Seizo Imai knives

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Brutus013

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Does anyone have any experience with Seizo Imai knives? I've already bolstered my spirit enough to spend $300 on a knife, but I've decided against the Sebenza. The aesthetics just don't appeal to me that greatly. However, there's some knives by a Japanese maker (Seizo Imai, if you hadn't guessed), that look great. Here are the ones I'm interested in:

http://www.japaneseknifedirect.com/ImaiSI-100Series.html

Any experience would be great, as would pictures/videos, or some reviews.
 
They look nice, but if you were looking for knives in the vein or the Sebenza, are you sure you'll be satisfied with a traditional style knife?
 
I can't really tell you anything about these.

Seems he's into replica work, Loveless/Jess Horn/ and Remington knives.
 
babakanoosh45 said:
Some of the most beautiful knives made are of traditional design...;)
Click to expand...

I agree and disagree. There are beautiful traditional designs out there, including the ones the OP is looking at, but I see the beauty in many tactical knives as well.

But what I suppose I was mentioning to the OP is this: originally you were shopping for an SUV so to speak - now you're looking at a roadster. I'm simply advising you to know what you really want/need here, rather than you simply buying what catches your eye while the money's in hand. Also consider future purchases - not to sway you, I'm just using a metaphor of sorts: if you go to the lot to buy an SUV, and end up going home with a roadster - with plans of buying the SUV at a later date - well, until you get the SUV you can't take the hypothetical kids much of anywhere; if you get the SUV first, then you can take care of that business while waiting for the roadster.

So if you need/strongly prefer a knife with one-hand opening/closing, it would make more sense to get that type of knife first, as I think then the wait for the next knife would be easier.
 
I'm obviously not buying the knife on aesthetics alone, and I'm not discounting the Sebenza because of aesthetics alone. There are plenty of other reasons I'm not getting a Sebenza at this point, but I didn't want to gte into them too much.
 
I've seen some of his works in person. Very well-made I think.
I'm particularly impressed with his Gerber HSS Folding Hunter replica.
Those you mentioned in the OP look also great though.
 
I don't have any of Seizo's work, but from my experience, most makers from Seki City turn out a darn fine knife for the money.

You'll be hard pressed to find a knife that has the level of fit and finish, is sharper (and heat treated correctly) for the money.

It all depends on what you're after. If you're after beauty, go with Seizo's folder .... if you're after something you can beat up, don't mind it getting scratched, etc. then the Sebenza ..... although I do wish CRK would go back to BG42 for the blade steel. :)
 
If Imai's knives were for my budget, I'd had no doubts for buying them!
They are very beautifully finished and polished, so I'd say they would fit gentleman carry much more better than robust use.
 
Everything pointing to a quality knife, even for the price, is good. I don't use my folders hard, so a gentlemanly knife is perfect. Have any of you actually handled some of his work?
 
Yes, I have the little horn with a plain blade and ivory scales. It is a beautiful knife, very well made and finished. I wish the blade was polished, though. I've used it at the office to cut fruit in the lunch room and got compliments even from the non-knife people. It's that kind of knife. But the price precludes me from using it for tough jobs, although I think it would do as well as any other knife. Thums up.
 
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