Best Guaranteed Tsunehisa V1 Gyuto 210mm

First Impressions

Wow, the V1 range is light! Really light! It’s almost impossible not to focus on that as the first impression when you pick up one of the knives but we’ll come back to that below.

Across the collection they’re a very thin laser profile with minimal taper and they cut smoothly straight out of the box.

Beauty

Tsunehisa have gone for a simple migaki polished finish and paired the blade with an oval morado wood handle which contrasts nicely and with a distinctive machi gap fit for the blade it’s an eye catching knife without being overly flashy.

In Hand

As we mentioned above, the weight is undoubtedly the thing you’ll notice with this collection. All the knives from the petty to the giant gyutos are extremely light.

Undoubtedly this is because they’re very thin and the morado wood handles tend to be relatively light too so if you enjoy a lighter knife in hand then you’re definitely in the right place with the V1.

Durability

You definitely won’t have any issues with durability, the V1is a solidly constructed and finished knife and the use of stainless cladding around the VG1core means it will be easy to maintain and hone as you use it.

It’s treated to around 60HRC so while you might find edge retention isn’t of the same level as harder steels the flip side is that the robustness of a marginally softer core steel is it’s a bit more forgiving and chip resistant so while you’ll need to sharpen a little more often than higher HRC knives it’s a fair and useful trade-off.

Ease of Care

This is a very easy to care for knife, just follow the normal care instructionsand you’re good to go. We’d recommend aJapanese knife care kit if you don’t already own a stone, rod and strop for longer term care and mantinenance.

A stainless VG1core is quick and easy to sharpen and the stainless cladding means no rusting or patina so if you’re after a low maintenance knife then this is a great option.

Our Verdict

Great looks and value particularly for those seeking a lightweight and thin knife, the V1 offers a robust core steel that while needing a little more upkeep than harder steels performs well at a competitive price point.