Sujihiki recommendation needed

[CoThG]

Hello everyone. I'm new here and I'm looking for a Wa handled Sujihiki knife in the 300mm length range preferably. A 270mm would work as well. This is for home use only.
Carbon steel is desired and I have the capability nearby to keep it professionally sharpened. Octagonal handle is preferred as well.
I want the blade made the traditional way with the blacksmith making the knife 100% in-house.
Price limit is around $1000. I hope that you can give me some recommendations and thank you.

 

[daveb]

A Wat or Heiji will come in under that price, could even get an aftermarket saya made. Wat Pro will be made w blue steel. Heiji will be the same steel Shig uses (but I can't remember name of). These are my favorite Japanese suji available "off - the - rack". 270 is fine length for everythiHeiji is (was) a 270.

If western makers are considered, Harbeer of HSC makes the suji I use most often at work. Very good grind but the steel, in this case ZWear, is what makes it special. I can put it through a few catering shifts without needing sharpening in between.

 

[CoThG]

Thanks for responding. I guess what I'm really trying to ask is what are some of the top line Sujihiki knives around the $1000 mark.
It seems like most to the higher end knife are always out of stock, and for probably a good reason. How do you go about ordering a custom knife for a respected blacksmith? I'm a total novice at all this, so any guidance is greatly appreciated.

 

[daveb]

The Wat, Toyama, Heiji will all come in $6 - 700 depending on current exchange rate. No need to spend more for top of line Japanese knife. You can contact each maker with a request for custom but don't know what you would ask for - maybe upgrade handle for Wat - if the knife is a user, suggest a burnt chestnut handle for good grip.

An HSC will prob run that if not a little more, mine was 600ish 5 or 6 years ago.

If you've got to spend a grand you probably can. A saya will run 200ish. Custom aftermarket handle another 200ish.

Couple links I have handy are below:

https://www.hsc3knives.com/

https://www.kitchen-knife.jp/ Watanabe English Site

 

[CoThG]

Thank you for the knowledge. I'm at the stage of "I don't know what I don't know". I'm fortunate in that price isn't a deciding factor, I just want a top line knife and I really don't know where to start. I'll check out your links.

 

[aporigine]

Thanks for responding. I guess what I'm really trying to ask is what are some of the top line Sujihiki knives around the $1000 mark.
It seems like most to the higher end knife are always out of stock, and for probably a good reason. How do you go about ordering a custom knife for a respected blacksmith? I'm a total novice at all this, so any guidance is greatly appreciated.

With your generous price, I can recommend an Itsuo Doi sakimaru suj (his upmarket Homura brand) in blue 2/iron. I have one, and it slays. It’s no laser, but it shines on precise thin slices. It also looks the business next to a four-bone rib roast! It’s my third Doi and I like his blue 2 on food and on the stones. Good heat treat by one of the retirement-age A team.

The house of many asterisks has it (and its kengata stablemate for an added fistful of dollars) for $690. Saya included.

 

[CoThG]

With your generous price, I can recommend an Itsuo Doi sakimaru suj (his upmarket Homura brand) in blue 2/iron. I have one, and it slays. It’s no laser, but it shines on precise thin slices. It also looks the business next to a four-bone rib roast! It’s my third Doi and I like his blue 2 on food and on the stones. Good heat treat by one of the retirement-age A team.

The house of many asterisks has it (and its kengata stablemate for an added fistful of dollars) for $690. Saya included.

What's the house of many asterisks?

 

[aporigine]

What's the house of many asterisks?

It’s a merchant whose name trips the site censor.
Chefkn*vestogo
Look what happens when I spell it right!
Chefknivestogo
Personally, they’ve always given me outstanding service.

 

[CoThG]

It’s a merchant whose name trips the site censor.
Chefkn*vestogo
Look what happens when I spell it right!
**************
Personally, they’ve always given me outstanding service.

Thank you. What is the alleged issue with that vendor?

 

[aporigine]

Thank you. What is the alleged issue with that vendor?

No idea. Before my time; I’m still a n00b.

