New choil on the Kohetsu HAP40
- ChefKnivesToGo
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New choil on the Kohetsu HAP40
A customer did this with a dramel. I love the way it looks. I'm considering updating the Kohetsu but thought I would run it by my focus group.
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Re: New choil on the Kohetsu HAP40
I think it's neat. It's an element that draws me to TF until I see the price tag. This feature would make Kohetsu more compelling to me at least.
- mauichef
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Re: New choil on the Kohetsu HAP40
Not a fan personally. But I can see the potential commercial benefits.
- Jeff B
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Re: New choil on the Kohetsu HAP40
I'm with Ray on this one, I'm not a fan but I can see the appeal to some. You do have to be more conscious of the heel when it comes to finger notches, it will bite you...
If God wanted me to be a vegetarian he wouldn't have made animals taste so good.
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Re: New choil on the Kohetsu HAP40
I think it’s appeal is more in the vg-10 Damascus quality home cook with some flash demographic... I’m all for more knives with more nuance; however, I’d keep the kohetsu line the going with the no nonsense, pure performance utilitarian aesthetic. How much would this affect pricing?
- ronnie_suburban
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Re: New choil on the Kohetsu HAP40
Modifying a choil in this way (including its size and exact position) seems to be mostly an issue of personal preference. As others have said, you're likely to find some who like it and some who don't. If it's not a one-size-fits-all situation, that could muddy the issue.
=R=
Half of cooking is thinking about cooking.
Half of cooking is thinking about cooking.
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Re: New choil on the Kohetsu HAP40
I got a Wa Denka with the notch because I thought it looked cool, despite reading others opinions it makes more sense with the yo handles. After using my Denka For a bit I think for me the notch isn’t ideal with the wa-handle. I feel like I lose a bit of precision control with my index finger in the pinch grip with the notch putting the contact point a bit further away from the rest of my grip on the handle. I could see how this would be less of an issue on a yo handle. Also for someone with larger hands it may not be an issue.
Can’t deny it looks super cool though
Can’t deny it looks super cool though
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Re: New choil on the Kohetsu HAP40
It's easy enough for the end customer to do themselves, so I would vote for leaving it as is. I find I need to pay a lot more attention to the heel with the finger notch on the knife.
Re: New choil on the Kohetsu HAP40
I find it looks cool, yes, but after having experienced something similar on the 240 Dauvua, I'd say that
a) it significantly shortens the usable blade length
b) it's not as comfortable as it looks, and certainly didn't feel like I had an advantage with it.
That being said, I could imagine how a 270 could bear it well, or alternatively, a very tall nakiri/cleaver style would fly.
Also, the kohetsu line really is proudly no-nonsense lines, no?
a) it significantly shortens the usable blade length
b) it's not as comfortable as it looks, and certainly didn't feel like I had an advantage with it.
That being said, I could imagine how a 270 could bear it well, or alternatively, a very tall nakiri/cleaver style would fly.
Also, the kohetsu line really is proudly no-nonsense lines, no?
“If we conquer our passions it is more from their weakness than from our strength.”
― François de La Rochefoucauld
― François de La Rochefoucauld
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Re: New choil on the Kohetsu HAP40
Interesting perspectives here... sounds like there's a couple of customer groups that this would affect. For those that are attracted to the coolness, this could be a thing that attracts people, BUT when people receive it and use it they they may find it's less of a benefit than they had hoped (or get nipped). I guess this could lead to a higher return rate. For others that just want pure function, I can see the argument on how it reduces blade length too, so I could see how that might lessen demand within that group. Sends like this risks outweigh the benefits to me, based on what I'm reading here at least.
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Re: New choil on the Kohetsu HAP40
I think the knife in the image looks great. But I don't see work of that quality too frequently. TF notches, for example, seem to have no sense of fit.
By contrast, the knife in the image has a large, rounded area that seems designed to actually rest against a finger almost like a ring.
And that is exactly the problem. The TF is generic, not super functional, and iconic, so it works as visual feature. The one above is bespoke, fit perfectly for the user, by the user, which is why it works as a functional feature. You don't want to copy the first, and you can't easily copy the second in mass production.
By contrast, the knife in the image has a large, rounded area that seems designed to actually rest against a finger almost like a ring.
And that is exactly the problem. The TF is generic, not super functional, and iconic, so it works as visual feature. The one above is bespoke, fit perfectly for the user, by the user, which is why it works as a functional feature. You don't want to copy the first, and you can't easily copy the second in mass production.
~J
Comments: I'm short, a home cook, prefer lighter, thinner blades, and have tried dozens of brands over the years.
Comments: I'm short, a home cook, prefer lighter, thinner blades, and have tried dozens of brands over the years.
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Re: New choil on the Kohetsu HAP40
[quote=Alwayzbakin post_id=117046 time=1607846867 user_id=6429]
I feel like I lose a bit of precision control with my index finger in the pinch grip with the notch putting the contact point a bit further away from the rest of my grip on the handle.
Sorry I just realised I meant I loose the fine control I get with my middle finger on the choil. Duh, my index finger goes on the side of the knife!
I feel like I lose a bit of precision control with my index finger in the pinch grip with the notch putting the contact point a bit further away from the rest of my grip on the handle.
Sorry I just realised I meant I loose the fine control I get with my middle finger on the choil. Duh, my index finger goes on the side of the knife!
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Re: New choil on the Kohetsu HAP40
I like it as long as the notch and choil were polished or sanded smooth. I have a T-F Nashiji where the spline and chiol were too rough and I had to sand them to take off the rough edge. I also won't pay the price for a T-F Denka.
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Re: New choil on the Kohetsu HAP40
I'm not a fan of it, either. Don't like the way it looks, and I can see the exaggerated backsweep on the blade causing problems, especially since none of my other knives have that. I'd pass.