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- Joined Jan 3, 2010
It's been a fair few months since I last got my Togiharu based off suggestions from the forum. Since then I've been happily using/sharpening it while getting caught up with Real Life(tm). A while ago I asked around for a heavy blade, since the Togiharu always seemed quite light (and still is, after all the slicing I've done with it). I never got around to laying down the cash for a yo-deba or something similar, but always felt a need for one.
Recently, I've been put into contact with a local blacksmith in a Far Flung East Asian country. At 30 dollars a pop he would be able to forge a blade to my specifications. It won't be refined work by any standard, but the knives and tools I've seen from this man have been solid (the man makes pretty good usubas and Chinese-style cleavers). I figured I might see if I can get him to forge a yo-deba for me (maybe even a santoku for the heck of it). This blacksmith, however, is fairly localized and doesn't use fancy terminology, so I need some help.
There's a choice of two metals: stainless, and carbon steel. No telling how hard or how corrosion resistant they are, since he only knows of them as stainless/carbon steel. I'm leaning towards stainless for easier maintenance, however for the yo-deba I'm thinking, he mostly uses steel for that type of thickness. Any suggestions on this?
I will need to be able to provide a blade profile and measurements of what I want. The length and other measurements I can get off Korin or some place similar, however what's important is the weight and thickness of the blade. Weight can also be taken off of Korin, however I haven't seen a place that lists the thickness of the base of the blade. Would anybody happen to have a yo-deba (or even a chef de chef) they can measure?
Coming again to blade profile. From what I've seen all of his blades are Japanese-patterned, i.e. the usubas and the debas look like, well, usubas and debas, with very distinct edges and blade roads. I'm debating whether to just let him do his job for my yo-deba, which arguably has a very Western blade profile, something I'm not sure I can adequately describe to him in enough detail.
Much thanks if anybody has any input for me!
Recently, I've been put into contact with a local blacksmith in a Far Flung East Asian country. At 30 dollars a pop he would be able to forge a blade to my specifications. It won't be refined work by any standard, but the knives and tools I've seen from this man have been solid (the man makes pretty good usubas and Chinese-style cleavers). I figured I might see if I can get him to forge a yo-deba for me (maybe even a santoku for the heck of it). This blacksmith, however, is fairly localized and doesn't use fancy terminology, so I need some help.
There's a choice of two metals: stainless, and carbon steel. No telling how hard or how corrosion resistant they are, since he only knows of them as stainless/carbon steel. I'm leaning towards stainless for easier maintenance, however for the yo-deba I'm thinking, he mostly uses steel for that type of thickness. Any suggestions on this?
I will need to be able to provide a blade profile and measurements of what I want. The length and other measurements I can get off Korin or some place similar, however what's important is the weight and thickness of the blade. Weight can also be taken off of Korin, however I haven't seen a place that lists the thickness of the base of the blade. Would anybody happen to have a yo-deba (or even a chef de chef) they can measure?
Coming again to blade profile. From what I've seen all of his blades are Japanese-patterned, i.e. the usubas and the debas look like, well, usubas and debas, with very distinct edges and blade roads. I'm debating whether to just let him do his job for my yo-deba, which arguably has a very Western blade profile, something I'm not sure I can adequately describe to him in enough detail.
Much thanks if anybody has any input for me!
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