Well the Yazakihiko will finally be headed home probably tomorrow. After getting rid of that horrendous edge that Steve put on the knife
I had a much different experience with the knife. Kidding Steve, my early disappointments were more user error than anything. After a night playing with some potatoes, onions and carrots I got to know the knife much better. G&G with a little exaggeration of the first G
makes a big difference with this knife. Amazing how a little technique adjustment can totally change the performance of a knife.
She likes to rough house a little too and doesn't care to be babied, that's not how she's built. I really like the lower tip on this knife, it helps not having to lift the elbow as much when using the tip. Had little trouble with onions and potatoes but it still wedged some on me in taller carrots but nothing I couldn't tolerate. It carved a shoulder roast very nicely.
This knife feels very confident and gives great feedback on the board. I'm not the biggest fan of the undersized handle and the blade is a bit to forward weighted for me, I like a more neutral balance. By the time it got to me the iron cladding was very stable and reactivity was very low.
If you like knives confident, tall and blade heavy this just might be the knife you've been searching for.
Thanks David for throwing me in at the very last minute, it was much appreciate!