SOLD Toyama 240mm KU ironclad gyuto

[nakiriknaifuwaifu]

bevels are stone-ready, courtesy of @ethompson

Specs:
245mm x 55mm
247.5g

asking $600 + shipping

would love for someone to pick up both ironclad and stainless clad knives and do a head-to-head cut test

 

[Chang]

Damn this is tempting

 

[ashy2classy]

So is this a Watanabe? I've never seen a Toyama iron clad KU version.

 

[nakiriknaifuwaifu]

So is this a Watanabe? I've never seen a Toyama iron clad KU version.

Toyama makes this (and the pro blue #2) Watanabe OEM, as confirmed by my good friend in Sanjo who is a knife retailer and family friend of Toyama-san.

 

[FishmanDE]

Damn this is tempting

Ddddooooooooiiiitttttt

 

[Alder26]

I want this so badly

 

[EShin]

would love for someone to pick up both ironclad and stainless clad knives and do a head-to-head cut test

Still haven’t tried the work of Mr. Toyama, if I was located in CONUS I’d have to do that.

 

[Cliffkol]

Two knives?

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Two knives?

https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/toyama-240mm-ku-stainless-gyuto-bnib.67211/

 

[enrico]

Mannnnn I really want to buy this back

 

[NickMinton]

Am I going crazy or is this two knives for $600?

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Am I going crazy or is this two knives for $600?

He's selling both an iron and stainless clad version. This one is $600.

 

[NickMinton]

He's selling both an iron and stainless clad version. This one is $600.

Ah, ok, that makes way more sense. I was about to say…

 

[FishmanDE]

Toyama makes this (and the pro blue #2) Watanabe OEM, as confirmed by my good friend in Sanjo who is a knife retailer and family friend of Toyama-san.

Wait, so then what knives does Watanabe himself make?

 

[ethompson]

Wait, so then what knives does Watanabe himself make?

…

 

[labor of love]

Wait, so then what knives does Watanabe himself make?

At this point unless I’m mistaken Toyama exclusively works with blue 2 (atleast for double bevel stuff) so my guess is a lot of the shirogami stuff you see on Watanabes site is forged by him. Or maybe not?
Sorry if this derails the thread
GLWS

 

[FishmanDE]

I don’t mean to derail the thread, I’m just trying to be clear as to what’s being sold here and that any prospective buyer is properly informed. We all know the two are very similar, but I’ve never heard anyone claim they are both made by Toyama. And being someone who has owned both, in my experience the two are not the same.

 

[labor of love]

That’s fair. If this is a Watanabe branded knife the thread title should reflect that IMO

 

[Alder26]

To my knowledge Watanabe is the only brand that ever carried iron clad KU knives in this style. They are likely forged by Toyama as the heat treatment is identically (as far as I can tell) to both kasumi finish Watanabes, and kasumi finish Toyamas.

To be clear though, the knife for sale in this thread has Watanabe branding on it.

 

[superworrier]

I don’t mean to derail the thread, I’m just trying to be clear as to what’s being sold here and that any prospective buyer is properly informed. We all know the two are very similar, but I’ve never heard anyone claim they are both made by Toyama. And being someone who has owned both, in my experience the two are not the same.

There was long speculation Toyama made the migaki for Watanabe, with a vendor even saying so. Then Zahocho started selling the KU Toyamas look exactly the same. OP also stated their justification.

Different knives from the same maker can have slightly different specs by vendors, but there also can be substantial variation within a line. Many people report they're more or less identical.

 

[jaydee]

Profit?

I have to say that Watanabe has not increased prices by much in the last 15 years. The pro nakiri for instance was about 190€ and is now 30% more.
Other smiths have increased prices by x4 since then and i am not even getting into some overhyped western smiths who have prices beyond reason.

 

[ashy2classy]

There was long speculation Toyama made the migaki for Watanabe, with a vendor even saying so. Then Zahocho started selling the KU Toyamas look exactly the same. OP also stated their justification.

Different knives from the same maker can have slightly different specs by vendors, but there also can be substantial variation within a line. Many people report they're more or less identical.

The kanji for the one in this thread is Watanabe. Smith or not, the knife is a Watanabe.

 

[nakiriknaifuwaifu]

Hello - I have received many messages regarding this knife and am going in order that they were received. Thank you for your patience.

 

[daveb]

Mannnnn I really want to buy this back

I was thinking the same thing...

 

[Yoshi]

I have to say that Watanabe has not increased prices by much in the last 15 years. The pro nakiri for instance was about 190€ and is now 30% more.
Other smiths have increased prices by x4 since then and i am not even getting into some overhyped western smiths who have prices beyond reason.

Ordering the pro nakiri from Watanabe-san directly is 40000 yen, not sure how you can get it in Europe for 190 euro?

 

[daveb]

would love for someone to pick up both ironclad and stainless clad knives and do a head-to-head cut test

I owned (apparently) this carbon clad and a Wat stainless clad at the same time. The stainless was considerably lighter and to me did not have the "magic" feel of the carbon clad. I've also had a Toyama stainless clad 240 and the two stainless were for all practical purposes the same knife.

 

[daveb]

Ordering the pro nakiri from Watanabe-san directly is 40000 yen, not sure how you can get it in Europe for 190 euro?

Watanabe has to reflect the fluctuations of the yen. My recollection is that the Wat Pro nakiri has doubled in price since I started this game - 200ish to 400ish.

 

[jaydee]

My recollection is that the Wat Pro nakiri has doubled in price since I started this game - 200ish to 400ish.

40000 yen is about 250€ or about 270$ so nowhere near 400$ but it was indeed around 200$ 12-15y. ago.

 

[Yoshi]

40000 yen is about 250€ or about 270$ so nowhere near 400$ but it was indeed around 200$ 12-15y. ago.

The nakiri is 40k yen, but the 240 gyuto is $400

 

[Matus]

Gentlemen, could we get this thread back on topic?