Konosuke YS-M Gyuto 210mm

Performance

This is an absolutely amazing knife, the core steel is semi-stainless at an HRC of 63-64 so has great edge retention.

This does means it will be a bit more brittle than those of a lower HRC but you'll be rewarded for your extra care. Great out of the box sharpness but you could get a screamingly sharp edge with a little touch up.

Beauty

There's no doubt that this one is a stunner, the attention to detail with Konosuke knives is what makes them stand out from others. From the beautiful hammer marks in the kurouchi finish to the beautifully smooth lower blade this will be turning heads. The handle is elegant and the fitting, impeccable.

Comfort

The fit and finish make these knives a joy to use, there's no sharp bits to annoy or rub. The handle is octagonal and longer than a lot of other knives in other ranges, it's also a kind of oval shape so narrower width wise, this is Konosuke's preferred handle shape and it clearly works. Made from enju wood and a maguro wood bolster by Studio Khii.

Durability

This will hold an edge very well with the higher HRC and should sharpen up quite easily, just be careful as the trade off with hardness is brittleness. Keep your technique good and you should be rewarded with a very durable knife.

Ease of care

The core steel is semi-stainless and it's clad in stainless so ease of care should be a breeze. We have been informed that this core steel has slightly more carbon in it than the GS+ range so there could be a slight patina develops on the exposed edge but nothing major. As usual, no dishwasher and wipe and dry after every use.

Value for money

There is no doubt that this is an expensive knife but you can see where every penny goes, it is simply stunning.