Gift for wife that likes to rock her knife.

[ChefKnivesToGo]

Hi Mark,

I’m looking for a knife recommendation for my wife. She basically wants a stainless or semi-stainless gyuto with a wa handle but with a pronounced belly similar to a French or German knife. I use a funayuki and Heiji gyuto but she needs something that facilitates a rolling cutting motion and that doesn’t need babying.

Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Danny

Here is our standard recommendation request form. Even though you answered some of these please fill it out and I'll match a couple knives to your criteria.

1)Pro or home cook? Home
2)What kind of knife do you want? (gyuto, santoku, etc) gyuto
3) What size knife do you want? 240
4)How much do you want to spend? Not an issue
5) Do you prefer stainless or reactive carbon? Stainless or semi stainless
6)Do you prefer Western or Japanese handle? Japanese
7)What are your main knife/knives now?
heiji gyuto, Konosuke HD funayuki
8)Are your knife skills excellent, good, fair? Good
9)Are you a rocker, chopper or push cutter? Rocker
10)Do you know how to sharpen?
Yes

[ChefKnivesToGo]

This Gihei ZDP189 came to mind: https://www.chefknivestogo.com/gizuzdgy24.html

If you're ok with a production knife the Zanmai might be good bet: https://www.chefknivestogo.com/zahyvggy24.html

Shun also has a ton of belly: https://www.chefknivestogo.com/kechkn8.html

[Nmiller21k]

I'd personally go with a Shun.
Lots of belly
lower HRC
easy to maintain, just sharpen the initial factory edge and you won't have a chipping issue
great fit and finish and ideal for rockers who are used to a french profile.

[Lepus]

You could consider having a Western handled knife converted to wa. Of the knives I can think of off the top of my head the wa PS60 would be okay, because it does rock fairly well, but I don't know of anything ideal.

[jmcnelly85]

If you can find a used kono/Richmond sld addict, it would be ideal.

[journeymandoug]

I agree with the Shun angle. I just picked up a Carbon Zwilling Kramer, which also fits that bill if you want to pay two or three times as much. All of the Shun classic chefs knives have great belly, and are literally designed for that cutting style.

[gladius]

The Richmond SLD also came to mind but they are now hard to come by.

Alternatively the Konosuke GS+ Gyuto 240mm would be a good pick. Rocks nicely, stainless, nimble, good all around profile and high quality fit & finish.

https://www.chefknivestogo.com/kogsgy240.html

There is also the Harukaze AS Wa Gyuto 216mm: stainless clad with an Aogami Super core which is very low reactivity, takes a super edge and nice patina. Another that rocks nicely with a good GP profile.

https://www.chefknivestogo.com/haas21gy.html

[appleward91]

The Richmond SLD also came to mind but they are now hard to come by.

Alternatively the Konosuke GS+ Gyuto 240mm would be a good pick. Rocks nicely, stainless, nimble, good all around profile and high quality fit & finish.

https://www.chefknivestogo.com/kogsgy240.html

There is also the Harukaze AS Wa Gyuto 216mm: stainless clad with an Aogami Super core which is very low reactivity, takes a super edge and nice patina. Another that rocks nicely with a good GP profile.

https://www.chefknivestogo.com/haas21gy.html

Can I overpay you for your funayuki? I've been looking everywhere for KS or Funayuki, just so happened to mentioned it up there ^. *fingers crossed*

[gladius]

Can I overpay you for your funayuki? I've been looking everywhere for KS or Funayuki, just so happened to mentioned it up there ^. *fingers crossed*

—-
Are you SURE you want to OVERPAY for my Masamoto KS?
There has got to be a price I’ll let it go for...PM me if you are serious.

The same with my Konosuke SLD or Konosuke GS for that matter.

[Chicagohawkie]

This KS thing just cracks me up!

[DimaCots]

i would second the harukaze AS wa gyuto. the blade profile is spot on what your wife is looking for (i was looking for the same thing). i just got the knife myself a day ago, and so far can't complain. i can't comment on ease of sharpening or how long the edge lasts, but so far so good. shuns are great also, cant go wrong with that option.