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Kiritsukes are a status symbol in Japan because they take some time and skill to master. And all masters start somewhere. If you are curious about the kiritsuke style, and want to expand your collection without spending too much, this is a very inexpensive entry for an exclusive knife style. It is also a great knife to practice caring for and sharpening a carbon steel knife.
Weight: 7.4 ounces
Blade Length: 245 mm
Blade Height: 49.8 mm
Spine Thickness at Base: 4.2 mm
Product Reviews
Knife Kiritsuke -240mm, July 18, 2017
Good for beginners , June 15, 2017Posted By: richard - verified customer
The knife is sharp and is low maintenance, the handle leaves much to desire, I'm buying to rehandle so it is not an issue. Tojiro seems to have changed their ITK line. I've purchased about 7 or more. This Kiritsuke and a 270 gyuto that I received are the new style.
The blade looks mass produced. In my humble opinion I believe that the blade is not White #2. It seems stainless, probably VG 10. The blade is no longer clad, it looks like it was "Parkerized" or electroplated with another type of steel. It's not what I wanted, since I wanted to replace the ITK gyuto that I left at the cabin.
That said, the blade has been sharp and stayed sharp, it does not stain food, neither does it rust by just looking at it. I'm enjoying not having a belly on the knife, and it seems to work very well with pinch holding. I'd recommend this a beginner, not to somebody that has a passion for carbon steel. For somebody that knows knifes this is a great way to get a feel for a Kiritsuke style of knife, it would be painful to spend $300 on a style that you did not like.
The knife is sharp and is low maintenance, the handle leaves much to desire, I'm buying to rehandle so it is not an issue. Tojiro seems to have changed their ITK line. I've purchased about 7 or more. This Kiritsuke and a 270 gyuto that I received are the new style.
The blade looks mass produced. In my humble opinion I believe that the blade is not White #2. It seems stainless, probably VG 10. The blade is no longer clad, it looks like it was "Parkerized" or electroplated with another type of steel. It's not what I wanted, since I wanted to replace the ITK gyuto that I left at the cabin.
That said, the blade has been sharp and stayed sharp, it does not stain food, neither does it rust by just looking at it. I'm enjoying not having a belly on the knife, and it seems to work very well with pinch holding. I'd recommend this a beginner, not to somebody that has a passion for carbon steel. For somebody that knows knifes this is a great way to get a feel for a Kiritsuke style of knife, it would be painful to spend $300 on a style that you did not like.
Great knife for 80 bucks!, May 2, 2017Posted By: Tyler Whetstine - verified customer
2 people found this review helpful
This is a nice knife for the price point. It needs some TLC, OOTB edge was decent but you can put a much better edge on it. The KU finish on mine was nice and is still holding up fine in a professional kitchen. Very reactive at first but as you build a patina that goes away. If you are interested in this style of knife or want a project knife this is a great option.
2 people found this review helpful
This is a nice knife for the price point. It needs some TLC, OOTB edge was decent but you can put a much better edge on it. The KU finish on mine was nice and is still holding up fine in a professional kitchen. Very reactive at first but as you build a patina that goes away. If you are interested in this style of knife or want a project knife this is a great option.
Not the same, April 6, 2017Posted By: Gwen M.
1 people found this review helpful
I bought one of the first run of these knives and it has been my favorite line beater for the last couple of years so I jumped when I saw they were available again. In comparison, the handle of the newer knife is considerably bigger and heavier, the blade is thicker the entire length of the knife. The finish is more of a "true" kurouchi but there are still visible hammer blows over the knife as opposed the the old smooth/flat sides. A solid knife but not the same. I much preferred the the lighter, more nimble dimensions of the original knife.
1 people found this review helpful
I bought one of the first run of these knives and it has been my favorite line beater for the last couple of years so I jumped when I saw they were available again. In comparison, the handle of the newer knife is considerably bigger and heavier, the blade is thicker the entire length of the knife. The finish is more of a "true" kurouchi but there are still visible hammer blows over the knife as opposed the the old smooth/flat sides. A solid knife but not the same. I much preferred the the lighter, more nimble dimensions of the original knife.
