Mini review of Hatsukokoro Shinkiro
Fit and finish:
Meh overall.
KU is super rough (like drags against my sponge) but maybe will become looser over time. Did some 3000 grit sanding which made it better but it’s still rough. Doesn’t affect cutting but makes it annoying for me to wash the way I do it (sponge wrapped over the spine). Or I could try to sand a bit more without stripping off too much KU (so far looks the same). Much rougher compared to any other Nashiji KU btw (incl Kochi, Kono Sumiiro, Mazaki, Fellipi, Raquin, etc)
Handle install is not great but I think this is a Homebutcher thing. Hopefully it’s not epoxied.
Spine and choil not rounded and not super comfortable. Not as bad as Toyamanabe KU though which is actually sharp. Didn't actually bug me in practice but a pro may want to round it. Unfortunately, you'd lose the KU though. Would’ve been cool if it were rounded under the KU like Kochi is.
Bevel finish looks awesome. One of the prettiest damascus but hard to appreciate in photos. When comparing above and below the shinogi line, it’s like a mullet (party above, business below)
Steel
I don’t want to say too much because I think I may have done a poor job sharpening but I was alarmed at how easily it deburred. I think I may need to resharpen though because I’m half sick so I think I didn’t do a great job and I may have rounded it. Also I'm testing some new stones. At the minimum, it seems decent enough but probably not as good as TF AS (didn't keep it the initial sharpness as well, but TF is exceptional in this regard, but also I think the unfamiliar stones may have played a factor as well)
Geometry and profile
Profile is Yoshikane. Geometry and taper is basically Yoshikane but with very gentle convex (so like Nihei). The tip is excellent, probably one of the best, but deeper in you can feel the spine thickness so it's not as good as something like Takada. It’s a little weightier at the spine than Yoshi SKD but cuts equally or maybe better.
Summary:
It cuts very well but the rough KU and spine/choil hold it back. Steel seems pretty good but not amazing (but grain of salt here please). A little frustrating overall to me because I think improving F&F in the area I mentioned isn't super hard. Also the sizing is weird. Wish it were taller at heel/shorter length. I got the 210 (which is 220) because the 240 is more like 250 pretty consistently it seems.
Obviously this is a steal at the price I paid (280 all inclusive).
BTW I wrote more about fit and finish because I have more to say, not because I think it’s super important.
