Tanaka San or nakagawa San for Damascus?

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I’m looking at getting a knife from takada and just wondering if anyone can help with giving me some info on the two black smiths mentioned who work with Damascus. Is one better than the other? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
Handled both, owned both, kept neither (not a damascus lover, though that seems likely to change…).

If it’s a Takada, you genuinely can’t go wrong, but I think the Nakagawa suminagashi through Takada is unique and stunning. I’d do that, and if you want Tanaka, go kasumi, so-bokashi, or a natural stone finished damascus from him.

@Southpaw is the guy to ask.
 
From what I've see the cladding patterns are different between the two of them. Both produce quality heat treat so the appearance of the cladding and the sharpener (convex/wide bevel, etc) I think should be your deciding choice.
 
Handled both, owned both, kept neither (not a damascus lover, though that seems likely to change…).

If it’s a Takada, you genuinely can’t go wrong, but I think the Nakagawa suminagashi through Takada is unique and stunning. I’d do that, and if you want Tanaka, go kasumi, so-bokashi, or a natural stone finished damascus from him.

@Southpaw is the guy to ask.
Thanks man! Any chance you have any for sale 😜
 
If you are talking solely about takada, great quality laser, not sure I have much to say besides that. Like others said, I would get based solely on the aesthetic you prefer, both tanaka and nakagawa have fantastic blue 1. I really don't love nakagawas damascus for example, Tanakas looks more "natural" to me
 
I’m in the opposite camp prefer Nakagawa Damascus. Nakagawa x Myojin is a superior combination in my opinion.
 
I like a lot my Nakagawa Suminagashi! Specially with this new handle haha
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Tanaka vs nakagawa is so close that it’s hardly noticeable. But I do enjoy Nakagawa’s knives a little more. If only by a hair. And it’s because Nakagawa’s knives generally have the better grind. When it comes to the takada suiboku, I like tanaka’s version because it comes a little taller.
 
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