Everything Isamitsu

[superworrier]

The iron-clad KU looks awesome

 

[Corradobrit1]

The iron-clad KU looks awesome

And not a paintbrush in sight

 

[miggus]

And not a paintbrush in sight

I don't get it. Care to explain?

 

[Corradobrit1]

I don't get it. Care to explain?

One word. Jiro

 

[labor of love]

Quick thread bump. This is the place we come to discuss how we feel about Isamitsu knives and Q&A. More freedom to ask anything, and you’ll get a plethora of responses. It just messes up BST threads with “how does X knife compare to X knife” etc

 

[Corradobrit1]

Ok, it wasn't appropriate to pose this question in the FS listing but its got me thinking. If that was an iron clad AS Denka with those specs it would have sold immediately IMO. Yet this Isamitsu still appears unsold a day later. Sign of economic times or is it the lack of TF wabi sabi, finger notch etc thats to blame. Certainly can't be the price as a Denka would be a few hundred $$ more. All metrics say the Isamitsu is the same blade (optimized AS HT, inhouse forged) only better, with more attention paid to the grind, profile and especially the handle.
Its too big for me and a Wa which is what holds me back but the specs of this blade seems to be in the KKF goldilocks zone, so it has to be something else.
Just curious about people's thought process.

 

[user 16756]

Ok, it wasn't appropriate to pose this question in the FS listing but its got me thinking. If that was an iron clad AS Denka with those specs it would have sold immediately IMO. Yet this Isamitsu still appears unsold a day later. Sign of economic times or is it the lack of TF wabi sabi, finger notch etc thats to blame. Certainly can't be the price as a Denka would be a few hundred $$ more. All metrics say the Isamitsu is the same blade (optimized AS HT, inhouse forged) only better, with more attention paid to the grind, profile and especially the handle.
Its too big for me and a Wa which is what holds me back but the specs of this blade seems to be in the KKF goldilocks zone, so it has to be something else.
Just curious about people's thought process.

it's also a 260

if that were between 200 and 245mm, I'd have bought it so fast it'd counted as a moving violation.

 

[Corradobrit1]

it's also a 260

if that were between 200 and 245mm, I'd have bought it so fast it'd counted as a moving violation.

I thought KKFer's loved bigguns. Personally speaking I'm a 220-230 kinda guy. We can't all be endowed with big hands.

 

[user 16756]

I thought KKFer's loved bigguns. Personally speaking I'm a 220-230 kinda guy. We can't all be endowed with big hands.

Not sure.

That said, I suppose me being contrarian here is on brand.

 

[blokey]

I’d love to try it if I’m in US now, tho flattening it looks like would be excruciatingly painful

 

[Yoshi]

260 is really massive

 

[labor of love]

I have a 270mm Mab western and it’s a big boy prep beast for sure. If that Isamitsu 260 was a western I’d snatch it up quick and just move my mab.

I had at one point a custom Watanabe 255mm gyuto that was absolutely perfect.
https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/watanabe-custom-gyuto-255mm-bnib.34634/ Photos no longer exist it seems and Watanabe no longer does customs to my knowledge but simply knowing that Isamitsu is open to custom specs makes me want one all the more!
@Corradobrit1 we should be considering 230mm isamitsu gyutos!

 

[Homechef]

I have a 270mm Mab western and it’s a big boy prep beast for sure. If that Isamitsu 260 was a western I’d snatch it up quick and just move my mab.

I had at one point a custom Watanabe 255mm gyuto that was absolutely perfect.
https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/watanabe-custom-gyuto-255mm-bnib.34634/ Photos no longer exist it seems and Watanabe no longer does customs to my knowledge but simply knowing that Isamitsu is open to custom specs makes me want one all the more!
@Corradobrit1 we should be considering 230mm isamitsu gyutos!

I've got a custom 230 western/iron clad/AS en route right now. Tracking says arriving today, but that it's also still in Chicago customs so I'm trying to remain patient. Can post some pics and initial feedback once it lands.

I requested 230x58 and they told me 55 was the top end for height, but maybe that was only for stainless clad. We'll see once customs get done chopping up the hot dog relish or whatever is going on up there

 

[labor of love]

Oh yeah! Post some photos when it arrives!

 

[ashy2classy]

I thought KKFer's loved bigguns. Personally speaking I'm a 220-230 kinda guy. We can't all be endowed with big hands.

