For sale is a Y. Ikeda W#2 240mm Mizu Honyaki with burnt chestnut handle. Actuals: 233mm x >48+mm @190 grams. Balance point 1"+ from heel
This knife was bought used from the original owner. It had a microchip at the tip (see detail below from his original post—yes, that is an image of the chip, NOT the fix!!), which was fixed by Jon at JKI, who also replaced the handle and thinned and polished the whole knife.
I have since used the knife on a handful of cuts: a few cuke slices, an onion dice, half a carrot, and some cherry tomatoes, and perhaps a potato—essentially 3-4 cuts on a few ingredients while actually cooking with other knives as a comparison. Upon trying to cut a tomato, I realized Jon had polished the whole knife and edge, but that there was no visible bevel—while it cut paper, it didn’t do well on skins. After corresponding with Jon, I took it to the stones to try to put a base, primary edge in the mid-range just so I could test the knife. It has that edge currently—an unrefined, workable edge that is essentially incomplete.
The knife is an excellent rendition of this smith and his style (I’ve seen other versions in-person). While I like this smith, I do not think I like this style of blade in a honyaki—I think I would prefer a honyaki that felt more like a laser...or, frankly, no honyakis. As it is, this is a knife that is better for chopping, rocking, and separation than for slicing cuts.
In other ways, this is about as good as an entry-level honyaki gets: a master-smith, a beautiful, unique Hamon line, a very good, consistent grind that is thin at the edge but robust near the spine, and an extremely versatile, generally wonderful profile, size, and feel on the board. Its actual measurements are about 230x49mm, and it has a very traditional gyuto profile for this size: a workable, flatter heel, a consistent curve to the tip, and a tip that is pointed enough for detail work when necessary, all without too much belly.
I received a fantastic deal on this knife, and I will pass that on with one exception: shipping. Cost is 1000 USD. I would like to buyer to cover shipping costs from Victoria, BC, Canada, which will vary wildly depending on distance and insurance (30-60 CAD).
First picture is of actual chip before fix; next set from before use; lowest set after basic sharpening and use. The knife has lost a touch of polish from use, but the pictures show that it still clearly has a wonderful, clear mirror polish from Jon and that any minor cosmetic issues are par for the course of any knife. This knife is very, very close to as-received direct from refurbishment.
Yes, those are my window drapes from this morning!! Cool effect...
