Japanese 'folded' kitchen knives

[Slink]

Im after a couple of japanese knives, and like the look of the folded type, with the pattern on the blade that comes from the folding process.

i have seen a few online, and I have seen www.japanesechefsknifes.com , and to me, even though the blades on the site do look good, I would never order from them as the general shoddyness of the site just screams to me 'SCAM'

so does anyone know of a good website that I can get some fairly good japanese kitchen knifes from, that do not cost the earth.

i dont really want to pay over 100 quid for one knife, but dont want the cheapest sort either, something in the middle in terms of cost, as I am used to using crappy knives that really struggle to cut the fat off a uncooked port joint.

I have one good knife, I think thats a Sabatier slicer 6", and as it got dropped long time ago, the tip broke and I tryed to sharpen it back to having a point, but the metal of the blade is really strong and is quite hard to even 'grind' any off it off to get the point back. and the handle has cracked in two due to being really old, but is still being held in place by the rivets.


TL;DR anyone have a make of japanese knife that they love, and a good website that they order(ed) from, other than the one mentioned above that do not cost an arm and a leg?

[Turn7]

Amazon ?

[Tanguero]

I have nothing but praise for www.japanesechefsknife.com Their customer service is second to none and they were a pleasure to deal with throught. Scam could not be further from the truth! Highly knowledgeable and extremely helpful, even phoning me in the UK from Japan. I would not hesitate to use them.

No association - just a very satisfied repeat customer.

However, hand forged, folded steel knives are not cheap. There are many fakes that are etched to look like the real thing but are not. You very much get what you pay for!

Edited by Tanguero on Monday 24th June 07:48

[grumbledoak]

I think they mean http://japanesechefsknife.com/ They're legit.

I love my Hiromoto HC. Well, the big one. Get one size bigger than you think you want, you won't regret it.

[15peter20]

Can you get to London? Highly recommend the Japanese Knife Company; they have a few shops and will let you try before you buy. Very good service and the difference in quality/sharpness as you slice countless tomatoes is very apparent

[uncinqsix]

grumbledoak said:

I think they mean http://japanesechefsknife.com/ They're legit.

I love my Hiromoto HC. Well, the big one. Get one size bigger than you think you want, you won't regret it.

Yep, 100% legit and some of the best customer service I have ever experienced - I've bought from them about half a dozen times and have nothing but praise. Returns etc not an issue either: on one of my earlier orders, the knife had a very small hairline crack in the bolster: I sent a photo to them and they immediately told be to post it back, paid for the return postage and sent me the replacement before they received the returned one.

By all means go to a UK based seller, but be prepared to pay 2-3 times the price for the exact same knives that they are selling on JCK...

If you want to save a bit of cash, just forgo the folded steel as it has no functional purpose anyway. Any of the cheaper lines on JCK will be be good (Hiromoto, Misono, Fujiwara etc). I've tried a few different ones and they have all been excellent.

Edited by uncinqsix on Monday 24th June 09:21

[dapprman]

Hmm look remarkably cheap, but the only reason I say that is I stumbled across a traditional trade knife shop in Kyoto while on holiday and was shocked to see just how much some of the blades cost - we're talking well in to the hundreds of pounds (I seem to remember some were over a thousand). Also I say blades as you bought the handle separately.

Wish I'd taken photos. Can't remember the name of the shop for any future explorers, but worth a visit and a scare - details of the Kyoto Market are here

Found details of the place It's Aritsugu

[Cotty]

Tanguero said:

I have nothing but praise for www.japanesechefsknife.com Their customer service is second to none and they were a pleasure to deal with throught. Scam could not be further from the truth! Highly knowledgeable and extremely helpful, even phoning me in the UK from Japan. I would not hesitate to use them.

I have bought from them, very good service and quality product.

[Juicetin1]

Out of interest...did you guys have to pay any customs/duty charges on purchases from Japanese Chefs Knives, or were they marked as a gift with a lower value?
Thanks.

[Slink]

i think unless they were sent as gifts you would have to pay import duty as they are over 20 pounds worth of goods.


but would be good to know if you do pay duty

[Tanguero]

I would not ask any seller to lie on my behalf regarding goods value. It is their reputation that they would be putting on the line.

That said, I have never yet been required to pay duty on knives from them despite having the retail value marked on the export paperwork.

[shakotan]

Juicetin1 said:

Out of interest...did you guys have to pay any customs/duty charges on purchases from Japanese Chefs Knives, or were they marked as a gift with a lower value?
Thanks.

I recently ordered from them and paid no extra charges on top of those already settled on their website.

It only appears to be Parcelforce that religiously enforce the payment of Duty and VAT on parcels entering the country anyway. I've had countless amounts of parcels arrive overseas and never been asked to pay any extra charges, they've simply been delivered to mydoor.

