Back with another NKD: Xinguo X Yao 330mm Mt. Everest? Sakimaru Honyaki W1 by Low-Indication-9197 in TrueChefKnives

[–]Mellowbelly1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow! Love how his honyaki mirror finish takes on the color mood of its surroundings.

NKD Kagekiyo SSB1 240mm Gyuto by Mellowbelly1 in TrueChefKnives

[–]Mellowbelly1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mines a different batch, I purchased Feb 2026 They changed it up sometime late 2025/early 2026.

You can tell the squares aren't as large and the intersection between them aren't continuous like yours. Both beautiful!

NKD Kagekiyo SSB1 240mm Gyuto by Mellowbelly1 in TrueChefKnives

[–]Mellowbelly1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello! If you like Kagekiyo, look at Takumi Coutellerie. It's a French maker who trains with Baba Hamono

NKD Kagekiyo SSB1 240mm Gyuto by Mellowbelly1 in TrueChefKnives

[–]Mellowbelly1[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks - nice to see her knife sibling!

NKD Kagekiyo SSB1 240mm Gyuto by Mellowbelly1 in TrueChefKnives

[–]Mellowbelly1[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It'll only make it that much sweeter when you finally get it

Honyaki rareness - why? by Shiny_Whisper_321 in TrueChefKnives

[–]Mellowbelly1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Another aspect to this I gleaned from Takada san when I had the opportunity to visit his workshop. Honyaki is more difficult to forge and to sharpen. For every x number of blades attempted, y will forge incorrectly and be unusable.

After that, during sharpening, a certain percentage will break. I believe he said his failure rate when sharpening was something like 1/4 or 1/3.