I can't stop buying this knife, March 30, 2017Posted By: kendall
3 people found this review helpful
This is my third one. You can't beat an $80 kiritsuke, you just can't, even with rehandling it's excellent for the price. I see a lot of complaints about fit and finish but you just need a low grit piece of sand paper and a little stone time and you're good to go. Better than paying $300 for a knife
3 people found this review helpful
This is my third one. You can't beat an $80 kiritsuke, you just can't, even with rehandling it's excellent for the price. I see a lot of complaints about fit and finish but you just need a low grit piece of sand paper and a little stone time and you're good to go. Better than paying $300 for a knife
Tojiro Shirogami ITK Kiritsuke 240mm, March 22, 2017 Useful Knife, March 20, 2017Posted By: Dave - verified customer
1 people found this review helpful
The kiritsuke shape is one of the most useful and versatile Ive used. The blade length (240mm) enhances the versatility. The overall length including the handle was a bit more than I anticipated, but the balance is good. I like the belly (height) of the knife. The spine near the bolster is not as rounded as Id like, so if youre using the knife in long cutting sessions, you may rub a blister on your finger if you use a pinch grip as I do. Some rounding off of those edges might be worth your while. The surface of the blade above the edge is not as smooth as Id prefer, which you can feel when cleaning but its not really an issue otherwise. It keeps an edge very well, and if cared for properly, will reward you with useful service. All in all, this is a great knife for the value, and unless you want to pay three to four times this price for a stainless steel version or one that has a little better fit and finish, this knife should be added to your collection of daily workhorses.
1 people found this review helpful
The kiritsuke shape is one of the most useful and versatile Ive used. The blade length (240mm) enhances the versatility. The overall length including the handle was a bit more than I anticipated, but the balance is good. I like the belly (height) of the knife. The spine near the bolster is not as rounded as Id like, so if youre using the knife in long cutting sessions, you may rub a blister on your finger if you use a pinch grip as I do. Some rounding off of those edges might be worth your while. The surface of the blade above the edge is not as smooth as Id prefer, which you can feel when cleaning but its not really an issue otherwise. It keeps an edge very well, and if cared for properly, will reward you with useful service. All in all, this is a great knife for the value, and unless you want to pay three to four times this price for a stainless steel version or one that has a little better fit and finish, this knife should be added to your collection of daily workhorses.
First knife from website , March 19, 2017Posted By: Michael Gross - verified customer
1 people found this review helpful
The knife is pretty basic it's a eye catcher more then useful, it's sharp after I used a 1000 grit and then a 6000 grit stone to sharpen it. now the black part of the knife is coming off when I cut anything which is a real turn off.
1 people found this review helpful
The knife is pretty basic it's a eye catcher more then useful, it's sharp after I used a 1000 grit and then a 6000 grit stone to sharpen it. now the black part of the knife is coming off when I cut anything which is a real turn off.
Bought this knife again.Updated review, March 10, 2017Posted By: kendall R Phillips
1 people found this review helpful
First off, amazing customer service as usual. I ordered this knife Monday evening and it was rehandled and at my house by Friday. I was really happy. It's my 3rd blue dyed tiger maple handle and this one is longer and medium width which goes perfectly with this knife. F&F, while still really rough with the spine and choil being quite sharp, the KU finish is much improved from the last one I purchased. It's not chalky and cheap anymore. It looks a little pretty and smooth for so I'm going to keep it this time. The very end of the tip is nice and thin.
