Recommendation? Wa-handle on a Western Blade

[honingblades]

Quick question.

I don't see this much (if ever) and i'm guessing maybe there is a reason, but my brother likes the look of the wa-handle, but prefers the cutting motion of a western blade (rocking motion vs. forward cutting).

Outside of looks, is there anything that i'm not thinking of here? This will be basic home use. He wouldn't even be breaking down a chicken.

Only thing I was thinking is maybe the stress of the rocking motion on the tang area, but wasn't sure how real this was for a typical home use knife.

 

[daizee]

There's no problem with a wa handle on a western-ground blade.
The differences in cutting motion are irrelevant vs. the tang attachment. As long as the tang is well-seated (and/or pinned), heat-treated, and sealed at the joint, I don't see any issues unless he's swinging it from his shoulder at a frozen ham. If he's doing that, a micarta or G10 bolster is called for.

 

[Cushing H.]

I dontsee any problem either. The gyuto blade is not a traditional japanese style ... it is a recent reaction of the japanese market to the western chefs knife ... it is basically a chefs knife with a wa handle (as is the petty a japanese take on the western utility knife)...

 

[John mc c]

If you are worried about how they are constructed but like the wa shape make a full tang wa,this is what I do for same reasons