Looking for a new knife
-
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2022 1:48 pm
Looking for a new knife
1)Pro or home cook?
Home
2)What kind of knife do you want? (Gyuto, Santoku, Petty, Paring, Sujihiki, etc.)
Gyuto
3) What size knife do you want?
210mm
4)How much do you want to spend?
Prefer to stay under $200 USD
5) Do you prefer all stainless, stainless clad over reactive carbon, or all reactive carbon construction?
No preference
6)Do you prefer Western or Japanese handle?
No preference
7)What are your main knife/knives now?
Shun Classic 6"
8)Are your knife skills excellent, good, fair?
I have no idea. I have no problems slicing things thin and/or evenly, but I'm kind of slow.
9)What cutting techniques do you prefer? Are you a rocker, chopper or push/pull cutter?
I tend to rock or push/pull to try to let the knife do the work. My wife chops very hard and it drives me nuts.
10)Do you know how to sharpen?
Yes.
OK, with that out of the way, I got married 9 years ago and had no idea how to cook. We went crazy in Crate & Barrel registering and one of the things we asked for on a lark was a Shun Classic 6" Chef's knife. It's VG10 steel.
Fast forward 9 years and I do most of the cooking for our family, and use that same little knife literally every day. I've had to sharpen it a couple of times but mostly just try to hone it once a week or so and make sure I'm only using it on a wooden cutting board. It's hit the point where it needs a bit of work beyond what I can do in terms of grinding out small dings in the edge.
Anyway, I like it a lot more than the other basic Henckel knives we have in the drawer from Target or HomeGoods or from relatives when we moved out or wherever, so I decided to get a full size one as well. Imagine my surprise when I went online and basically everyone everywhere said while these Shun knives are OK, they're way overpriced and you can do a lot better for your money!
So after reading a bunch of the threads on here, I think I want one of the Yahiko Ginsan Nashijis and it looks like the 210mm is back in stock. Will I be happy with this, or will I like something else better?
Home
2)What kind of knife do you want? (Gyuto, Santoku, Petty, Paring, Sujihiki, etc.)
Gyuto
3) What size knife do you want?
210mm
4)How much do you want to spend?
Prefer to stay under $200 USD
5) Do you prefer all stainless, stainless clad over reactive carbon, or all reactive carbon construction?
No preference
6)Do you prefer Western or Japanese handle?
No preference
7)What are your main knife/knives now?
Shun Classic 6"
8)Are your knife skills excellent, good, fair?
I have no idea. I have no problems slicing things thin and/or evenly, but I'm kind of slow.
9)What cutting techniques do you prefer? Are you a rocker, chopper or push/pull cutter?
I tend to rock or push/pull to try to let the knife do the work. My wife chops very hard and it drives me nuts.
10)Do you know how to sharpen?
Yes.
OK, with that out of the way, I got married 9 years ago and had no idea how to cook. We went crazy in Crate & Barrel registering and one of the things we asked for on a lark was a Shun Classic 6" Chef's knife. It's VG10 steel.
Fast forward 9 years and I do most of the cooking for our family, and use that same little knife literally every day. I've had to sharpen it a couple of times but mostly just try to hone it once a week or so and make sure I'm only using it on a wooden cutting board. It's hit the point where it needs a bit of work beyond what I can do in terms of grinding out small dings in the edge.
Anyway, I like it a lot more than the other basic Henckel knives we have in the drawer from Target or HomeGoods or from relatives when we moved out or wherever, so I decided to get a full size one as well. Imagine my surprise when I went online and basically everyone everywhere said while these Shun knives are OK, they're way overpriced and you can do a lot better for your money!
So after reading a bunch of the threads on here, I think I want one of the Yahiko Ginsan Nashijis and it looks like the 210mm is back in stock. Will I be happy with this, or will I like something else better?
- XexoX
- Posts: 2218
- Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2020 5:02 pm
- Location: Salem Oregon USA
- Has thanked: 3005 times
- Been thanked: 1039 times
Re: Looking for a new knife
That knife should work for you. Get the finish sharpening (must be purchased with the knife), so you know how sharp it can be. Steve G. seemed impressed by the knife. After watching many Steve. G.'s videos here, he seems very impressed with that knife.
Oh, and welcome! You've now started down the rabbit hole of Japanese knives.
Oh, and welcome! You've now started down the rabbit hole of Japanese knives.
You can blame Mr. Suburban for my being here.
The thing about quotes on the internet is you can not confirm their validity. -- Abraham Lincoln
All steels are equal if you can't keep them sharp. -- Jeff B.
The thing about quotes on the internet is you can not confirm their validity. -- Abraham Lincoln
All steels are equal if you can't keep them sharp. -- Jeff B.
- ronnie_suburban
- Posts: 2958
- Joined: Thu Jun 06, 2019 11:43 am
- Location: Chicago
- Has thanked: 2093 times
- Been thanked: 3506 times
- Contact:
Re: Looking for a new knife
I think you'll be really happy with it. Fun to use, a great cutter and outstanding bang for the buck.jiveturtle wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 2:06 pm . . . So after reading a bunch of the threads on here, I think I want one of the Yahiko Ginsan Nashijis and it looks like the 210mm is back in stock. Will I be happy with this, or will I like something else better?
=R=
Half of cooking is thinking about cooking.
Half of cooking is thinking about cooking.
-
- Posts: 382
- Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2021 9:12 pm
- Location: Louisville, KY
- Has thanked: 377 times
- Been thanked: 530 times
Re: Looking for a new knife
No experience with that particular knife, but that certainly ticks a lot of boxes. I haven't watched the video and there's no pic of the grind profile, but it's a thin knife overall. Would certainly seem hard to go wrong with that one.
