What Japanese Knife Set?

[elise2000]

Hi all

The wife has hinted at a Japanese knife set for Xmas.

Any recommendations? Up to £300 I guess.

Thanks in advance

[21TonyK]

Shes probably hinting at Globals, various sets on Amazon for just over £300. This is okay for the money

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Global-G-636-Piece-Knife-...

Next thing will be something for Valentines to keep them sharp. #romantic

[Error_404_Username_not_found]

Love my Globals. But you really need to invest in a fifteen degree sharpener to maintain them. Or a waterstone and angle guide, which Global will also sell you. If you're as finicky about sharpening as me you'll want to strop them too.
Top tip - don't put them in the dishwasher.

Budget alternative is a set of Zyliss asian style knives. I have them too and they're not bad at all.

[Unknown_User]

Fill your boots - https://japanesechefsknife.com/

I buy from them and they always provide a good service, highly recommended. With such a large selection it’s difficult to recommend any particular set or brand.

[carinatauk]

Unknown_User said:

Fill your boots - https://japanesechefsknife.com/

I buy from them and they always provide a good service, highly recommended. With such a large selection it’s difficult to recommend any particular set or brand.

Agreed, I have bought some very expensive Hattori knives from Koki Iwahara, whom I have dealt with a number of times. Apart from the sharpening I have loved them

[kevinon]

Very happy with my Globals from a specialist, who do sales - https://www.kitchenknives.co.uk

But I couldn't resist a further purchase from https://www.togknives.com, who rarely do sales. But beautiful.

[tomsugden]

I had a set of globals and loved them initially until I used an io shen. I have three io shen knives now that I use for everything, and an electric sharpener which would honestly enable me to shave with any of the knives.

[elise2000]

thanks all.

any thoughts on this?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NANFANG-BROTHERS-Sharpeni...

thanks

[21TonyK]

Have a look at some of the reviews on google, they're Chinese mass produced, laser etched blades etc

[Unknown_User]

elise2000 said:

thanks all.

any thoughts on this?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/NANFANG-BROTHERS-Sharpeni...

thanks

Mmmm, it's a no from me. With quality Japanese knives, less is more.

How about something from Mr Komiya's company? - https://japanesechefsknife.com/collections/shirou-...

I'm very tempted by these two.....

- https://japanesechefsknife.com/collections/shirou-...

And

- https://japanesechefsknife.com/collections/shirou-...

[Lynchie999]

Sous Chef have some decent value knives... I have this one...

https://www.souschef.co.uk/products/santoku-knife-...

[Coneyhurst Blue]

Love Japanese knives - I have over the years been collecting these -

https://japanesechefsknife.com/collections/takeshi...

Amazing knives, quality is superb and they really hold an edge. Expensive yes but worth it.

[21TonyK]

Coneyhurst Blue said:

Love Japanese knives - I have over the years been collecting these -

https://japanesechefsknife.com/collections/takeshi...

Amazing knives, quality is superb and they really hold an edge. Expensive yes but worth it.

Thats a nice collection. I tend to be more eclectic with mine, real mix of Japanese and European. I try to limit my expenditure, as you point out it can be an expensive hobby.

[21TonyK]

OP: Back on track, what sort of cooking does your wife do? Would she by a whole fish to fillet it herself or a leg of lamb to bone out? If something to the first set I linked to is a good balance, it has a general chefs knife, paring and peeling, a vegetable chopper and importantly a flexible knife for things already mentioned.

Too many sets are 5 knives, all the same but different sizes. You only end up using one of them.

The other option might be to buy a good magnetic rack and then individual knives. Much better than a block.

Really depends if she is after functionality or if looks more are important.

[craigthecoupe]

Lynchie999 said:

Sous Chef have some decent value knives... I have this one...

https://www.souschef.co.uk/products/santoku-knife-...

i have something very similar, and use it all the time for all my cooking. ive a couple of other decent knives, and id love more, but not sure what id use one for as this does me for everything.
if youre interested in my 2p, there is no point in buying an above average knife if someone in the house has no interest in learning to sharpen it properly. im pretty slack with my sharpening intervals, but confident i could put an edge on almost anything, and when i do, i find im never wanting for more. as a friend of mine once said, nobody ever looks at a wheel and marvels at how round it is..... a knife has one purpose, its supposed to be sharp.

[Audis5b9]

21TonyK said:

Shes probably hinting at Globals, various sets on Amazon for just over £300. This is okay for the money

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Global-G-636-Piece-Knife-...

Next thing will be something for Valentines to keep them sharp. #romantic

This is a good suggestion for a keen cook.

They are good solid knives that can take a bit of a bashing.

High end Japanese knives will require more attention and care.

[souper]

I also buy from https://japanesechefsknife.com they are proper Japanese knifes, 99% of others for sale are generally made in China from Japanese steel when you dig down in to where they are made.

I 'd much rather buy from Japan.

[elise2000]

Thanks all.

How about this as a start of a collection she can add to?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Global-Cromova-Stainless-...

Cheers

[21TonyK]

elise2000 said:

Thanks all.

How about this as a start of a collection she can add to?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Global-Cromova-Stainless-...

Cheers

That and a decent rack is a good start then look at something to keep them sharp for another time, used on a plastic or wooden board, stored and washed correctly they wont need sharpening for a few months.

[Gary C]

Dont like all these knives with the fake Hamon on the blade.

Also, be careful, lots of sites hide that the import duties are extra.