This is definitely a project knife but I actually like this knife better than my Moritaka 240mm kiritsuke. I hate myself for saying it because while the Moritaka beats the Tojiro in fit and finish heavily, the grind of the Tojiro to me is better and you can rock the Tojiro when necessary because it slightly curves up towards the tip. The moritaka is very, very flat, not an all purpose knife. I really wish Tojiro made a kiritsuke in a 210mm with the same 50mm height. I can dream
1 people found this review helpful
First off, amazing customer service as usual. I ordered this knife Monday evening and it was rehandled and at my house by Friday. I was really happy. It's my 3rd blue dyed tiger maple handle and this one is longer and medium width which goes perfectly with this knife. F&F, while still really rough with the spine and choil being quite sharp, the KU finish is much improved from the last one I purchased. It's not chalky and cheap anymore. It looks a little pretty and smooth for so I'm going to keep it this time. The very end of the tip is nice and thin.
This is definitely a project knife but I actually like this knife better than my Moritaka 240mm kiritsuke. I hate myself for saying it because while the Moritaka beats the Tojiro in fit and finish heavily, the grind of the Tojiro to me is better and you can rock the Tojiro when necessary because it slightly curves up towards the tip. The moritaka is very, very flat, not an all purpose knife. I really wish Tojiro made a kiritsuke in a 210mm with the same 50mm height. I can dream
review update, February 15, 2017Posted By: Jake M.
2 people found this review helpful
I did a review a while back when I first got the knife and my only complaints were about the handle (which I've replaced) and the edge retention. If you decide to pick up one of these I would highly suggest picking up a ceramic steel as well, I found that regular metal or diamond steels did more harm than good. I've gone a month of heavy use without going for the stone. This is and will continue to be my favorite knife in my kit, if you're looking for something a bit different for the line or home and don't feel like breaking the bank I couldn't recommend this knife enough.
2 people found this review helpful
I did a review a while back when I first got the knife and my only complaints were about the handle (which I've replaced) and the edge retention. If you decide to pick up one of these I would highly suggest picking up a ceramic steel as well, I found that regular metal or diamond steels did more harm than good. I've gone a month of heavy use without going for the stone. This is and will continue to be my favorite knife in my kit, if you're looking for something a bit different for the line or home and don't feel like breaking the bank I couldn't recommend this knife enough.
thin grind and surprising edge retention, September 21, 2016 Good project knife., August 15, 2016Posted By: Kendall
8 people found this review helpful
Sharp reactive knife but The fit and finish are terrible, the Blacksmith finish is sloppy and rough so I removed it. i also relieved the spine and choil, sanded down the whole handle because there is quite a huge gap between the ferrule and the handle. and now it looks beautiful. Going to finish polishingit up and the steel is really starting to look shiny. the handle is very comfortable now. Don't buy this knife unless you want to work on it. I enjoyed it.
8 people found this review helpful
Sharp reactive knife but The fit and finish are terrible, the Blacksmith finish is sloppy and rough so I removed it. i also relieved the spine and choil, sanded down the whole handle because there is quite a huge gap between the ferrule and the handle. and now it looks beautiful. Going to finish polishingit up and the steel is really starting to look shiny. the handle is very comfortable now. Don't buy this knife unless you want to work on it. I enjoyed it.
Looks great works great, July 8, 2016 Cheap and great looks, July 8, 2016Posted By: Juan P.
5 people found this review helpful
Yes is true what you have read in the other reviews, issues with f&f, grind, reactivity all is true. However this is a fun khife to use. I have better knives, 2 times better, 10 times better but this one always find its way into my hand. It will teach you a lot about care of carbon knives and how to sharpen.
All in all is an awesome looking knife you will want to reach just for its looks. And the price is good too.
5 people found this review helpful
Yes is true what you have read in the other reviews, issues with f&f, grind, reactivity all is true. However this is a fun khife to use. I have better knives, 2 times better, 10 times better but this one always find its way into my hand. It will teach you a lot about care of carbon knives and how to sharpen.
All in all is an awesome looking knife you will want to reach just for its looks. And the price is good too.