That said, there are quite a number of 210mm gyutos under $200 so you really have many nice options.
That said, there are quite a number of 210mm gyutos under $200 so you really have many nice options.
-
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2022 1:48 pm
Re: Looking for a new knife
Thanks for the replies. I like the look of a lot of the knives on here (like the Kohetsu SLD and some of the hammered ones) but this particular one seems to be repeatedly recommended in the last month or two and it looks gorgeous in the pics.
Re: Looking for a new knife
Like you I've spent been reading a lot of post the past few days this is one of the knives I was particularly interested in. I read many good things about
the Harukaze G3 Nashiji Gyuto.
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/hag3gy21.html
In one of the topics someone stated that the blades on the Harukaze and the Yahiko Ginsan Nashiji Hand Engraved Gyuto come from the same place. The Yahiko appears to have a nicer handle and some hand engraving for a little extra money. I spent all weekend trying to decide if I wanted to upgrade the 210 or 240 Guyto I have or maybe to get a 240 slicer. Reading all the topics I could find I came across some topics about shorter gyutos. The closeout section of the store has the Yahiko 180 gyuto with minor scratches at a discount so I placed and order for the 180mm as I don't have anything is that size. I also have a very hard time resisting a discount.
I can't give you any feedback on it as my knife just shipped today.
the Harukaze G3 Nashiji Gyuto.
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/hag3gy21.html
In one of the topics someone stated that the blades on the Harukaze and the Yahiko Ginsan Nashiji Hand Engraved Gyuto come from the same place. The Yahiko appears to have a nicer handle and some hand engraving for a little extra money. I spent all weekend trying to decide if I wanted to upgrade the 210 or 240 Guyto I have or maybe to get a 240 slicer. Reading all the topics I could find I came across some topics about shorter gyutos. The closeout section of the store has the Yahiko 180 gyuto with minor scratches at a discount so I placed and order for the 180mm as I don't have anything is that size. I also have a very hard time resisting a discount.
I can't give you any feedback on it as my knife just shipped today.
Thunder's just a noise, boys, lightnin' does the work - Chad Brock lyrics
-
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2022 1:48 pm
Re: Looking for a new knife
I read the same thread. I considered the minor scratched ones, but I'm pretty happy with my 6" Shun Classic at around that size - my whole excuse for buying is that I want something bigger.
Haven't pulled the trigger yet, might get the Kohetsu SLD instead. My wife, despite being tiny, likes to really chop hard and I'm kind of concerned about how thin the Yahiko is. Finally got her to throw away the plastic cutting boards, though, so it'll probably be fine.
Haven't pulled the trigger yet, might get the Kohetsu SLD instead. My wife, despite being tiny, likes to really chop hard and I'm kind of concerned about how thin the Yahiko is. Finally got her to throw away the plastic cutting boards, though, so it'll probably be fine.
-
- Posts: 1863
- Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2017 2:44 am
- Location: Auckland, New Zealand
- Has thanked: 361 times
- Been thanked: 591 times
Re: Looking for a new knife
Hi there jiveturtle. These days there a few knives that will meet you broad criteria. The Harukaze G3 Nashiji Gyuto is one I recommend regularly. I have the 240 and find it a great all around knife. Really good steel, easy to sharpen, takes & holds a great edge, nice balance & feel in the cut and it's got looks to burn, hammered, nashiji, nice kanji engraving, one of the best bang for your buck knives on the site yada yada yada.zekepa wrote: ↑Mon Jul 11, 2022 8:01 pm Like you I've spent been reading a lot of post the past few days this is one of the knives I was particularly interested in. I read many good things about
the Harukaze G3 Nashiji Gyuto.
https://www.chefknivestogo.com/hag3gy21.html
I also recommend getting the Chef Knives to Go sharpening service upon purchase as that'll set a baseline for you.
HTH
Cheers Grant
Just because you're not paranoid doesn't mean they're not going to get you!!
Just because you're not paranoid doesn't mean they're not going to get you!!
Re: Looking for a new knife
Lol tough choices for you here, but we have all gone thru it at one time or another. Always spend as much as you can and this includes $ for better handles. Get the Yahiko with the better handle than the unfinished Harukaze handle. (unless you like projects...)
As to the Kohetsu SLD I have the Nakiri in that flavor and its one of my fav knives, comes with a nice octagonal handle and a good steel that in my opinion is better than vg10.
And for sure spend the xtra few bucks for the sharpening service Mark offers. Why? This way you will know how sharp your knife can be when you get it. Don't think like many do that knives come as sharp as possible out of the box!
As to the Kohetsu SLD I have the Nakiri in that flavor and its one of my fav knives, comes with a nice octagonal handle and a good steel that in my opinion is better than vg10.
And for sure spend the xtra few bucks for the sharpening service Mark offers. Why? This way you will know how sharp your knife can be when you get it. Don't think like many do that knives come as sharp as possible out of the box!
-
- Posts: 208
- Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2021 10:31 pm
- Location: Massachusetts
- Has thanked: 153 times
- Been thanked: 113 times
Re: Looking for a new knife
The Kohetsu SLD line is quite nice and just like the Yahiko/Harukaze Ginsan line a good knife for a great value. I have the Kohetsu SLD Bunka 210mm and it's slight heavier than my Harukaze G3 Gyuto 210mm but comfortable.
Wilson - Just an retired sushi chef
-
- Posts: 638
- Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2018 11:30 am
- Location: Dallas
- Has thanked: 881 times
- Been thanked: 295 times
Re: Looking for a new knife
I have the nakiri from the Yahiko Ginsan nashiji line and I love it. For a second knife, you will be hard pressed to find a better choice. It looks great, and the line is well made.