Not anymore. Anything over 240 seems next to impossible to sell unless it's a Kono, Jiro, or Yanick/Milan

 

[bearhippo]

Ok, it wasn't appropriate to pose this question in the FS listing but its got me thinking. If that was an iron clad AS Denka with those specs it would have sold immediately IMO. Yet this Isamitsu still appears unsold a day later. Sign of economic times or is it the lack of TF wabi sabi, finger notch etc thats to blame. Certainly can't be the price as a Denka would be a few hundred $$ more. All metrics say the Isamitsu is the same blade (optimized AS HT, inhouse forged) only better, with more attention paid to the grind, profile and especially the handle.
Its too big for me and a Wa which is what holds me back but the specs of this blade seems to be in the KKF goldilocks zone, so it has to be something else.
Just curious about people's thought process.

I would say that it's mainly the economic times in addition to being more niche size-wise. I've been thinking about purchasing a Denka for weeks now but I would not purchase an Isamitsu (despite almost doing a custom) as I personally prefer TF's tsuchime aesthetic more.

 

[Luminaire]

How true to size do they typically run?

 

[tostadas]

How true to size do they typically run?

If they're anything like TF sizing I've had, you can allow a generous range of like 235-250 for a 240mm.

 

[Corradobrit1]

I've got a custom 230 western/iron clad/AS en route right now. Tracking says arriving today,

Did it arrive?

 

[binsed]

Not anymore. Anything over 240 seems next to impossible to sell unless it's a Kono, Jiro, or Yanick/Milan

Or Kamon

 

[BkgGdz]

Mine arrived today
Kiritsuke AS 240mm Iron Clad Fine Finish

 

[blokey]

Mine arrived today
Kiritsuke 240mm Iron Clad Fine Finish

How much does the iron clad run if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[Homechef]

Did it arrive?

Not yet. Tracking did update to cincy (where I live). So at least it’s moving again! Landed from Japan on 9/3 and said it was through customs a couple days ago, then just sat there.

I’m hopeful for tomorrow

 

[BkgGdz]

How much does the iron clad run if you don’t mind me asking?

If you are lucky there won’t be any price difference

 

[jm15]

After about five months, this arrived a couple of days ago:

190mm nakiri in AS with the fine finish option, did not opt for ironclad unfortunately. Heel height is around 65-66cm according to Gaku-san. It’s definitely on the heavier side, with the balance point around the first kanji. I haven’t been able to cut much with it, but it’s ghosted through everything so far.

 

[Homechef]

Not yet. Tracking did update to cincy (where I live). So at least it’s moving again! Landed from Japan on 9/3 and said it was through customs a couple days ago, then just sat there.

I’m hopeful for tomorrow

I’m having such mixed emotions right now. The knife came today and I’d say it’s beyond my expectations. Specs are good 230x53 (230x55 requested). Total beefcake at 310g! Handle size is awesome - I had asked them to leave it a little thicker and it fits in my hand perfectly. Does have more of a continuous roll to the blade vs extended flat spot and that might be the only thing I’d change on the profile.

But the tip…oh the poor poor tip. The knife managed to jump the little handle ledge in the box during shipping and that was not a good thing for the tip…

I did cut up a sweet potato as my preferred tester and it went through quite smoothly - enough to be a commonly reached for blade in the collection. Not as smooth as my 240 TF fine finish, but this is 60g heavier and 10mm shorter.

Here are a few pics of everything. (They aren’t live unboxing shots so the knife in box is how I think they intended it to be.)

I do my knife shopping almost exclusively on bst and rarely order new. Any tips of how to approach with Gaku and Yhuki? I ordered back in Feb and don’t want to send it back and wait another 6 months! It’s not awful, but it is something…I’m not even really sure what a fair remedy is here.

 

[Millertime]

Maybe see if they are willing to reimburse you some $$$ back for the damage?

 

[JASinIL2006]

I would want it to be replaced and re-shipped properly.

 

[Homechef]

Couple quick updates. Thanks for the comments above, helpful to hear opinions from others for sure. I decided because it’s just the tip I don’t want to send it all the way back and they probably won’t be able to claim this on insurance because the exterior box was still in moderate shape - so in true kkf fashion I asked for a discount on my next knife . I left it open ended to see what they come back with.

I did a little work last night. I didn’t take it all the way back to full pointy yet. Figured here is close enough and future sharpening will get there eventually. Also gave it a quick pass on king 1000 and the fine finish bevels were pretty clean. Looks like maybe 1 little low spot.

Lastly, a public apology because I forgot a choil shot the first time around!

 

[labor of love]

I’m surprised that knife weighs over 300 grams! Is the handle overly heavy? The blade doesn’t look too thick.