Solid knife, July 6, 2016 great project knife, February 8, 2016Posted By: sean C
4 people found this review helpful
blade - Horrible F/F exactly as expected. sharp bumpy projections run parallel to spine 2mm down on both sides though left side isn't really that bad. (I wouldn't expect this on many of these as its the first I've seen this and I've bought many budget knives!) GREAT distal taper, seriously though. quite stiff at the heel and thins down to like 2mm like a third of the way down the blade to maybe 1.5mm half way and holds that the rest of the way down. nice feeling handle to be honest, nicely treated handle with quite a gap around the rubber ferrule. In all honestly I like the feel of the grippy rubber ferrule much more than I do buffalo horn! (though the horn definitely looked nicer) quite a substantial handle however it fits the knife nicely. I knocked the handle off to put my own on and the tang underneath is nice and flat.
4 people found this review helpful
blade - Horrible F/F exactly as expected. sharp bumpy projections run parallel to spine 2mm down on both sides though left side isn't really that bad. (I wouldn't expect this on many of these as its the first I've seen this and I've bought many budget knives!) GREAT distal taper, seriously though. quite stiff at the heel and thins down to like 2mm like a third of the way down the blade to maybe 1.5mm half way and holds that the rest of the way down. nice feeling handle to be honest, nicely treated handle with quite a gap around the rubber ferrule. In all honestly I like the feel of the grippy rubber ferrule much more than I do buffalo horn! (though the horn definitely looked nicer) quite a substantial handle however it fits the knife nicely. I knocked the handle off to put my own on and the tang underneath is nice and flat.
Great blade, January 27, 2016Posted By: Kevin C
4 people found this review helpful
Got the knife today, very impressive blade. Sharp ootb. If you're afraid to work on a knife then this might not be for you. The handle can be sanded down to the level of the ferrule if you want or replaced altogether. Comes in a nice gift box. You can buy several ITK knives and a stone or two for the price of one Takeda for example.
4 people found this review helpful
Got the knife today, very impressive blade. Sharp ootb. If you're afraid to work on a knife then this might not be for you. The handle can be sanded down to the level of the ferrule if you want or replaced altogether. Comes in a nice gift box. You can buy several ITK knives and a stone or two for the price of one Takeda for example.
Product Review, October 2, 2014 Product Review, June 26, 2014 Product Review, June 22, 2014 Product Review, May 24, 2014Posted By: michael - verified customer
4 people found this review helpful
The best money I've ever spent on a kitchen knife for line work.
Blade heavy, balance point about 3/4 inch above pinch grip. The knife will do all the work for you. It's all the fun of a nakiri, but as usefull as a 10 inch chef knife. The tip is super sharp and works great for triming pork.
This is not a knife that you should expect to be perfect put of the box. You've got to sand the handle, oil the handle, and thin the blade. Sandpaper and stones are a must.
After two months of working on this knife, slowly, it has become my favorite...wish i had ordered it with a custom handle. This is the easiest knife to sharpen!
The knife was hardly reactive until i took of the finish. But, in two days, it was back to being nonreactive.
This is a project knife to be proud of and worth the money.
4 people found this review helpful
The best money I've ever spent on a kitchen knife for line work.
Blade heavy, balance point about 3/4 inch above pinch grip. The knife will do all the work for you. It's all the fun of a nakiri, but as usefull as a 10 inch chef knife. The tip is super sharp and works great for triming pork.
This is not a knife that you should expect to be perfect put of the box. You've got to sand the handle, oil the handle, and thin the blade. Sandpaper and stones are a must.
After two months of working on this knife, slowly, it has become my favorite...wish i had ordered it with a custom handle. This is the easiest knife to sharpen!
The knife was hardly reactive until i took of the finish. But, in two days, it was back to being nonreactive.
This is a project knife to be proud of and worth the money.
Product Review, April 6, 2014Posted By: Jeff - verified customer
3 people found this review helpful
I've had this knife for about 5 months now, and had to come say something about it.