[Slink]

I have had to pay import duty with UPS before, never just parcleforce when importing so dont really know.

[uncinqsix]

dapprman said:

Hmm look remarkably cheap, but the only reason I say that is I stumbled across a traditional trade knife shop in Kyoto while on holiday and was shocked to see just how much some of the blades cost - we're talking well in to the hundreds of pounds (I seem to remember some were over a thousand). Also I say blades as you bought the handle separately.

Wish I'd taken photos. Can't remember the name of the shop for any future explorers, but worth a visit and a scare - details of the Kyoto Market are here

Found details of the place It's Aritsugu

They mainly sell knives from the big manufacturers, so you don't see much of the crazy expensive handmade stuff there. There are a few exceptions though...

[Slink]

have seen a few on amazon.co.uk and they range from, utter st (from the comments) to pretty good, but dont really have the money to spend 90 quid on one knife.

and as much as other people has said that japanesechefknifes.com are a reputable source I really dont trust them because of the utter shoddyness of the website, and the of grumbledoak doesnt help much. As I dont really have that kind of money to waste incase they dont deliver.
I know I could use a credit card for some piece of mind for buyer protection but dont really want to go through all the ball ache of trying to get back my money from them.

so in all, are they 100% to send me the knifes after I order them. Its just that, the more shoddy they website the less likely they are to send there goods in my eyes, or that they are more likely to be fakes, if they are as good as people say, they would have improved their website to look a bit more professional. as I have done IT at collage and could nock up a better website in about a hour or 2 with all the content says shoddy to me.

but if people have said that they have ordered from them before and the knifes are good quality might give me a bit of piece of mind.

[uncinqsix]

Slink said:

have seen a few on amazon.co.uk and they range from, utter st (from the comments) to pretty good, but dont really have the money to spend 90 quid on one knife.

and as much as other people has said that japanesechefknifes.com are a reputable source I really dont trust them because of the utter shoddyness of the website, and the of grumbledoak doesnt help much. As I dont really have that kind of money to waste incase they dont deliver.
I know I could use a credit card for some piece of mind for buyer protection but dont really want to go through all the ball ache of trying to get back my money from them.

so in all, are they 100% to send me the knifes after I order them. Its just that, the more shoddy they website the less likely they are to send there goods in my eyes, or that they are more likely to be fakes, if they are as good as people say, they would have improved their website to look a bit more professional. as I have done IT at collage and could nock up a better website in about a hour or 2 with all the content says shoddy to me.

but if people have said that they have ordered from them before and the knifes are good quality might give me a bit of piece of mind.

Well, I've bought from them on seven separate occasions and each time the knives have been dispatched next working day and delivered within a week. I would say that they are 100% good to deliver what you order, and their reputation online will attest to that. The knives are not fakes, but high quality brands that are used by professional and home cooks in Japan. I have bought Hattori, Hiromoto, Misono and Fujiwara knives (for myself and as gifts for others). They have all been superb quality, and I would recommend any of them. Some of mine have been in daily use for 10 years and have more than proved themselves in that time.

Yes, the website is dodgy and it's odd that they still persist with it. However, the people behind it are anything but dodgy.

[grumbledoak]

You big fairy! The was for not checking the URL, to which I'll also add: .

If they'd ripped me off I would have said (subtly, obviously). I've had three knives from them. Very much legit and professional. I didn't get any customs surcharges either.

[bga]

I'm another happy customer of that website. I've not paid duty on anything so far.

[Tanguero]

Slink said:

have seen a few on amazon.co.uk and they range from, utter st (from the comments) to pretty good, but dont really have the money to spend 90 quid on one knife.

and as much as other people has said that japanesechefknifes.com are a reputable source I really dont trust them because of the utter shoddyness of the website, and the of grumbledoak doesnt help much. As I dont really have that kind of money to waste incase they dont deliver.
I know I could use a credit card for some piece of mind for buyer protection but dont really want to go through all the ball ache of trying to get back my money from them.

so in all, are they 100% to send me the knifes after I order them. Its just that, the more shoddy they website the less likely they are to send there goods in my eyes, or that they are more likely to be fakes, if they are as good as people say, they would have improved their website to look a bit more professional. as I have done IT at collage and could nock up a better website in about a hour or 2 with all the content says shoddy to me.

but if people have said that they have ordered from them before and the knifes are good quality might give me a bit of piece of mind.

That has already been said several times - grow up & stop being such a tt. Oh, and if you cant afford more than £90 for a blade then you will not be in the market for a good one anyway.

[Animal]

John Neeman Tools - maybe a bit pricey though?