Ok, so I haven't had a ton of time with it but these are my initial impressions.
First, fit and finish is excellent on every level. Polished spine and choil. The choil is ground to accommodate righties in a pinch grip, something that wasn't apparent upon purchase. The blade finish is freaking gorgeous. Thr cladding line is really crisp in a lot of spots and polished very evenly.
This is a hefty boy at 212g with a thick spine and a Sakai 240. The handle is interesting. It's beefy but not overly so. It also has a tiny maker's kanji on the butt of the handle. Balance is at the end of a pinch grip.
It is a very balanced cutter. I wouldn't call it the best pure cutter but very good, 9/10. The tip isn't super thin but still thin enough to brunoise in a pinch (figurative and literal). Really solid food release too. I figured with the polished blade it would be sticky but it has been surprisingly great about food release. Carrot and potato slices stay in place or fall of with a light blade tilt.
There's a lot to like about it and little not. It's a heavy midweight, light workhorse (feels like the latter). This is one where I'm inclined to keep the original Magnolia handle. The whole package has a vibe I can't quite put my finger on. Feels like a high-end, old-school knife. I don't have the words but it has a Je ne sais quoi that gives me joy.