This knife is beautiful!
It came with a super sharp edge straight out of the box, and over the last 5 months has been VERY easy to maintain, with minimal touch-ups.
As an introduction to this type of knife for myself, learning my way around the slight issues with rust appearing occasionally, have been good fun, and not problematic at all.
The KU finish has worn and the knife has built up some great character over time, as well.
I definitely gave it a little bit of attention to start -- I sanded down the somewhat rough handle to make it more comfortable in the grip, and rounded off the spine and choil just a very tiny bit, which really helped make it feel much more comfortable in a forward-pinching grip.
A tiny bit of the tip snapped off once when I was being careless while cleaning it, and rested the tip on the bottom of the sink while wiping the blade down, but was able to sort of re-sharpen the front 'end' and correct it without touching the edge of the blade at all.
I don't use this for mincing garlic, but it's a really nice knife to work with on a lot of different jobs.
3 people found this review helpful
I've had this knife for about 5 months now, and had to come say something about it.
This knife is beautiful!
It came with a super sharp edge straight out of the box, and over the last 5 months has been VERY easy to maintain, with minimal touch-ups.
As an introduction to this type of knife for myself, learning my way around the slight issues with rust appearing occasionally, have been good fun, and not problematic at all.
The KU finish has worn and the knife has built up some great character over time, as well.
I definitely gave it a little bit of attention to start -- I sanded down the somewhat rough handle to make it more comfortable in the grip, and rounded off the spine and choil just a very tiny bit, which really helped make it feel much more comfortable in a forward-pinching grip.
A tiny bit of the tip snapped off once when I was being careless while cleaning it, and rested the tip on the bottom of the sink while wiping the blade down, but was able to sort of re-sharpen the front 'end' and correct it without touching the edge of the blade at all.
I don't use this for mincing garlic, but it's a really nice knife to work with on a lot of different jobs.
Product Review, February 18, 2014 Product Review, July 17, 2013 Product Review, June 21, 2013Posted By: TA Szwedko - verified customer
4 people found this review helpful
I really enjoy using this knife...at home. In a working environment, it's just too needy. It is a fragile knife, but out of the box it was razor sharp and after many kitchen beat downs, it was a breeze to sharpen and repair a few minor dings. As soon as my next order comes in, this knife will be out of my work roll and into my home kitchen. If you need a good do everything in any kitchen this is the blade for you. Sharp, great ergos, ease of sharpening, and handling earn this blade high marks. Its fragility and high maintenance are its only downfalls to me.
4 people found this review helpful
I really enjoy using this knife...at home. In a working environment, it's just too needy. It is a fragile knife, but out of the box it was razor sharp and after many kitchen beat downs, it was a breeze to sharpen and repair a few minor dings. As soon as my next order comes in, this knife will be out of my work roll and into my home kitchen. If you need a good do everything in any kitchen this is the blade for you. Sharp, great ergos, ease of sharpening, and handling earn this blade high marks. Its fragility and high maintenance are its only downfalls to me.
Product Review, May 30, 2013Posted By: Rico - verified customer
4 people found this review helpful
Best knife I've ever purchased, it does need extra attention to cleaning because it is carbon and will rust quickly but the edge you get for the price is well worth it. I sanded the handle and put a dark stain on it; looks great, would definitely recommend for any professional chef.
4 people found this review helpful
Best knife I've ever purchased, it does need extra attention to cleaning because it is carbon and will rust quickly but the edge you get for the price is well worth it. I sanded the handle and put a dark stain on it; looks great, would definitely recommend for any professional chef.
