Komorebi blacksmith

[JoBone]

Since receiving these knives, I have been intrigued on the identity of the undisclosed blacksmith. These knives are really well made, awesome fit&finish with a sweet distal taper. They are also wholesale at a high price for a knife without disclosing the blacksmith.

One thing that is unusual about the knives is the long tang. This is something I normally attribute with Kato, Mazaki or Toyama. For kicks, I pulled out a 210 Mazaki to compare. Here’s a few photos, let me know what you think.

 

[superworrier]

The KNS description seemed to imply Sakai (although maybe it's just finished there).
I don't think the Nihei rumor is correct. The tang on my Kono Sumiiro is rounded. Also having a machi (not machi gap) is uncharacteristic for him.

I gotta say it looks very similar to Mazaki there

 

[superworrier]

Both CKTG and Homebutcher say Tosa region

 

[gentiscid]

If Komorebi is Sanjo then why do they have the Sakai machi?

 

[superworrier]

If Komorebi is Sanjo then why do they have the Sakai machi?

Mazaki is in Sanjo and he got it too

 

[gentiscid]

I dont own a Mazaki but I know Komorebi are tall 50+. Any of Mazakis goes 53-54?

 

[gentiscid]

From the pictures I see two drops of water….

 

[superworrier]

I dont own a Mazaki but I know Komorebi are tall 50+. Any of Mazakis goes 53-54?

Yeah they do

 

[JoBone]

Both CKTG and Homebutcher say Tosa region

The blacksmith, region and sharpener are not disclosed. It doesn’t look like any knives that I’ve seen from Tosa. One shop had it listed as Sanjo.

If Komorebi is Sanjo then why do they have the Sakai machi?

The handles are attached by Hatsukokoro, not the blacksmith. I can see it with or without a machi gap.

Could also be Nakagawa, he tends towards longer tangs and the Damascus reminds me of his. But the taper of the non-damascus doesn’t look like his.

 

[tostadas]

Doesn't mazaki do his own sharpening though typically?

 

[More_Gyutos]

How are they different from a Yoshi, other that height? I’ve never had the handle off a yoshi.

 

[Strozzi]

Tamura Toru.

 

[More_Gyutos]

Tamura Toru.

But he’s in Sakai AFAIK

 

[silylanjie]

Seems more like Sanjo which these has a true edge length

 

[gentiscid]

Tamura Toru.

No way that its Tetsujin! Can’t be!

 

[tostadas]

Seems more like Sanjo which these has a true edge length

A knife can be spec'd out to any length. These are essentially batches ordered by Hatsukokoro with a certain set of criteria.

 

[More_Gyutos]

Nah. He doesn’t do this grind mostly. Does look like Morihiro apprentice for sharpener. I say Tadokoro.

 

[blokey]

The Tadokoro I got seems to have better f&f, his spine chamfer is more like Myojin.

 

[silylanjie]

The Tadokoro I got seems to have better f&f, his spine chamfer is more like Myojin.

I agree, the F&F by Tadokoro is so much better than the Komorebi

 

[gentiscid]

45 mm height vs 53-55 mm, I pick Komorebi

 

[More_Gyutos]

On second look, they have a rounded spine. I don’t know who the sharpener is. But perhaps there are two blacksmiths, one Tosa and one Sanjo.

 

[madmotts]

They definitely have some mazaki similarities. Anyone think of Kato students? Comparing Damascus patterns on Komorebi b1 with a Nakagawa b1- the Nakagawa pattern is finer and tighter and the komorebi is thicker, more wave like with less swirls.

 

[tostadas]

For the sharpener on the non-dammy version, I'm still convinced it's related to Yoshikane. I really don't think it's Mazaki due to differences in profile, taper, and choil shape. Also, these retail for higher than Mazaki prices, so it wouldn't really make sense to sell a more expensive Mazaki and not even name him.

I did a more detailed review a while back that dove into some of the specifics of what I mentioned.
https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/review-hatsukokoro-komorebi-a-better-yoshikane.58728/

 

[JoBone]

Tang is too long for a Yoshikane.
Nakagawa has holes in his tang, used for tempering.

Could be Tetsujin, he has a similar tang, but the taper isn’t something that I’ve seen in his before. I think it’s the same blacksmith that makes another line which has a very thick spine.

 

[TokushuKnife]

Tang is too long for a Yoshikane.
Nakagawa has holes in his tang, used for tempering.

Could be Tetsujin, he has a similar tang, but the taper isn’t something that I’ve seen in his before. I think it’s the same blacksmith that makes another line which has a very thick spine.

I like this theory- metal flow / core banding could be same interest to the smith, however, the thick one with the taper you speak of, I thought looked like a Tosa Knife, and got a solid no. Hmmm. No on Mazaki-san, probably no on Tosa, or did they say it wasn't a Tosa knife because it was ground in Sakai? Great, now I won't sleep lol

 

[zizirex]

I'm guessing it is made in Tosa, either Toru Tamura or one of those Tosa blacksmiths (Murata & co or Tadayoshi).
they custom order from the Smiths, but after they forged and HT, they probably bring it to Sakai to grind it.
That's why they could claim Sakai made or some vendor claims it's made in Sakai.

With those prices, I don't think those are purely made in Sakai.

Also, FYI Myojin and Tadakoro are based in Tosa as well.

 

[Pisau]

I reckon it's done by Shoichi Hashimoto-san.

 

[TokushuKnife]

I'm guessing it is made in Tosa, either Toru Tamura or one of those Tosa blacksmiths (Murata & co or Tadayoshi).
they custom order from the Smiths, but after they forged and HT, they probably bring it to Sakai to grind it.
That's why they could claim Sakai made or some vendor claims it's made in Sakai.

With those prices, I don't think those are purely made in Sakai.

Also, FYI Myojin and Tadakoro are based in Tosa as well.

I think I vote Tory Tamura! But I don't know if they will ever disclose!

 

[Scott]

Been lurking and following along. Think this might point in the right direction.

 

[jedy617]

Been lurking and following along. Think this might point in the right direction.

Do tell who you have in mind