Hi fellow addicts,
I've been stung by a really weird insect which gave me the same disease as many of you : the inexplicable will to hoard a stupid amount of vaguely sharp triangle-shaped piece of (usually, but not limited to) steel.
I bought a Sakai Takayuki Syusin Sakura 240mm Gyuto (Blue #2 with iron cladding) from James few weeks ago, and I'm very very pleased with the knife. Let me use this message to say that James has been absolutely perfect to help me buying the knife ! He answered about 15 emails in about a day and a half, without ever showing the tiniest bit of frustration :biggrin: ! And the knife arrived from Australia to the UK in less than 48h, which I still fail to understand, considering that packages coming from south London take usually a week to reach my office :scratchhead:
Thing is, I don't want my knife to feel alone, so I am looking to add him a little brother (how is that a bad excuse ???).
The plan is to buy the knife, and my girlfriend will have a custom handle made for it (birthday incoming :biggrin: ). This handle will probably be made by Carter (CII Bladeworks) so the knife will be shipped to the US.
Here is part of the usual form to help you help me
KNIFE TYPE
What type of knife are you interested in?
Petty Knife (but you already know that).
Are you right or left handed?
Right
Are you interested in a Western handle (e.g., classic Wusthof handle) or Japanese handle?
It will be rehandled, so I guess it doesn't matter, although it's probably simpler to pick a wa handle as it will be rehandled with a wa handle.
What length of knife are you interested in?
150-180, but a bit flexible on that.
Do you require a stainless knife?
I want a carbon core at least, and would prefer to avoid iron cladding, just because cleaning the blade between every slice of a lemon won't be fun.
So I want something less reactive, but not necessarily stainless.
What is your absolute maximum budget for your knife?
$ 450 (Just to clarify, yes it's probably overkill for a petty, but considering that I will have a custom handle put on this, it will be well taken care of, so I am looking for something v v nice)
KNIFE USE
Do you primarily intend to use this knife at home or a professional environment?
Home.
What are the main tasks you primarily intend to use the knife for ?
Anything the 240mm Gyuto would be too big for.
What knife, if any, are you replacing?
None obviously.
Do you have a particular grip that you primarily use?
Can we use any other grip than the pinch grip on a petty ?
Better aesthetics
Don't care too much to be honest.
Comfort
Should have a nice F&F (no sharp spine/choil) although keep in mind it will be rehandled so any problem regarding that can be ignored.
If possible, on the light end of the spectrum.
Ease of Use
Not too reactive. I'm thinking about white steel, as I have one blue steel already, just for the easier sharpening, and to have something different. I don't mind sharpening often.
KNIFE MAINTENANCE
Do you use a bamboo, wood, rubber, or synthetic cutting board?
Walnut end-grain chopping block.
Do you sharpen your own knives?
Yes
Are you interested in purchasing sharpening products for your knives?
No
I think you should have every bit of information needed by now
My birthday being at the beginning of April, I need to buy the blade before March, to allow enough time for the handle. So anything not in stock is fine as long as it comes back in stock before mid-Feb.
On a side note, because she is anxious about using the (quite heavy) Gyuto, I am also looking for a small 180mm Santoku (carbon), easy to sharpen so she can learn, under $150 shipped to the UK, so that she can get used to J-Knives.
Many thanks to all of you who read up to there, and many more thanks to whoever will be nice enough to help me
--
Hat
I've been stung by a really weird insect which gave me the same disease as many of you : the inexplicable will to hoard a stupid amount of vaguely sharp triangle-shaped piece of (usually, but not limited to) steel.
I bought a Sakai Takayuki Syusin Sakura 240mm Gyuto (Blue #2 with iron cladding) from James few weeks ago, and I'm very very pleased with the knife. Let me use this message to say that James has been absolutely perfect to help me buying the knife ! He answered about 15 emails in about a day and a half, without ever showing the tiniest bit of frustration :biggrin: ! And the knife arrived from Australia to the UK in less than 48h, which I still fail to understand, considering that packages coming from south London take usually a week to reach my office :scratchhead:
Thing is, I don't want my knife to feel alone, so I am looking to add him a little brother (how is that a bad excuse ???).
The plan is to buy the knife, and my girlfriend will have a custom handle made for it (birthday incoming :biggrin: ). This handle will probably be made by Carter (CII Bladeworks) so the knife will be shipped to the US.
Here is part of the usual form to help you help me
KNIFE TYPE
What type of knife are you interested in?
Petty Knife (but you already know that).
Are you right or left handed?
Right
Are you interested in a Western handle (e.g., classic Wusthof handle) or Japanese handle?
It will be rehandled, so I guess it doesn't matter, although it's probably simpler to pick a wa handle as it will be rehandled with a wa handle.
What length of knife are you interested in?
150-180, but a bit flexible on that.
Do you require a stainless knife?
I want a carbon core at least, and would prefer to avoid iron cladding, just because cleaning the blade between every slice of a lemon won't be fun.
So I want something less reactive, but not necessarily stainless.
What is your absolute maximum budget for your knife?
$ 450 (Just to clarify, yes it's probably overkill for a petty, but considering that I will have a custom handle put on this, it will be well taken care of, so I am looking for something v v nice)
KNIFE USE
Do you primarily intend to use this knife at home or a professional environment?
Home.
What are the main tasks you primarily intend to use the knife for ?
Anything the 240mm Gyuto would be too big for.
What knife, if any, are you replacing?
None obviously.
Do you have a particular grip that you primarily use?
Can we use any other grip than the pinch grip on a petty ?
Better aesthetics
Don't care too much to be honest.
Comfort
Should have a nice F&F (no sharp spine/choil) although keep in mind it will be rehandled so any problem regarding that can be ignored.
If possible, on the light end of the spectrum.
Ease of Use
Not too reactive. I'm thinking about white steel, as I have one blue steel already, just for the easier sharpening, and to have something different. I don't mind sharpening often.
KNIFE MAINTENANCE
Do you use a bamboo, wood, rubber, or synthetic cutting board?
Walnut end-grain chopping block.
Do you sharpen your own knives?
Yes
Are you interested in purchasing sharpening products for your knives?
No
I think you should have every bit of information needed by now
My birthday being at the beginning of April, I need to buy the blade before March, to allow enough time for the handle. So anything not in stock is fine as long as it comes back in stock before mid-Feb.
On a side note, because she is anxious about using the (quite heavy) Gyuto, I am also looking for a small 180mm Santoku (carbon), easy to sharpen so she can learn, under $150 shipped to the UK, so that she can get used to J-Knives.
Many thanks to all of you who read up to there, and many more thanks to whoever will be nice enough to help me
--
Hat