Product Review, May 3, 2013Posted By: Travis - verified customer
4 people found this review helpful
Pretty cool knife. Ive got a few hand me down carbon knives that I am used to babying but this guy is fragile! After one day in the kitchen it developed a few dings and a broken tip but, ootb, man is it SHARP! After banging it up pretty good, I busted out the stones, fixed the nicks, and it's good as new, like a razor. Maybe more so. I must say, if the lateral taper was a bit thicker toward the tip for more durability, and it was raised 5mm, it would be my dream knife. Veg, raw and cooked meats and sushi rolls were not a problem for this dude. Gotta take away 1 star for the durability, but the thing cuts amazing, looks AWESOME and repairs great which is something I've never had to do.
4 people found this review helpful
Pretty cool knife. Ive got a few hand me down carbon knives that I am used to babying but this guy is fragile! After one day in the kitchen it developed a few dings and a broken tip but, ootb, man is it SHARP! After banging it up pretty good, I busted out the stones, fixed the nicks, and it's good as new, like a razor. Maybe more so. I must say, if the lateral taper was a bit thicker toward the tip for more durability, and it was raised 5mm, it would be my dream knife. Veg, raw and cooked meats and sushi rolls were not a problem for this dude. Gotta take away 1 star for the durability, but the thing cuts amazing, looks AWESOME and repairs great which is something I've never had to do.
Product Review, February 6, 2013Posted By: Arthur - verified customer
3 people found this review helpful
This knife was very sharp out of the box and has been wonderful to use thus far. Not quite as sharp as my Shun's, but no where near the cost.
My only complaint is that the picture shows the knife to have a nice grey finish and it came with the dark black finish of the other ITK series knives.
I will buy another for sure.
3 people found this review helpful
This knife was very sharp out of the box and has been wonderful to use thus far. Not quite as sharp as my Shun's, but no where near the cost.
My only complaint is that the picture shows the knife to have a nice grey finish and it came with the dark black finish of the other ITK series knives.
I will buy another for sure.
Product Review, January 15, 2013Posted By: Bob Luhrs - verified customer
3 people found this review helpful
I love this one. It does veggies like no other, due to large blade, very very sharp, excellent smooth slicing with polished results. Big enough to slice whole flat collard leaves in one stroke. With this knife on veggies all you need is a paring knife to peel them. Great great value. Get one or even two in case they go away.
3 people found this review helpful
I love this one. It does veggies like no other, due to large blade, very very sharp, excellent smooth slicing with polished results. Big enough to slice whole flat collard leaves in one stroke. With this knife on veggies all you need is a paring knife to peel them. Great great value. Get one or even two in case they go away.
Product Review, January 15, 2013 Product Review, January 14, 2013Posted By: Nick Jacobs(Nick the Knife Sharpening) - verified customer
3 people found this review helpful
This knife is superb!!!I'm delighted with. Small details (probably requested by CKTG)are evident.
The extra long handle for control..with a finish on it for we westerners ...and the sealant where the blade enters the wood...and the very smooth ,well finished edge(where it really MATTERS).
Not to sound to edgey but I sharpen knives professionally and this one came as sharp as some in my kitchen...very razor sharp!!!...it wasn't necessary to do anything to it. The Kurouchi finsh was grey rather than blue...a bit like parkerized firearms..but very PURPOSEFUL looking. As long as this is(about 10 inches...and i thought to cut it shorter) I find it's a superb cutting tool even for both slicing,dicing and most paring too...and the medium heft to the blade adds a perfect weight to the cuts...which are like butter.The white steel is a wonderful working steel...takes a WICKED edge and is user friendly for easy sharpening(believe me..I truly know (oy!)from my sharpening work!!)..I call it sweet steel.
The price only adds to my pleasure...a fine tool for a super price.. I plan to get another size ITK knife soon. Thanks CKTG!
3 people found this review helpful
This knife is superb!!!I'm delighted with. Small details (probably requested by CKTG)are evident.
The extra long handle for control..with a finish on it for we westerners ...and the sealant where the blade enters the wood...and the very smooth ,well finished edge(where it really MATTERS).
