Overhyped/ underrated knives

Carbonext. $128 is great value

 

I don't think anyone is disputing that they are a good knife and good value, but Jim was asking for a Great Underestimated knife and I am not sure these 2 fit the bill since everyone seems to know they are a good blade and a good value, but I am not sure if I would call them Great and Underestimated or not. They tend to have some F&F issues, and the blade grinds aren't always the best. The Tojiro has VG-10 steel, which many do not care for. Good value, good knife, yes. Great and Underestimated, no.

I think Jim is looking to find a "sleeper" type knife, awesome blade that outperforms it's price range and others in the price range that not many know about, not the commonly known blades.

 

I don't know about Jim but I am.

 

well they wouldn't be sleeper knives anymore if i told everybody about them now would they?

 

Yeah, everyone looks for the Holy Grail knife under $200, but in Western handle styles, they are hard to find.

 

Misono Dragon for sub-200 dollar knife.

Takedas WERE lasers. Outright crazy cutting machines. Now, with demand being as high as it is, the knives have changed some. It almost always happens. Takedas CAN be fantastic, and I've sold fantastic ones. However, I'd just make sure I was getting one from an honest and knowledgeable source, were I to buy one.

As for who is the best "production" maker, I can't help but think Murray Carter is the man. His knives cut for days, and his demand is higher than ever. In fact, he's making better handles than ever, as well.

On the Devin Thomas front - he is incredibly talented, and up in the finest knives I've used I would consider two DTs. I use a lot of knives, by the way....

 

Where you buy the Takeda from is a moot point; Panda ordered a custom and got a stock knife (wedgey), Magnus (I think, correct me if I am wrong on who ordered them!!) ordered 2 customs and got wedgey monsters, directly from Takeda. You can try to see if the source will check them out for you first to get a thinner one, but they may not have one if the Takeda shop isn't making them that way anymore. If you contact Takeda, he will regrind the knife, but you will have to pay shipping to him IIRC or try to catch him at one of the shows in the US and hand pick your knife.

 

I wonder what would happen if a custom order through Mr. Takeda specifically requests a thin knife or a thin edge. I once considered asking him to make me a nakiri or funayuki as thin and acute as possible. Can't throw that kind of money around at the moment though.

 

I disagree, and much of it is because of the fact that they are often a "starter" Japanese knife for so many people, that how good they are is overlooked. For most serious endeavors, I think the Tojiro DP is a great knife. Every one of them I've owned or handled has been very thin, and nimble, and has taken a great edge. Nothing wrong with VG-10.

I think the Akifusa and related knives are sleepers, and the steel is great. The Suisin Inox knives are also underestimated, I think.

 

Jacob, I USED to agree in regards to the DP comments (weird that we disagree, because we seem to always love the same pieces). BUT, a somewhat local chef ships me his knives to sharpen, and of all of his knives, the Tojiros are the biggest enigma to me. They have really decent grinds, nice steel that sharpens to a wonderful edge (burrs snap off, rather than abrade, which I much prefer), but to me the finish on the knives is downright abysmal. Two scales that are a good mm different from one another in length, sharp/unsanded edges, and a few other little "oversights" by the QC team are enough to make me say, "no thanks...not unless you're sending it out for a tune up". But, with that being said, I'd use them and buy one at the right price. After sanding/filling, and fixing the wobbly profile OOTB, they really do perform quite well.

 

I think the Takeda issue is a change in production issue...not a vendor issue. I bought mine from XXTG, yet it's a very thin knife. The point is I bought it several years ago. I think the wedgie monsters people are showing us now represent some kind of change in production philosophy or quality control. Who knows.

On the Tojiros....how does their treatment of VG-10 compare to Hattori FH? Fit and finish on the Hattori knives is excellent but I'm only lukewarm on the steel. I've had no problems with my slicer, but I have a FH cleaver that I find very chippy.

 

Was this more recent than two years ago? That's about how old the last DP I've handled was. That's pretty bad stuff, though. The QC issues I've mostly seen with them have been "meh," rather than "rubbish."

 

It's not as good as the FH, but it's good. I haven't noticed any particular chipping.

 

Tojiro DP are not bad at all. The cladding is incredibly soft though which I don't like about them, if you wobble when sharpening at all you get a big dull gray patch where the grit sticks to the cladding

 

oh yeah Hattori fh most over rated, tojiro I find vastly superior, obviously not in finish, but its half the price and better steel!

 

Didn't anyone notice that I mentioned "Moritaka" back many pages ago? You guys are slipping!

 

I couldn't disagree more, and I am obviously a Tojiro DP booster.

 

I didn't mind the blade on the hattori fh, but the premium you pay for the handle is a lot

 

It's a really nice handle, though.

 

i never saw what all the hype was over the FH, retention was not good and felt awful on stones, gummy like shun. i also dont get all the carbonext love either (atleast its easier to sharpen than hattori ), that thing has horrible retention! then again i am not a fan of mono steel.

i havent tried a moritaka gyuto so cant comment, but besides the 'holes' issue, what else is a knock on them or is that enough? i have the 165 petty and think it's wonderful! grind is nothing special but the steel is awesome and love the size of it, wish a 180 was available.