Japanese Knife Forums/Resources

[poorbadger]

I've spent the past several evenings browsing around checking out Japanese High Carbon Knives online. Of course I know absolutely nothing about them and I haven't found any dedicated forums or sub-forums either. I'm interested in Kitchen Knives but probably more so in Field/Work knives (not so interested in Katanas but if that's where I need to start to find my way down the rabbit hole - then so it is).

Anyone aware of good forums, magazines, books you're willing to divulge?

The Kanetsune (http://www.kanetsune.com/) field knives have my eye but I really don't know what's what.

Thanks!

[bh49]

Probably you have a better chance if you ask about Kanetsune field knives on BF
and visit Fred's Cutlery Forum http://www.foodieforums.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=6
to ask about kitchen knives.
I own Kanetsune 8" Gyuto, it is the best kitchen knife, which I ever held in my hands, excellent quality and very reasonable priced @ smikymauntanknifework
http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/prodlist.jsp?Mode=Text&SearchText=Kanetsune&Search.x=12&Search.y=15&Search=1
I am sorry only about one thing that I bought 8" Gyuto and not 9".

[poorbadger]

Thanks bh49.

I was actually going to make my way over to BF & British Blades next. Thanks for the link to Fred's - I hadn't seen that site previously.

Interesting that you responded to this post - it was actually some of your previous posts that got me looking at Kanetsune when searching kitchen knives here :)

I've been on a Raw Vegan journey lately and decided it's time to look for a couple vegetable/fruit knives - for some reason I'm obsessed with the idea of Chinese Cleavers but I think it's probably best if I pick up something more familiar first.

Here's a neat link for Japanese Swords I came across in case anyone else is interested:

http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/nihonto.htm

And one for Scandinavian knives - another area I think I could find myself deeply immersed in at some point ;)

http://home.earthlink.net/~rsblade/puukko.htm

[bh49]

Kanetsune makes Chinese Cleaver, I bought one a little while ago. It is also Damascus, but core is white steel. I sold it on BF, I talk with this person a couple month after that and he was very happy about this cleaver. It is not that expensive and sold at many dealers for about $70.

[girlyMANN]

There is a Japanese publisher which deals in hobby/lifestyle magazines and always displays wonderful photography in them; but it definately helps better if one reads japanese as well.
"KNIFE" is a monthly publication.
There are a handful of knife specific "specials" which do not bare the "KNIFE" masthead.
-http://www.monomaga.net/wpp/shop/category_list.aspx?CCD=00000001&CD=C0000015&WKCD=C0000023
I figure if you trouble sourcing them directly from Japan, try ordering from a Japanese book retailer instead.
-http://www.kinokuniya.com/