Bought Shibata Kotetsu 180 Bunka (EU)

[e30Birdy]

Hi all, I think i want to swap out my Kyohei for a Shibata and give it a run. The Kyohei is nice and stuff but i think i will pass it on to my GF.
I just want to see if there are any out there here in the EU that someone is willing to part with for a decent price.

Sadly the site i wanted to buy from had one of their employees pass that orders their knives and doesn't know when they will get one in again.

 

[deskjockey]

Good luck! A couple of different knifemakers in Japan I have been wanting to buy from haven't had any new inventory for over a year.

I don't know if it is related to an economic slowdown or COVID impacts or other health issues, these makers are relatively near or past retirement so, production could be down for a large number of reasons including general shipping difficulties.

The good news based my understanding, is that this maker is relatively young so future knives should show up at some point in the future.

 

[e30Birdy]

Takayuki Shibata ist a real young smith, that's what makes me wonder why these things are so hard to get at the moment i don't have a rush, just thought that maybe there is a good deal out there. I was gonna pick one up for like 160 euro on sale but that was the site where the knife ordering person passed.

It's been rough, i ordered a tetsujin metal flow 7 months ago and latest news says it will be another 4-5 months.

 

[deskjockey]

I was on a different forum where I saw a YouTube of him sharpening some knives and he looked like he was in his 30's or early 40's. Perhaps that was his son or an apprentice.

 

[e30Birdy]

Knifewear has this up for him so he looks pretty young.

 

[e30Birdy]

Still looking if there are any out there in the wild. EU only

 

[cotedupy]

Have you tried asking him directly?

I was perhaps slightly lucky, but a bit under a year and a half ago I pinged a message on IG asking about a Tinker Tank, and he just said “Sure I’ll make you one.”

There was something silly like a 2 year wait list from vendors at the time. But I had it in my hands (at a bit below retail price) about 6 weeks later.

 

[e30Birdy]

Have you tried asking him directly?

I was perhaps a bit lucky, but a bit under a year and a half ago I pinged a message on IG asking about a Tinker Tank, and he just said “Sure I’ll make you one.”

There was something silly like a 2 year wait list from vendors at the time. But I had it in my hands (at a bit below retail price) about 6 weeks later.

View attachment 188522

I actually have not due to the whole import tax here is in the EU. Just want looking if anyone had one they wanted to part with for a good deal as this one isn't a must but more a nice to have want to try knife for me. Just had a kid 5 weeks ago and trying to watch how much i spend especially with the crazy inflation right now.

Beautiful Tinker Tank you have there.

 

[cotedupy]

I actually have not due to the whole import tax here is in the EU. Just want looking if anyone had one they wanted to part with for a good deal as this one isn't a must but more a nice to have want to try knife for me. Just had a kid 5 weeks ago and trying to watch how much i spend especially with the crazy inflation right now.

Beautiful Tinker Tank you have there.

Congratulations on the newborn! And good luck with the search; I love that TT, it's one of the most impressive performing knives I have, I'm sure the Bunka would be excellent too.

(And fair point about the import duty. I think Aus has an import agreement with Japan which meant I don't have to pay any taxes on anything under $1000).

 

[Dall]

In Stock at cleancut.eu but hurry

 

[e30Birdy]

In Stock at cleancut.eu but hurry

I love you!! I got one on the way

I wanted this price but their guy that orders for them passed away when i emailed them about getting one back in and they don't even know what is going to happen now. That's really sad