Knife for my wife

[ChefKnivesToGo]

Hello -

Looking for a knife for my wife, I use a 210mm Gyuto but it is too long for her, do you have something similar in the 140-170mm range? She is petite, and I would prefer something that is not reactive. Im hoping to stay around 100 USD if possible.


Thanks,

David

[ChefKnivesToGo]

Hello David,

Here are a couple I think she would enjoy:

https://www.chefknivestogo.com/mavg1gy18.html
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/yagisahaensa.html

[trancher]

Hey David,

The Yahiko G3 that Mark suggested, is probably one of the best recommendations for your situation. It's stainless, good edge retention, and clocks in right about 170mm, making it more of a gyuto replacement than something on the lower end of your requested range. Because of this, she should find it to be more of a versatile knife than say a 140ish blade.

Looking at the end of Steve's video to get an idea of profile, it should be a wonderful knife for any cutting style (push/pull, rock, chop).

If you have your heart set on a gyuto, you might need to bump up to a 180mm.

Harukaze VG10 Tsuchime Gyuto 180mm
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/sataha24chkn.html

Again, versatile profile for all cutting styles, a more useful angled tip than the santoku. The vg-10 will have a little less edge retention than the G3 though.

If you pick anything up, may I suggest you have Mark do the finish sharpening service. Always a joy to have a knife cutting at peak performance.

CKTG Finish Sharpening Service
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/inshse.html

[billk1002]

Hello David,

Here are a couple I think she would enjoy:

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

I used to own the Yahiko Ginsan Nashiji Hand Engraved Santoku 165mm that Mark is recommending, my wife took it over as her own, I can highly recommend this from personal experience that your wife will probably love it!

[stevem627]

I have the Yahiko Ginsan nashiji nakiri and we LOVE it. It’s unfortunate, but several models are currently unavailable right now. There is a 180 gyuto that would be perfect, but the Santoku is a good choice. I’m a fan of the octagonal handle.

I think this is a great choice, and we’ve owned the nakiri and the santoku from Masutani and they now reside in my son’s house and my daughter’s house.

https://www.chefknivestogo.com/mavggy181.html

[Bob Z]

The Masutani looks good and will be what she is more accustomed to handle wise, but its 187mm blade length, less than an inch longer than your 210 gyuto thats too big for her so Id go with the Yahiko. But that Harukaze vg10 Trancher mentions does look nice. Personally I like Ginsan better than vg10.
Let us know what you pick!

[Joe31]

Hello,

I also recommend the Masutani VG1. It is very handy and quite light.

[Jnani]

It took me years to get my wife to even touch a Japanese knife, and the only one she will actually use is the Masakage Koishi 150 mm petty.

[jacko9]

Hello David, I went through the same situation with my wife and it's exaggerated by the fact that my wife is barely 5' tall. I purchased several knives for her over the years but the ones she's using daily now depending on task is a Konosuke 150mm GS Petty and a smaller 90mm Petty. She tries every now and then to use one of my longer knives but she doesn't feel comfortable using them.

[STPepper9]

I don't know how your wife would feel about a bunka style knife.
coming in at $100 on the nose: Harukaze G3 Nashiji Bunka 165mm
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/harukaze5.html

and at $115: Yahiko Ginsan Nashiji Hand Engraved Bunka 175mm
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/yagisahaenbu.html

Personally, if I needed one for all around use, I might hit up the Yahiko Santoku from Mark's first post.. https://www.chefknivestogo.com/yagisahaensa.html
otherwise, i'm a sucker for bunkas even though they're not as good at scooting ingredients around the board with the spine (this is where a board scraper comes in handy though.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Honorable mention to these knives that I have not tried, but look like they might fit the bill;

perhaps too long: Tojiro Oboro Santoku 175mm
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/tojirooboro2.html

Tojiro GAI Santoku 170mm
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/tojirogai2.html

Tojiro GAI Nakiri 165mm
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/tojirogai1.html


good luck in your search

[mjgillen]

I bought this Mac Santoku and my wife likes it.

https://www.chefknivestogo.com/macsu65insak.html

I also bought her these and she likes them too.

130mm Petty
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/fucunape13.html

180mm Gyuoto
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/fucunagy18.html