Torn between two Yoshikazus

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henkle

henkle

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Looking at some reasonably priced gyutos. Performance, rather than F&F is the priority. I'm torn between Y. Tanaka (Hado-sumi) and Y. Ikeda (Sakai Hokushin). My head says Tanaka, but my heart is pulling towards Ikeda. Any thoughts (on the knives, not my indecisiveness)?

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henkle said:
Looking at some reasonably priced gyutos. Performance, rather than F&F is the priority. I'm torn between Y. Tanaka (Hado-sumi) and Y. Ikeda (Sakai Hokushin). My head says Tanaka, but my heart is pulling towards Ikeda. Any thoughts (on the knives, not my indecisiveness)?

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Are you just looking for the best performing gyuto? What about edge retention?
 
i do have a 240 damascus white 1 by Y. tanaka BNIB still with the lacquer on. talk to me if you are interested. i have the hado Junpaku as well . so this is redundant.
 
Both are going to have top notch heat treatments which is really the only thing you need from the smith....the rest is down to the sharpener/the specific profile and fit and finish requested by the wholesaler...Can't go wrong with either though.
 
henkle said:
Now you're just messin' with me.
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Sorry, to get back on track. this is a legit store and similar specification as compared to the Hado Sumi and the hokushin. also the sharpener is the highly regarded myojin
 
henkle said:
Now you're just messin' with me.
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I know you said edge retention isn’t a high priority, but be aware Tanaka’s white 2 is pretty poor in that regard.

If you’re ok with that, then Myojin is indeed a terrific sharpener and that’s a great price for a Tanaka x Myojin combo. But there’s no free lunch and there’s a reason Tanaka White 2 is inexpensive vs his other steels. If you’re on a tight budget (for a Tanaka) and ok with stropping after each use then it would be a fun knife. Although to be honest for similar money, personally I’d just get a Myojin in R2.

Hado/OUL has a great reputation; either that or Tanaka x Kyuzo would probably be my pick if I was shopping for a Tanaka.
 
I don’t think Tanaka wh2 is out of character compared to other wh2 blades.
It is a far cry from AS and blue1 or skd etc which I’d prefer but I thought it performed pretty typical for the steel.
 
labor of love said:
I don’t think Tanaka wh2 is out of character compared to other wh2 blades.
It is a far cry from AS and blue1 or skd etc which I’d prefer but I thought it performed pretty typical for the steel.
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Maybe my example was an oddity - I had the Miura Itadaki. After a single prep I noticed it could no longer slice paper cleanly. By contrast my Wakui in white 2 stays sharp for a surprisingly long time, pretty similar to my experience with AS actually.

Those are the only two experiences I have with white 2 so I’m not sure which is more representative.
 
Delat said:
Maybe my example was an oddity - I had the Miura Itadaki. After a single prep I noticed it could no longer slice paper cleanly. By contrast my Wakui in white 2 stays sharp for a surprisingly long time, pretty similar to my experience with AS actually.

Those are the only two experiences I have with white 2 so I’m not sure which is more representative.
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How many times have you sharpen the Miura Itadaki? I haven’t tried Y. Tanaka’s white 2, but have 2 white 1. One of the Sujihiki came very dull, can’t even slicing the paper, but after I sharpen it, it becomes screaming sharp and holds the edge for very long, longer than my R2 Shibata Sujihiki.
 
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Delat said:
Maybe my example was an oddity - I had the Miura Itadaki. After a single prep I noticed it could no longer slice paper cleanly. By contrast my Wakui in white 2 stays sharp for a surprisingly long time, pretty similar to my experience with AS actually.

Those are the only two experiences I have with white 2 so I’m not sure which is more representative.
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I can believe that. I’d say my wh2 Takada no Hamono about half the retention of my skd and ginsan blades that I used side by side recently.

Now I want a wakui haha
 
Jason183 said:
How many times have you sharpen the Miura Itadaki? I haven’t tried Y. Tanaka’s white 2, but have 2 white 1. One of the Sujihiki came very dull, can’t even slicing the paper, but after I sharpen it, it becomes screaming sharp and holds the edge for very long, longer than my R2 Shibata Sujihiki.
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I think the white 1 and white 2 behave surprisingly different (I've had both). I think I had a similar experience to Delat. The White 1 and blue 1 are very nice though
 
labor of love said:
I can believe that. I’d say my wh2 Takada no Hamono about half the retention of my skd and ginsan blades that I used side by side recently.

Now I want a wakui haha
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I picked up my wakui white 2 nakiri just because I wanted a cheap nakiri to see if I like nakiris, with the intention of selling it and getting something nicer if I did. Surprise, surprise, I love the darn little thing and so far it’s a keeper. Crazy tough too; my wife chopped straight through a mangosteen (seeds and all) with it, with zero damage.

Prices have shot up since, but I think I got mine for <$200 and it was definitely a steal.
 
Delat said:
I picked up my wakui white 2 nakiri just because I wanted a cheap nakiri to see if I like nakiris, with the intention of selling it and getting something nicer if I did. Surprise, surprise, I love the darn little thing and so far it’s a keeper. Crazy tough too; my wife chopped straight through a mangosteen (seeds and all) with it, with zero damage.

Prices have shot up since, but I think I got mine for <$200 and it was definitely a steal.
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For sure. I’ve owned several Wakuis but it’s been several years. Always enjoyed them. Nakiri seems to be sold out everywhere otherwise I’d pick one up.
 
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