What is your unicorn?

[snipa1104]

This is more about what you want not what you think is the best. With that said I would have to say that mine would be things from Okishiba Masakuni or Tatsuo Ikeda, they both produced the worlds best and sadly are not with us any longer. Tatsuo produced Honyaki made from Tamahagane and I think that right now is the top unicorn.

[lsboogy]

Shintō - hard to find and expensive

[salemj]

I think my dream experience would be to get to hand-pick a knife from a batch after using it for a bit. I have a decent list of knives I'd like to try, but don't necessarily want to buy unless they really click or I get something that is just right for my taste. So while I continue to look at expensive honyaki, katos, and a number of other knives (including a variety of custom makers), I have to admit that my desire to buy any such expensive knives without trying them out first has dissipated significantly.

Otherwise, I think the only knife I wish I had that is actually difficult to get (in the sense of a unicorn) is an old-style Konosuke honyaki from around 2014 or so.

[Mowgface]

240 Ashi Honyaki
240 Hinoura Unryu KU Damascus

[Kalaeb]

Easy, Bill Burke san mai with sheep horn or stag handle.

[mauichef]

Konosuke Fujiyama Honyaki by Ashi
Fudo Kunayuki (Genkai Masakuni) Gyuto
Konosuke Fujiyama HM Gyuto

[ButlerHoosierChef]

Definitely agree with you guys Maui I would echo your list but add Fujiyama Honyaki by Shiraki. Love his knives. Togo Reigo would be added to that too!

[arthurfowler]

Kato Yanagiba
Ashi Honyaki Gyuto
Konosuke Togo Reigo

I have always ended up spending more on knives than I said I would, but the 1st 2 on the list have a market value that I simply couldn’t bring myself to spend on a knife!!

[Barashka]

- Xerxes
- CJA
- Maumasi .. who wouldn't.
The first two sometimes come up for sale .. once every 3 years.

[Drewski]

Without doing much research, probably a Hinoura River Jump

[LaVieestBelle]

Kato 240 Standard. At 2014 prices, please.

Not as rare and esoteric as some listed above...but I just want it. Simple as that. I’ve had the WH for years and have for a long time wanted to add the standard. But that darn price just keeps edging up, and at a certain point it goes beyond my comfort zone and my willingness.

[Drewski]

Kato 240 Standard. At 2014 prices, please.

Not as rare and esoteric as some listed above...but I just want it. Simple as that. I’ve had the WH for years and have for a long time wanted to add the standard. But that price just keeps edging up, and at a certain point it goes beyond my comfort zone.

Would love to try the standard and WH at some point in my life to see what all the hype is about.

[Nochop!]

I'm not usually a damascus fanboy, but Mizuno suminigashi caught my eye many moons ago. Have had the pleasure to handle a few, too.

[Hensed]

I would love to have a Tamahagane Honyaki. If anyone can direct me to a source I would appreciate it.

[enjay]

I've never really had a "unicorn" because I use every knife I buy, and these unicorn-types are often so gorgeous, so precious, and so expensive that I just would never be able to use it. For the spirit of this topic, however, if I ignored the cost factor, then I'd want something with a nice heft at about 225 x 46, perfect size to be grabbed for just about any task.