 

[Stevem627]

I recently has this made by Eddworks. There are several knife makers here who could do a custom in your price range, but you will need to wait around a year or more now for a knife from Eddie. I have to say that deciding on what you get depends on how you want to use it. I have a laser 270 that does lighter duty, but a gyutohiki can be used for many types of cutting. You have tons of great choices at 270, and quite a bit less at 300.

 

[azn_knives_4l]

No thoughts on maker but thinness/flex and weight are pretty important for slicers. Might want to experiment a little to figure out preferences before going in on something expensive and unevaluated.

 

[CoThG]

No thoughts on maker but thinness/flex and weight are pretty important for slicers. Might want to experiment a little to figure out preferences before going in on something expensive and unevaluated.

Understand. Probably wanting a thinner knife. What's typical thickness for this type of knife?

 

[azn_knives_4l]

Understand. Probably wanting a thinner knife. What's typical thickness for this type of knife?

It's all over the place, unfortunately. Spine thickness goes from 2mm to 7mm and then there's taper from spine to edge and heel to tip

 

[parbaked]

This one’s nice…
https://carbonknifeco.com/collections/sujihiki-slicer/products/kagekiyo-blue-1-sujihiki-270mm

 

[CoThG]

This one’s nice…
https://carbonknifeco.com/collections/sujihiki-slicer/products/kagekiyo-blue-1-sujihiki-270mm

Yes it is. Thanks for the link.

 

[Vertigo]

Thank you. What is the alleged issue with that vendor?

That **** goes back like 15 years, some tea is better left unspilt.

 

[daveb]

Understand. Probably wanting a thinner knife. What's typical thickness for this type of knife?

Weight is an easy metric for proper thinness/flexi. Min weight (IMO) for 270 suji is 165g, prefer 180g. My own users are all 200+. The weight helps the draw (slice) cut.

The heavier suji will be fine for portioning fish as well as meat.

 

[CoThG]

Weight is an easy metric for proper thinness/flexi. Min weight (IMO) for 270 suji is 165g, prefer 180g. My own users are all 200+. The weight helps the draw (slice) cut.

The heavier suji will be fine for portioning fish as well as meat.

Good info, thanks

 

[jakuda]

Bloodroot

 

[Stevem627]

CKTG is a fine vendor from my experiences.

I think Msicardcutlery.com has several nice Sujihiki’s in stock. One is Apex Ultra and would be great, as would his 52100 that is available. I also think both knothandcrafted.com and Misicard could both design with you and build in a reasonable time and price.

 

[itzjustchris1]

Save yourself some money. Performance will speak for itself. Hado B1D

 

[Budrichard]

From CKTG, simple, relatively cheap but must watch out for rust.
They have other lengths in stock
https://www.**************.com/katkho18fiha.html
Whoops, Kanehide 200mm OOS but they have other lengths/
-Richard

 

[dehory]

The Wat, Toyama, Heiji will all come in $6 - 700 depending on current exchange rate.

Heiji 270 (which will be more like 280/285) direct will run around half that (~50k yen as of two months ago including the hefty upcharge for a burnt chestnut and horn handle since he’s been having supplier issues). Add shipping/handling plus what’s probably an obligatory visit to the JKI spa, and you should still be under $500.

Price limit is around $1000.

Sujis depreciate in value more than other knife shapes — a lot of us find them irresistible, but then end up always just using our gyutos for slicing instead and trying to offload them. The wisest course would be to keep an eye for deals on BST to figure out your preferences (e.g. flexy or heavy — I agree with @daveb’s take) before dropping $1k on one. Unless you snag, say, a Takada or Yanick, you’re inevitably going to be taking a bit of a loss if you don’t like the suji you got and want to resell it.

Your stated handle preferences aside, I’d seriously take a look at this one…

 

[brownsugar69]

Someone i know recently got a KKnives.id honyaki sujihiki 300mm with a sakimaru tip with a saya for less than 150$. he says it punches significantly above its weight … i am considering buying that knife for the looks alone