Search found 558 matches

by cliff
Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:31 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Handle Install Advice
Replies: 7
Views: 115

Re: Handle Install Advice

Agreed, I think hot melt glue is what you want. I've just burned mine in, and they've been secure. Glue would be better.
by cliff
Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:02 pm
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Anyone use a clever?
Replies: 25
Views: 525

Re: Anyone use a clever?

Like a heavy knife, cleavers do the work for you once you get used to them. I find it harder to use my lasers for bulk prep. Then, there's Takeda. It costs a fortune but is the best of both: light, nimble, and large, it plows through anything.
by cliff
Fri Mar 22, 2024 10:06 am
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Anyone use a clever?
Replies: 25
Views: 525

Re: Anyone use a clever?

I use cleavers all the time, increasingly, instead of a 240 or 270 workhorse gyuto. If I have a bunch of prep, I'll grab one of the bigger ones. The only time I don't is if I have a big pile of greens to deal with. For that, I prefer a long gyuto. That one you mention looks great to me. ETA - They a...
by cliff
Thu Mar 14, 2024 1:18 pm
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Sujihiki recommendation, please
Replies: 10
Views: 343

Re: Sujihiki recommendation, please

I have a few. I think the most versatile is Shiro Kamo R2 at 270 -- but it's a full 270 and not a Sakai size. I've got a 300 Ashi Ginga in White no. 2. That little bit of extra length makes a big difference in feel. Keep in mind it won't fit in most knife rolls, if that's an issue. I think the first...
by cliff
Tue Feb 27, 2024 10:29 am
Forum: Sharpening Advice
Topic: Repairing my Kagekiyo - chip removal
Replies: 20
Views: 888

Re: Repairing my Kagekiyo - chip removal

I worry especially about knives that come with a zero edge. I don't recall with Kagekiyo, but definitely Watanabe. Looks like a great repair!
by cliff
Sat Feb 24, 2024 3:06 pm
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Your Preferred Two Knives Combo
Replies: 23
Views: 850

Re: Your Preferred Two Knives Combo

270 Ashi Ginga Gyuto (mine is in AEBL).... I saw an Ashi Ginga when I was on the quest for a sleek 180mm gyuto. I found a 180mm in stock in stainless and White #2. I didn't order because I don't know enough about Japanese Knives to know quality vs fake. But it definitely has that sleek look I wante...
by cliff
Fri Feb 23, 2024 8:06 am
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Your Preferred Two Knives Combo
Replies: 23
Views: 850

Re: Your Preferred Two Knives Combo

270 Ashi Ginga Gyuto (mine is in AEBL) and a Sukenari 165 Petty in Hap40.
by cliff
Sat Feb 17, 2024 4:55 pm
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Your Knife That Outperforms Its Price
Replies: 22
Views: 954

Re: Your Knife That Outperforms Its Price

Thinning will improve performance at the expense of some durability. The geometry right behind the edge is very important. Moritaka knives have pretty low shoulders, so easing them a little can give big performance gains.
by cliff
Sat Feb 17, 2024 9:37 am
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Your Knife That Outperforms Its Price
Replies: 22
Views: 954

Re: Your Knife That Outperforms Its Price

Were the Moritaka's tuned, or was this the original geometry? This is an important point. I bought a second-hand 240 gyuto that was very well dialed in before I got it: bevels flattened and thinned, choil and spine nicely rounded, and a handle that balanced things out nicely. I also got a Chuka whe...
by cliff
Thu Feb 15, 2024 9:57 am
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Your Knife That Outperforms Its Price
Replies: 22
Views: 954

Re: Your Knife That Outperforms Its Price

Moritaka AS, Munetoshi W2, Mazaki W2, Masahiro VC, Takamura R2
by cliff
Tue Feb 13, 2024 4:05 pm
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Your preferred 180mm
Replies: 22
Views: 879

Re: Your preferred 180mm

I think they're handy as utility knives, a kind of tall petty. Besides the Kamo, I have a couple others, including Yoshi SKD and Takamura R2 Gyutos and a Shibata Bunka. I reach for them for small jobs pretty interchangeably. There's just something about that Kamo Bunka that feels right to me.
by cliff
Tue Feb 13, 2024 1:57 pm
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Your preferred 180mm
Replies: 22
Views: 879

Re: Your preferred 180mm

Probably Shiro Kamo. Title says 170mm but the product listing says 180. I haven't measured, but I use it all the time.

https://www.chefknivestogo.com/shkar2bu17.html

I also have a couple of petty/suji's around that size that get a lot of use.
by cliff
Tue Feb 13, 2024 11:50 am
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Professional Knife Recommendations
Replies: 13
Views: 649

Re: Professional Knife Recommendations

I am not a pro, so take with several grains of salt. From what you describe, stainless-clad AS sounds ideal. For the gyuto, Y. Kato makes an excellent, relatively affordable one (in stock here -- https://www.chefknivestogo.com/kawa21.html). You mentioned carbon, but R2 is worth considering. If you c...
by cliff
Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:10 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Single bevel question
Replies: 13
Views: 828

Re: Single bevel question

I think a single-bevel gyuto is more of a curiosity. In Japan, the chef will use a full-size, single-bevel Kiritsuke for its versatility. But it is not as good at any specific task as a specialized knife. I use an usuba for some Japanese preparations -- still no expert with it by any means. I use a ...
by cliff
Fri Jan 19, 2024 3:07 pm
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Honesuki bone knife recommendations needed
Replies: 21
Views: 1422

Re: Honesuki bone knife recommendations needed

I love my Masahiro VC for quick, messy jobs, but it's no match for a Toyama single-bevel. It feels at least twice as sharp. I do hesitate to pull out the Toyama when I fear being up to my elbows in guts and slime.
by cliff
Fri Jan 19, 2024 2:57 pm
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Please help me help a friend choose a Gyuto 210mm
Replies: 18
Views: 1093

Re: Please help me help a friend choose a Gyuto 210mm

I like that yahiko and Kanehide here.
by cliff
Wed Jan 17, 2024 8:25 am
Forum: Knife Knowledge, Skills, Technique and Care
Topic: What's your favorite test for a new knife?
Replies: 14
Views: 1534

Re: What's your favorite test for a new knife?

Dice an apple is my most important test. Some knives fail that are great at other things, but I want to know if it's thin enough to cut without splitting.
by cliff
Wed Jan 17, 2024 8:22 am
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Honesuki bone knife recommendations needed
Replies: 21
Views: 1422

Re: Honesuki bone knife recommendations needed

This is not generally a category where it makes sense to spend up. The basic Kanehide and Tojiro's are terrific and functional. If you want harder steel -- to my mind, not really necessary here -- you could look to Moritaka, still well within your budget. I like the Misono carbon 165. It's a little ...
by cliff
Tue Jan 16, 2024 12:45 pm
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Recommendation for first Gyuto Knife
Replies: 2
Views: 552

Re: Recommendation for first Gyuto Knife

I think Takamura's 210 red handle would fit the bill. It's out of stock at MTC right now, but they do get them. It's not mass produced enough to stay in stock anywhere.
by cliff
Thu Jan 11, 2024 12:06 pm
Forum: Knife Recommendations
Topic: Double Bevel Kiritsuke?
Replies: 7
Views: 819

Re: Double Bevel Kiritsuke?

For Ktips, I have the Shibata Bunka, a Shiro Kamo Bunka, a Yoshikane Gyuto, and a Sukenari Gyuto. Yoshi's are always pretty flat; I think the Sukenari is flatter than their regular gyuto profile. But I see other Ktips that are pretty curvy. In the end, in terms of cutting style, I think flatter is b...