Not to sound to edgey but I sharpen knives professionally and this one came as sharp as some in my kitchen...very razor sharp!!!...it wasn't necessary to do anything to it. The Kurouchi finsh was grey rather than blue...a bit like parkerized firearms..but very PURPOSEFUL looking. As long as this is(about 10 inches...and i thought to cut it shorter) I find it's a superb cutting tool even for both slicing,dicing and most paring too...and the medium heft to the blade adds a perfect weight to the cuts...which are like butter.The white steel is a wonderful working steel...takes a WICKED edge and is user friendly for easy sharpening(believe me..I truly know (oy!)from my sharpening work!!)..I call it sweet steel.
The price only adds to my pleasure...a fine tool for a super price.. I plan to get another size ITK knife soon. Thanks CKTG!
Product Review, December 14, 2012Posted By: Mike - verified customer
3 people found this review helpful
I ordered this knife to try out the kiritsuke shape and also as my first real carbon blade.
The bad things about my particular knife are the rough finish and a very slight overgrind right in the middle of the blade.
The good things are that the blade is just about perfectly tapered so that it is pretty thin out towards the tip while still feeling solid all around. It also is very sharp and easy to sharpen and the edge has held up well so far. I like this shape of knife in general and am glad that this one is less than half the price of almost all other kiritsukes.
So far I have sanded down the wooden handle and taken off the rough finish on the blade with sand paper and forced a patina. It turned out very nice with some pattern and varying color to the patina. If someone picked it up now I doubt they would guess how inexpensive the knife was. When I get some more time I am going to grind the edge down to fix the overgrind, and oil the handle to make it a little prettier.
Definitely not a knife that is going to be perfect right away. But I have really enjoyed working with carbon steel for the first time and I would recommend this knife to anyone who doesn't want to spend a lot and still get a lot of knife that has a lot of potential.
3 people found this review helpful
I ordered this knife to try out the kiritsuke shape and also as my first real carbon blade.
The bad things about my particular knife are the rough finish and a very slight overgrind right in the middle of the blade.
The good things are that the blade is just about perfectly tapered so that it is pretty thin out towards the tip while still feeling solid all around. It also is very sharp and easy to sharpen and the edge has held up well so far. I like this shape of knife in general and am glad that this one is less than half the price of almost all other kiritsukes.
So far I have sanded down the wooden handle and taken off the rough finish on the blade with sand paper and forced a patina. It turned out very nice with some pattern and varying color to the patina. If someone picked it up now I doubt they would guess how inexpensive the knife was. When I get some more time I am going to grind the edge down to fix the overgrind, and oil the handle to make it a little prettier.
Definitely not a knife that is going to be perfect right away. But I have really enjoyed working with carbon steel for the first time and I would recommend this knife to anyone who doesn't want to spend a lot and still get a lot of knife that has a lot of potential.
Product Review, December 6, 2012Posted By: Bryan G - verified customer
5 people found this review helpful
Great blade for the money. My edge was not all that great Out of the box. But on the stones ground and evened the edge and walla. Maybe not a great buy for a novice, or if so, just ask Mark to search for one like Rob got. I use mine in a pro kitchen. No problems with rust whatsoever. Keep it wiped.
It's easy to sharpen with moderate skills (mine) and cuts awesome. I did not think it flimsy at all. Not a brute but not a laser. Great in betweener. Handle and finish is what it is. With some minor work you can get huge performace out of 80$.
Kind Regards
5 people found this review helpful
Great blade for the money. My edge was not all that great Out of the box. But on the stones ground and evened the edge and walla. Maybe not a great buy for a novice, or if so, just ask Mark to search for one like Rob got. I use mine in a pro kitchen. No problems with rust whatsoever. Keep it wiped.
It's easy to sharpen with moderate skills (mine) and cuts awesome. I did not think it flimsy at all. Not a brute but not a laser. Great in betweener. Handle and finish is what it is. With some minor work you can get huge performace out of 80$.
