SAHM here. Hello. Looking for a Japanese knife recommendation. This would be a bday gift to myself. I know there’s a lot of threads but with kids it’s hard to sit down and search for them all. TIA for your time and recommendations. I’d prefer something easy to obtain. Nothing outside of the US if possible. If that narrows it down too much I guess I’ll keep buying overseas an option. Thank you all.
LOCATION
What country are you in?
USA
KNIFE TYPE
What type of knife are you interested in (e.g., chef’s knife, slicer, boning knife, utility knife, bread knife, paring knife, cleaver)?
CHEF’S KNIFE/GYUTO
All-in-one/KIRITSUKE
Are you right or left handed?
RIGHT
Are you interested in a Western handle (e.g., classic Wusthof handle) or Japanese handle?
JAPANESE
What length of knife (blade) are you interested in (in inches or millimeters)?
10” AND UP
Do you require a stainless knife? (Yes or no)
NO PREFERENCE
What is your absolute maximum budget for your knife?
$500
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 (e.g., slicing vegetables, chopping vegetables, mincing vegetables, slicing meats, cutting down poultry, breaking poultry bones, filleting fish, trimming meats, etc.)? (Please identify as many tasks as you would like.)
ALL THE ABOVE EXCEPT FILLETING FISH. I MOSTLY CUT THROUGH PORK SHOULDER AND CHKN
What knife, if any, are you replacing?
I HAVE A FEW KNIVES. PLEASE SEE PHOTOS
Do you have a particular grip that you primarily use? (Please click on this LINK for the common types of grips.)
PINCH
What cutting motions do you primarily use? (Please click on this LINK for types of cutting motions and identify the two or three most common cutting motions, in order of most used to least used.)
CHOP AND ROCKING
What improvements do you want from your current knife? If you are not replacing a knife, please identify as many characteristics identified below in parentheses that you would like this knife to have.)
Better aesthetics (e.g., a certain type of finish; layered/Damascus or other pattern of steel; different handle color/pattern/shape/wood; better scratch resistance; better stain resistance)?
Comfort (e.g., lighter/heavier knife; better handle material; better handle shape; rounded spine/choil of the knife; improved balance)?
Ease of Use (e.g., ability to use the knife right out of the box; smoother rock chopping, push cutting, or slicing motion; less wedging; better food release; less reactivity with food; easier to sharpen)?
Edge Retention (i.e., length of time you want the edge to last without sharpening)?
EASE OF USE AND BETTER EDGE RETENTION
KNIFE MAINTENANCE
Do you use a bamboo, wood, rubber, or synthetic cutting board? (Yes or no.)
WOOD. I HAVE A FEW. BOOS AND LARCHWOOD END AND EDGE GRAIN, BUT I SEEM TO REACH FOR THE PLASTIC ONES MORE DUE TO EASE OF WASHING
Do you sharpen your own knives? (Yes or no.)
NO. I’VE TRIED BUT FAILED. I HAVE THE KRAMER SET FOR BED BATH
If not, are you interested in learning how to sharpen your knives? (Yes or no.)
I GUESS I COULD GIVE IT ANOTHER TRY. I THINK I’VE TRIED TO SHARPEN MY SHUN AND RUINED IT. LOL. I CANT REMEMBER
Are you interested in purchasing sharpening products for your knives? (Yes or no.)
NO I HAVE THE KRAMER SET, UNLESS IT’S CRAPPY.
LOCATION
What country are you in?
USA
KNIFE TYPE
What type of knife are you interested in (e.g., chef’s knife, slicer, boning knife, utility knife, bread knife, paring knife, cleaver)?
CHEF’S KNIFE/GYUTO
All-in-one/KIRITSUKE
Are you right or left handed?
RIGHT
Are you interested in a Western handle (e.g., classic Wusthof handle) or Japanese handle?
JAPANESE
What length of knife (blade) are you interested in (in inches or millimeters)?
10” AND UP
Do you require a stainless knife? (Yes or no)
NO PREFERENCE
What is your absolute maximum budget for your knife?
$500
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 (e.g., slicing vegetables, chopping vegetables, mincing vegetables, slicing meats, cutting down poultry, breaking poultry bones, filleting fish, trimming meats, etc.)? (Please identify as many tasks as you would like.)
ALL THE ABOVE EXCEPT FILLETING FISH. I MOSTLY CUT THROUGH PORK SHOULDER AND CHKN
What knife, if any, are you replacing?
I HAVE A FEW KNIVES. PLEASE SEE PHOTOS
Do you have a particular grip that you primarily use? (Please click on this LINK for the common types of grips.)
PINCH
What cutting motions do you primarily use? (Please click on this LINK for types of cutting motions and identify the two or three most common cutting motions, in order of most used to least used.)
CHOP AND ROCKING
What improvements do you want from your current knife? If you are not replacing a knife, please identify as many characteristics identified below in parentheses that you would like this knife to have.)
Better aesthetics (e.g., a certain type of finish; layered/Damascus or other pattern of steel; different handle color/pattern/shape/wood; better scratch resistance; better stain resistance)?
Comfort (e.g., lighter/heavier knife; better handle material; better handle shape; rounded spine/choil of the knife; improved balance)?
Ease of Use (e.g., ability to use the knife right out of the box; smoother rock chopping, push cutting, or slicing motion; less wedging; better food release; less reactivity with food; easier to sharpen)?
Edge Retention (i.e., length of time you want the edge to last without sharpening)?
EASE OF USE AND BETTER EDGE RETENTION
KNIFE MAINTENANCE
Do you use a bamboo, wood, rubber, or synthetic cutting board? (Yes or no.)
WOOD. I HAVE A FEW. BOOS AND LARCHWOOD END AND EDGE GRAIN, BUT I SEEM TO REACH FOR THE PLASTIC ONES MORE DUE TO EASE OF WASHING
Do you sharpen your own knives? (Yes or no.)
NO. I’VE TRIED BUT FAILED. I HAVE THE KRAMER SET FOR BED BATH
If not, are you interested in learning how to sharpen your knives? (Yes or no.)
I GUESS I COULD GIVE IT ANOTHER TRY. I THINK I’VE TRIED TO SHARPEN MY SHUN AND RUINED IT. LOL. I CANT REMEMBER
Are you interested in purchasing sharpening products for your knives? (Yes or no.)
NO I HAVE THE KRAMER SET, UNLESS IT’S CRAPPY.