the mythical status back in the day, when they could be picked up reasonably cheaply from retailers, that they do now.

 

[tchan001]

Wonder if there is a Kato Kikuryu gyuto in Stefan Keller's collection with a wonderful handle.

 

[AFKitchenknivesguy]

Or at least purport to be. I don't think they had the mythical status back in the day, when they could be picked up reasonably cheaply from retailers, that they do now.

I don't remember hearing about them until about 5 years ago. Shigefusa on the other hand has always had a mythical vibe.

 

[Chicagohawkie]

Or at least purport to be. I don't think they had the mythical status back in the day, when they could be picked up reasonably cheaply from retailers, that they do now.

What other retailers besides JNS?

 

[Corradobrit1]

What other retailers besides JNS?

There are a couple different types of Kato Dammy. JNS had Kikuryu and here's another
http://www.japan-tool.com/zc/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=30_57

 

[Chicagohawkie]

Lol, that J-T page has been stagnant for 5 years. The kato workhorse and kikuryu were JNS exclusive inventions.

 

[Corradobrit1]

Lol, that J-T page has been stagnant for 5 years. The kato workhorse and kikuryu were JNS exclusive inventions.

Yes, but we're discussing Kato Dammy in general not just the Kikuryu version which I think everyone knows is a JNS exclusive.

 

[andrewsa]

So who's this lucky person

 

[ynot1985]

I don't get what they mean by "this is not the actual knife". so they stole someone else photo? This is the morehei version from the kanji

so how much was it sold for?

Lucky is a very relative thing. You pay an arm and leg for it so I'm not sure that is considered lucky.

 

[Corradobrit1]

So who's this lucky person

View attachment 114488View attachment 114486

I'm more interested in the Ashi Honyaki that dude snagged for $1100!

 

[MowgFace]

I don't get what they mean by "this is not the actual knife". so they stole someone else photo?

Like they had one in stock, but used a product photo that they took previously from their last shipment rather than snap a new photo of an otherwise identical knife.

 

[Gregmega]

F

So who's this lucky person

View attachment 114488View attachment 114486

Forget that chunky hot gas beater in the front let’s talk about that svelt Ashi in the back there.