Kind Regards
Product Review, November 26, 2012Posted By: Mike - verified customer
3 people found this review helpful
I bought this knife to try out a kiritsuke without spending too much. I also wanted something that I could practice sharpening and working on without worrying about ruining it. For those purposes this knife is perfect. It does have several issues though that everyone should be aware of.
Mine definitely has the common overgrind problem, but it's very slight on the front middle of the blade. The finish is ruff and the handle also needs some sanding down. I plan on working on all these problems over the next few weeks and we'll see how that goes.
For me, at this price, the knife is really good. The very small overgrind bumps it down a star though. Hopefully after some work the knife will look and perform like a much more expensive kiritsuke.
3 people found this review helpful
I bought this knife to try out a kiritsuke without spending too much. I also wanted something that I could practice sharpening and working on without worrying about ruining it. For those purposes this knife is perfect. It does have several issues though that everyone should be aware of.
Mine definitely has the common overgrind problem, but it's very slight on the front middle of the blade. The finish is ruff and the handle also needs some sanding down. I plan on working on all these problems over the next few weeks and we'll see how that goes.
For me, at this price, the knife is really good. The very small overgrind bumps it down a star though. Hopefully after some work the knife will look and perform like a much more expensive kiritsuke.
Product Review, November 19, 2012Posted By: Dan - verified customer
3 people found this review helpful
I have not enjoyed my experience with this knife - They decided to put a substance on the blade that makes it look and feel porous and this same comes off in the food. It has a solid edge and that's why it gets any stars from me.
3 people found this review helpful
I have not enjoyed my experience with this knife - They decided to put a substance on the blade that makes it look and feel porous and this same comes off in the food. It has a solid edge and that's why it gets any stars from me.
Product Review, August 30, 2012 Product Review, August 26, 2012 Product Review, August 23, 2012 Product Review, August 21, 2012Posted By: Jay - verified customer
4 people found this review helpful
The ITK Kiritsuke is very thin, almost too thin. It almost feels flimsy. Mine came with 2 large overgrinds, near the heal and towards the front of the blade. Very annoying as most my cuts are not hitting the board, and I'm getting the accordion on thicker skinned veg. This is my biggest complaint.
The kurouchi finish is rough and so is the handle. The OOTB edge was fine, but the knife can certainly get sharper on your stones.
Overall this is a $80 knife with a fairly rough finish. Don't expect more than that and you'll be happy.
4 people found this review helpful
The ITK Kiritsuke is very thin, almost too thin. It almost feels flimsy. Mine came with 2 large overgrinds, near the heal and towards the front of the blade. Very annoying as most my cuts are not hitting the board, and I'm getting the accordion on thicker skinned veg. This is my biggest complaint.
The kurouchi finish is rough and so is the handle. The OOTB edge was fine, but the knife can certainly get sharper on your stones.
Overall this is a $80 knife with a fairly rough finish. Don't expect more than that and you'll be happy.
Product Review, August 11, 2012 Product Review, July 31, 2012Posted By: Yanagi Bistro Head Chef - verified customer
3 people found this review helpful
Excellent knife for the money, came hair splitting sharp ootb
geometry is good for push cutting and profile is laser thin
only gripe I have about the knife is the handle is not that great build quality, and has a gap where the steel and wood meet
3 people found this review helpful
Excellent knife for the money, came hair splitting sharp ootb
geometry is good for push cutting and profile is laser thin
only gripe I have about the knife is the handle is not that great build quality, and has a gap where the steel and wood meet
Product Review, July 28, 2012 Product Review, July 22, 2012Posted By: Rob Babcock - verified customer
3 people found this review helpful
Another great knife! And this one had a very good factory edge, too. It's very light with a great profile.
This is a lot of knife for the money! It's hard to imagine how CKtG can sell this one for eighty bucks!
3 people found this review helpful
Another great knife! And this one had a very good factory edge, too. It's very light with a great profile.
This is a lot of knife for the money! It's hard to imagine how CKtG can sell this one for eighty bucks!
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