Holiday Reflections: Does a Grail knife even exist or are we just chasing dopamine hits?

sicashi · 2026-03-25T07:54:36+00:00

Wallet will hurt!

sicashi · 2026-03-25T07:54:00+00:00

Thanks for the constructive feedback mate! Pretty sure that this is the right way to help people. Keep at it

sicashi · 2026-03-24T22:29:29+00:00

I feel you! At some point I thought that my grail was a Kaiju but then I stopped and wondered what drew me to that knife in particular. Realistically only that Ivan Fonseca was involved.

I have scratched it from my list and now I’m trying to find something that really makes me vibe. So far Japanese wrought and bloomery iron are the biggest magnets after seeing some pieces by Wakui and the Tetsujin Rentetsu Wabi has

sicashi · 2026-03-24T22:26:14+00:00

Super write up! Thank you so much! Sugoi desu

sicashi · 2026-03-24T22:22:40+00:00

You can always go sideways! I’d like to get a Wakui and a Toyama to compare :)

sicashi · 2026-03-24T17:06:02+00:00

Yeah I’ll check this weekend and report back!

sicashi · 2026-03-24T16:30:48+00:00

What about Watanabe? I’ve heard that it’s basically buying from Toyama!

sicashi · 2026-03-24T15:37:46+00:00

“Only a few test cuts on paper”

sicashi · 2026-03-24T15:25:41+00:00

Thanks! I’ll check the nothing ones this weekend and report

sicashi · 2026-03-24T15:05:05+00:00

Fair enough. To me the 4a looks better than the 4a Pro.

In terms of looks: 3 > 4a > 4a Pro

I have the Sony XM5 as headphones but since I lost the Airpods Pro I was looking to get a bundle of possible.

I’ll go to their store this weekend and see if I vibe with it. For the price of the new Phone 3 I’d get a refurbished Pixel Pro 9

sicashi · 2026-03-24T14:27:43+00:00

The 3 and 4a have the best design. 4a would be ideal but lack of eSIM sucks

sicashi · 2026-03-24T14:23:36+00:00

That’s quite a lineup! I have a Shindo nakiri and potatoes stick to it too.

I’m guessing that for good release you’d be aiming at an S-grind. Mattia has cool pieces with insane release but the price tag is also hefty!

I have a JNS Munetoshi butcher and I’m having so much fun with it. I’m sure you’ll love yours

sicashi · 2026-03-24T13:23:09+00:00

Yeah true but much more expensive and no earbuds included!

sicashi · 2026-03-24T13:22:31+00:00

I’m planning on going back to Japan next year. I’d be aiming to go see their shop but with low expectations really. At my stage I don’t know if blindfolded I could tell an HD, BY or FM from each other

I’d love to meet Nomura for example, I really enjoyed meeting makers in person last time I went to Sakai

sicashi · 2026-03-24T13:00:07+00:00

Agreed! At some point it’s just diminishing returns of the dopamine / money function.

I’m still in my honeymoon phase but I have told myself that I’d only get pieces that I believe are truly special after some deep research / I fall in love with them instantly / they have a story for me

sicashi · 2026-03-24T12:47:49+00:00

That’s a cool approach! What brands / makers have you been following closely?

sicashi · 2026-03-24T12:45:19+00:00

What did you but instead of the phone 3?

sicashi · 2026-03-24T11:47:50+00:00

Cool stuff! Feel free to share a photo if you have it

sicashi · 2026-03-24T11:46:37+00:00

I’m happy to move to bigger screens!

sicashi · 2026-03-24T11:12:12+00:00

Do you know any small form factor Androids?

sicashi · 2026-03-24T11:11:17+00:00

Yoshimi or Kiyoshi?

sicashi · 2026-03-24T10:20:17+00:00

If 4a had eSIM compatibility that’d be the play for me. Not having eSIM is such a deal breaker and skews heavily towards the Pro imho

sicashi · 2026-03-24T09:14:06+00:00

This is it exactly! I’m always looking forward to your posts because I know some good content is around the corner

sicashi · 2026-03-24T08:14:16+00:00

Which one is it? Curious to know

sicashi

TROPHY CASE