Is this kitchen knife worth the money??

How could it be?

My usual logical test is, "What can this knife do that a cheaper one can't?"

Sometimes (MOST times) the answer is "NOTHING", however, there are many knives that can do a particular task BETTER than a cheaper knife and you need to guage how the increase in performance relates to the increase in price.

But to answer your question I would say, "NO!" It looks like a nice knife, but certainly a solution in search of a problem.

-John
 
Ummm if you can justify the price most definitly.I will just stick with my old hickory set with plain old carbon steel till I win the lottery.
 
Hattori is one of the preeminent knife makers in Japan. They're the ones Al Mars uses to make his knives in Seki. Every one of their blades are designed for function first. Don't worry about it's usability.
 
It is if your willing to pay that much for it. Personally, I agree with blastjv....."no".

Mike
 
"It looks like a nice knife, but certainly a solution in search of a problem."

Ahh, but when you run across that "problem" you've got the knife to handle it!
 
You're not paying for just what the knife can do. You're also paying for much more: exclusivity, craftsmanship, and satisfaction of personal desires.

Don't go down this road, because the next thing that comes up will be why bother buying something more expensive when something much cheaper will do the job. Which always leads to why custom over production. Why Ferrai instead of a Chevy. Why a Rolex instead of a Timex. The fact that custom knives, Ferrari, and Rolex are in business, for such a long time, is that there are people that value something besides whats the lowest cost they can get something to do the job.
 
I CERTAINLY understand the idea of "Pride of Ownership", but I would not put Custom knives in general in the same category as Ferrari's and Rolex's.

One may buy a custom knife because they simply can't find a cheaper production knife that does what they want the way they want it. Or they just might have an idea for a knife that would be PERFECT for them.

I would have say that with VERY few exceptions, anyone who buys a Rolex or a Ferrari does it for one reason only; STATUS (unless they're a race car driver and are racing the Ferrari or some other very exceptional application).

Certainly there are people who buy custom knives for the same reason, but it's not the predominant reason why the custom knife industry exists.

This Hattori does look like a very nice knife, but there is nothing it can do that the same knife made with cheaper steel for $50 can do, except allow you to hear your friends say, "...You paid HOW much for that?!?!?!?!"

-John
 
Well, do I have $1k floating around burning a hole in my pocket? The answer is a definitive "NO" BUT I could afford it if I wanted to. I will likely sell my set of Henckel Poo S on ebay or something. 10 knives and I only use 1 or 2 so why do I have so many???

I did order one of Hattori's cheaper knives and should have it by next week. We'll see how I like that one. This knife is something that would be a conversation piece , performs like it has it's own agenda and will last for years to be handed down through the generations. If I use something I don't mind paying for it. I'm curious if it will significantly outperform his "regular joe" line.........
 
Originally posted by blastjv
I CERTAINLY understand the idea of "Pride of Ownership", but I would not put Custom knives in general in the same category as Ferrari's and Rolex's.
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John, it was a train of thought. You and I can go rounds with the details. For the record I don't own a Ferrai. I do have over 20 custom knives that I use on a semi-EDC basis. I own several Rolexes and I have no reservations about wearing them on a day to day basis. But with regards to the aspect of STATUS, that's the one thing this kitchen knife guarantees, and thus should not be left out of the consideration. Which is what I'm hearing when people start with the "My $50 knife can do the job."

I'm checking into the construction of that knife to see if the asking price is within range for a 9.5" Damascus knife. But if it appeals to CRUZMISL, then he's already taken the price into consideration.
 
I would have to say no, unless you really, really, really want it.
There are many other kitchen available, thousands, literally, a Henkels 5 star knife I think runs around $200, If you want the finest kitchen knife around, great, but that knife is ludicrous.
 
Look at Henkels or Zwilling-Trident(thing that's spelled right). Either would have something close to that for a lot cheaper.

I just buy kitchen knives as singles, rather than a set. Only thing I need now is a small paring knife. My current set? 5.5" chef's, 6.5" chinese cleaver... thats it. Thats all I use in the kitchen.
 
Well, that knife's a beauty. The lines are classic and the length is about perfect for an all around chef's knife. But for $1200 it ought to come with a chef attached to it. Speaking as a former chef, I can assure you that that baby will not significantly outperform any decent $70-$90 forged kitchen knife.

However, if we're talking about pride of ownership and bragging rights to the most exotic kitchen knife on the block, then it's still not worth it. IMHO. Not for a kitchen knife. Have you considered what all those acids in foods will do to the damascus? It'll probably stain like crazy. Then what'll it look like? My non-stainless, high carbon kitchen knives are my favorites, but they look terrible.

Get an F. Dicks. and save yourself $1000.
 
Originally posted by Walking Man
I would have to say no, unless you really, really, really want it.
There are many other kitchen available, thousands, literally, a Henkels 5 star knife I think runs around $200, If you want the finest kitchen knife around, great, but that knife is ludicrous.
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Right -- but why the Henckels when a Cutco which costs half as much will do the job just as well?

I have the former in my kitchen so that when I entertain, someone using my kitchen set might notice, and might say "hey, nice knife --do you like blades?"

=)

It's tonyccw's point again.

Why bother spending $50K for a BMW whwn a $25K Honda will do everything just as well? Why spent $120K on a Mercedes S-Class when a $60K Lexus will again completely fill the bill?

Why $50K for a 'Vette Z06 or $150K for a Ferrari when a $30K tuner Honda or Dodge would go just as fast?

We all place different values on different things -- my wife won't blink an eye to spend a few thousand for a custom tailored dress, but I cringe every time I don my hand tailored tux or even an expensive tie.

Others here routinely carry $400 Sebbies as their EDC -- but I fear losing the folder as I must oftentime change into scrubs for school/work, so my EDC's are around half that, yet, at the same time, I have no problem carrying around a flashlight that's a coupla hundred dollars as an EDC while others are plenty happy with their $12 Photon's or Mag Solitaire.

We all have our own comfort levels and our own perceived level of "want/need."

=)

Allen
aka DumboRAT
 
I do drive a Z06 (ha ha) and don't wear a Rolex but instead a Panerai. I like nice stuff so I could justify the expense. Is it going to make me a weild the blade like chef Tony...probably not, but it is something to look at. I blew $3500 for an espresso machine so I guess I'm not normal.

One thing is for sure, you won't see many of these around. Is this knife made by Hattori himself or one of his minions?

Joe
 
Originally posted by panella
Have you considered what all those acids in foods will do to the damascus? It'll probably stain like crazy. Then what'll it look like? My non-stainless, high carbon kitchen knives are my favorites, but they look terrible.
Click to expand...
Per the website, the damascus is SS damascus:
Blade: Cowry X stainless steel surrounded by Damascus steel forged from stainless steels and pure nickel
Click to expand...
So acid isn't going to be an issue.

Which could also explain the asking price. SS damascus isn't cheap. And this blade takes that one step further by being manufactured in the San Mai construction method, of sandwiching two layers of SS damascus between a layer of the "Cowry X" SS core.

There's no Mr. Hattori. It's a factory. But it's a safe bet that only the highest crafts people are allowed to make these. It's too expensive in material cost of put it in the hands of the average factory guy.
 
One advantage of a 3-layer blade is that you can use a carbon steel core protected by the stainless layers. Why give up the advantage of a carbon steel for a stainless Cowry X-steel? For this price i would prefer a Shirogami, 52100, 1095, 1084 or 1075 core, laminated with a simple stainless steel done by a good blacksmith. If Cowry X is just a average stainless steel you are better on with a carbon one, i think the blade geometrie is very good.
 
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