Mazaki has sold out. As has Kurosaki.Mazaki Damascus.
Mazaki has sold out. As has Kurosaki.Mazaki Damascus.
https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/mazaki-knives.35995/page-57#post-736744Who’s the HK Maz dealer? I don’t know of them.
Jiro sold out before he forged a single blade under his own name.
King Tak HongWho’s the HK Maz dealer? I don’t know of them.
Cus they have to defend their purchases on over priced katos hahI didn't say he was a nobody, not even suggested that. Why is everyone so confrontational on this site?
According to local folklore, Kanji for “Jiro Nakagawa,” followed by the number “1” could be clearly read on his umbilical cord. Fact.
I heard the umbilical cord sold even before he was out the wombs...
You failed to mention that the umbilical cord, considered almost worthless at the time, was sold for just $25. The shrewd buyer then flipped is for $1k on BST.I heard the umbilical cord sold even before he was out the wombs...
Was it damascus?You failed to mention that the umbilical cord, considered almost worthless at the time, was sold for just $25. The shrewd buyer then flipped is for $1k on BST.
Wait until the TF Denka lands.I got my first Shig kitaeji 2 weeks ago - looking forward to trying it and seeing what it’s all about
it was a 210, and no, not for $2100
For me, so far, it’s Toyama, Heiji, and Y Tanaka. Heiji SS is amazing and easy to use
have not tried Kato and Shig
Gaku is working on it this week, should have it in 10 days I thinkWait until the TF Denka lands.
Mazaki has sold out. As has Kurosaki.
I now have several knives to choose from -nothing to claim base best blacksmith on- and still find myself picking up the Shig and enjoying working with it most. It's almost as if that knife has a sould the others are just knives. Think that the Hinoura is emptiest of em all. Of course sharpness and purpose is different across knives, the one coming closest to the Shig (a small 165mm Santoku) is the single bevel Suji project knife I recently got (maker unknown).
Looking forward to your experience with a Shig Rocky!
Wish you had not written that as it may well affect my decision what to buy ...a TF denka, a TF denka 150 anniversary or a shig...TF = sanmai soul king
Really validates Denka purchaseWish you had not written that as it may well affect my decision what to buy ...a TF denka, a TF denka 150 anniversary or a shig...
Story has it these are commemoratory knives forged and finished by TF himself...It’s real not folklore. Am I the only one to see it when I visited them? @toddnmd ?
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In my quest to learn about Japanese knives, I have a question that will be controversial. However it could open up some discourse on what are good examples of Japanese blacksmithing. So here goes, "Which Japanese blacksmith still producing knives today will be considered the greatest of our time." To be more specific here is the criteria:
1. Must be producing knives as of 2020
2. Japanese
3. Must be based on their history not their potential (that could be for another tread)
4. Minimum 30 plus years of experience
5. Only judge their work on the blade itself and not the fit and finish on the handle
6. Limit comments to why a blacksmith is great and not why there are not.
7. Use only their best line of knives to speak to their skills. For example TF use Denkas where he has the most input into the creation of his blade.
I would like to see what people's short list are to learn and have a little fun. My apologies in advance to exclude non-japanese blacksmith. Perhaps we could do that for another thread region by region or world all-time tread. You can nominate more than one.
So true, such a subjective thing. Most people will give an answer for what they've owned, or want to own. Doubt anyone, including me, has at least one of every maker to remark intelligently on.After carefully reconsidering the parameters set by the OP, I admittedly am not enough of a knife nerd to know which maker has been producing for at least 30 years. ‘Greatest,’ so incredibly subjective—how to quantify ‘greatness’ is the impossible challenge. That said, these J-knives that I’ve kept, are all made by makers I consider great in their own right—each for different reasons. Although, Jiro and Mazaki are relatively young in their careers, they have produced an impressive body of work—for me, longevity isn’t a requirement nor an entitlement to greatness—there’re knife makers who have been toiling away at their craft for over 30 years, whose knives have not gone beyond the mediocre.
Left to right: Mazaki, Kochi, Heiji, Watanabe, Y. Tanaka, Shigefusa, Jiro, Kato, TF.
View attachment 95480
After carefully reconsidering the parameters set by the OP, I admittedly am not enough of a knife nerd to know which maker has been producing for at least 30 years. ‘Greatest,’ so incredibly subjective—how to quantify ‘greatness’ is the impossible challenge. That said, these J-knives that I’ve kept, are all made by makers I consider great in their own right—each for different reasons. Although, Jiro and Mazaki are relatively young in their careers, they have produced an impressive body of work—for me, longevity isn’t a requirement nor an entitlement to greatness—there’re knife makers who have been toiling away at their craft for over 30 years, whose knives have not gone beyond the mediocre.
Left to right: Mazaki, Kochi, Heiji, Watanabe, Y. Tanaka, Shigefusa, Jiro, Kato, TF.
View attachment 95480
So true, such a subjective thing. Most people will give an answer for what they've owned, or want to own. Doubt anyone, including me, has at least one of every maker to remark intelligently on.
Quite a collection there - presume it’s yours. Agree with your assessment completely - you basically have my list - with the exception of Kochi - not familiar with Kochi and I don’t know who forged those knives
Kochi is one of the undisputed 'great,' bang-for-buck gyutos! Some have said that they're made in the same workshop as Wakui, but to the specs from Jon Broida at JKI—but, that's hearsay, I don't know for a fact. For performance, Kochi is a great knife, punching way above it's weight in the performance category. It's both rustic and utilitarian, lacks the aesthetic artistry of Jiro et al, but a great cutter, well balanced, the kind of no frills performer happy to use often.
I really enjoy following this (older) discussion, even discussing basketball... as a German I would suggest Dirk Nowitzki ofc ;-))))
But my q was rather concerning the "greatest blacksmith"... I am pretty new to the topic of jknives, however I have heard a lot about Itsuo Doi and even more so about Keijiro Doi (father). Don't they belong on this candidate short list?
What about Yamamoto Hideaki?
Overgrinds are not TF "the man's" issue.
It's "the brands" issue. He still does the forge/HT part amazingly for what I like.
How long ago did you get it? I thought TF recently had a change in the management of the grind department and qc got better.... could be wrong.
I still like y.tanaka
Just received a hinoura yesterday ... so I'll need to try 2 more and sharpen them all before I can weigh in if he's up there.
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