Mazaki Watetsu. At these prices you know he probably actually makes it
https://knifewear.com/products/mazaki-shirogami-watetsu-migaki-gyuto-240mm
https://knifewear.com/products/mazaki-shirogami-watetsu-migaki-gyuto-240mm
$1.2k for a roughly finished white 2 sanmai... who's the market for this??Mazaki Watetsu. At these prices you know he probably actually makes it
https://knifewear.com/products/mazaki-shirogami-watetsu-migaki-gyuto-240mm
It’s watetsu so the appeal is no different from Honyaki, wrought, hand laminated Damascus etc and those manage to sell (and Mazakis are equally roughly finished, with the infamous scratchy Honyaki with walnut ferrule)$1.2k for a roughly finished white 2 sanmai... who's the market for this??
What exactly is Watetsu?It’s watetsu so the appeal is no different from Honyaki, wrought, hand laminated Damascus etc and those manage to sell (and Mazakis are equally roughly finished, with the infamous scratchy Honyaki with walnut ferrule)
It’s basically Japanese vintage iron (watetsu literally means Japanese iron or something like that) made in a Tatara furnace (I believe tamahagane is made this way as well). So kind of like Japanese wrought but I think the production technique is specific to Japan. Someone else probably knows moreWhat exactly is Watetsu?
I understand the unique cladding being of interest (although the rough finish doesn't exactly help showcase it's character). But there's a lot of folks making knives clad in wrought or other interesting claddings... with (IMO) better core steels... and much nicer finishes... and superior reputations for cutting performance... and charging a lot less for it!It’s watetsu so the appeal is no different from Honyaki, wrought, hand laminated Damascus etc and those manage to sell (and Mazakis are equally roughly finished, with the infamous scratchy Honyaki with walnut ferrule)
Honestly my blue 2 honsanmai is easily worth its pricetag. Pretty different from my 210 KU but I have no idea if its made to a different standard or if its just luck of the drawI understand the unique cladding being of interest (although the rough finish doesn't exactly help showcase it's character). But there's a lot of folks making knives clad in wrought or other interesting claddings... with (IMO) better core steels... and much nicer finishes... and superior reputations for cutting performance... and charging a lot less for it!
I've had two Mazakis, both were perfectly good knives in the ~$250 ballpark but nothing about them made me want to spend 2x+ that on the blue 2 honsanmai, let alone 5x on this. I've heard proponents of Mazaki say "this is the closest you can get to a Kato for a reasonable price" but you can get an actual Kato for $1250!
Why do you think there's no Mazaki x Wrought massdrop?$1.2k for a roughly finished white 2 sanmai... who's the market for this??
idk, look at how katos sell.
Maybe he shoulda tried white-out firstWhy do you think there's no Mazaki x Wrought massdrop?
I'd asked for blue 1 last year and the price was a lot ****ing higher than this
I for a little while was sad about what could have been, but looking at this man did I dodge a bullet.
What sort of finish is this...
and for ***** sake man what the hell is that kanji
View attachment 207078
I bet Mazaki has kids or nieces/nephews under the age of 5.Why do you think there's no Mazaki x Wrought massdrop?
I'd asked for blue 1 last year and the price was a lot ****ing higher than this
I for a little while was sad about what could have been, but looking at this man did I dodge a bullet.
What sort of finish is this...
and for ***** sake man what the hell is that kanji
View attachment 207078
I thought he's an one man show? Does he have apprentices now?Mazaki Watetsu. At these prices you know he probably actually makes it
https://knifewear.com/products/mazaki-shirogami-watetsu-migaki-gyuto-240mm
It’s unknown. The descriptions say so but they were written years ago. Meanwhile he’s pumping out tons of knives so many are skeptical that it’s still trueI thought he's an one man show? Does he have apprentices now?
well if you have to ask….and superior reputations for cutting performance... $1.2k for a roughly finished white 2 sanmai... who's the market for this??
Not to mention it’s final sale. The prices are indeed trashI still never get knifewears garage sale. Most of it is common, readily available stuff with funky handles on it. Hell, those 2 aogami honyaki gyutos from Nakagawa were from last year and they didn't sell. Even with the dollar being stronger than the canadian, nothing is really on sale.
Who is going to buy a troll killer at 3k+or one of those manaka enns for 2k+? 210mm hatsukokoro komorebi for $540? Hell, Tosho had it for a real sale, $300 usd for 240mm. The rest are kurosaki western handles, some dois, saji, all at meh prices.
/End rant
It's just insulting. 90% of the knives are knives available from other retailers that are already cheaper even when not "on sale". Really puts a sour taste in my mouth. No, a Kurosaki senko for $755 is not a sale knifewear.Not to mention it’s final sale. The prices are indeed trash
Yeah they talk about how they "search Japan for unique and rare knives" which is more like...waiting for new shipments from wholesalers of standard stuff. Would have liked to see what it was like in its primeTo their credit, in the beginning they did have some oddities floating through from their exploratory trips to Japan, though it appears to have devolved into clearing losse clutter- a literal garage-sale. I’d say it’s a shame the prices aren’t more appealing, but since those early days, nothing has really grabbed my eye. Knifewear has always struck me as a place lacking focus, like an overstock-warehouse vibe where the overall selection seems to have randomly arrived there. The garage sale feels no different, and the ‘prices’ don’t make the offering any more enticing.
Yeah and rainbow unicorn custom handles do not make ‘rare or unique’ a knife.Yeah they talk about how they "search Japan for unique and rare knives" which is more like...waiting for new shipments from wholesalers of standard stuff. Would have liked to see what it was like in its prime
Newham Knives will have a Magacut and an Apexultra dropping on his newsletter tomorrow - 14 hours from now
Hmm... I wonder how well Watetsu cladding polishes on stones though as it doesn't seem to be that common.Mazaki Watetsu. At these prices you know he probably actually makes it
https://knifewear.com/products/mazaki-shirogami-watetsu-migaki-gyuto-240mm
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