Re-handle a classic Keijiro Doi Yanagiba?

[Namaxy]

I trying to decide what to do with a knife by a classic master. I have a Keijiro Doi 300mm Blue2 yanagiba bought here years ago from Pete84 in CA. Everything about the blade is amazing. Great mirror polish, perfect Ura. Old school Ho wood handle.

I'm sure there are people here far more knowledgeable than I that could explain this, but one of the wonderful things about the knife is it's heft. It's quite a bit heavier than my 300mm Shig, and even my Masamoto 300mm honyaki that has an ebony handle. Which of course makes the knife feel considerably more blade heavy than the others. It seems that now, compared to back when this knife was made, there are plenty of yanagi sold with upgraded handles such as this.

My friends here know I frequently re handle gyutos, if the handles feel too small, or most commonly to get the balance at the pinch point. I certainly don't expect to try to alter the balance that much, and of course the style of using the knife is entirely different. Yet I'm nagged by the feeling that altering a 20 plus year old knife by a highly regarded master is somehow desecrating the knife.

I'm open to any opinions or words of wisdom, even if it's just telling me I'm overthinking this. I don't intend to ever sell this knife, and I probably use a yanagi less than once a week. So in a nutshell I'd like the knife to feel less tip heavy, but if a pro sushi chef told me it's supposed to, or someone with more knowledge of blades forged by old retired masters told me it's a stupid idea, I'd listen

Thanks in advance!

 

[deltaplex]

Handle swaps can easily be changed back to the original, so I don't feel bad putting one on that's a better fit for me.

 

[superworrier]

Also the handle isn't even made by the blacksmith at all, and people say that they are just thought as a wear item, so it's totally cool to re-handle.
Besides all that, it's yours and you should do what you want to with it. Re-handling it definitely makes it feel more personal.

 

[tostadas]

I'm a strong supporter of customizing your knives to best fit you. If the maker puts their effort into making the blade awesome, what better way to show your appreciation of their work than to make that knife the one you reach for over all others.

*also as noted above, a lot of makers get their handles wholesale from elsewhere and just attach em.