japanese knives - making thereof

[Ken Gargett]

i have seen a post or two about knives so i thought that this might be of interest.

from saveur.

http://www.saveur.com/knife-making-in-sakai

[Rye]

I swing a humble Tojiro. Still love and respect that steel. If be honoured to handle such amazing pieces these gents craft.

Thanks for the link Ken!

[jat]

Great topic.

I have some commercial Japanese blade.

Chopping happily one day, didn't have the fingers tucked in quite enough and took part of my fingernail clean off. Didn't feel a thing.

No blood, just a flat spot on my index fingernail. Now fully focused when using that knife.

[Fugu]

Got two hand-forged ones (acquired in a stupid flashing of desire) and a range of rather cheap “industrial” Hochos.

The cheapies are by far my daily go-tos. Rarely use the expensive ones, perhaps once a year if at all (and even then only the Yanagiba). They are really nice pieces of art and craftsmanship, no question, but for practical and daily use, the standard ones come with the same cutting performance but a much higher practicability: I.e. same magnolia wood, some even with horn ferrule, laminated blades, high-carbon steel for the cutting edge, which is nicely and easily kept in shape using wet stones. Main thing is you don’t have to worry too much about their looks when it comes to maintaining the blades. With those I have no fear when grinding and honing, a quite different undertaking with the expensive knives, due to plain respect…

But admitted, they are pieces of beauty in their own right (but you simply don’t see them very often….haha).

[cigcars]

Japanese steel. No joke. Those early Kitana blades were sooooo deadly that you didn't even have to pull it all the way out of the haft to cause a mortal wound on an opponent. That blade, under the real Hatori Hanzo, Masamune, kept every invader including the unbeatable Mongols out of Japan all the way up into the Industrial age.

[oliverdst]

Just curious, can they be found online?

[spicycorona]

Just curious, can they be found online?

http://www.chefknivestogo.com/

Enjoy the rabbit hole. I assume you mean japanese knives in general.

[oliverdst]

http://www.chefknivestogo.com/

Enjoy the rabbit hole. I assume you mean japanese knives in general.

Yes, thanks.