How does price come from?

Price difference comes from size, materials and humanity factors. If robots use knives, humanity factors are no meaning. We are human. Humanity factors are biggest reason to increase the value and price.

Functional factors are easy to explain.  

Size

Big one more expensive. It's obvious reason of price differences.

Material 

Aogami#2 + Stainless blades have resistance to oxidize. The maintenance is easier than Shirogami#1 + soft iron one.

There are many exceptions. Sometimes, Shirogami#2 + soft iron blade is more expensive than Aogami#2 + stainless. 

The main reason comes from humanity factors.

Visual

Kurouchi(Black surface) is simplest outlook of knives. Black color comes from heating process. 

Other surface such as Nashiji, Tsuchime, layered are kind of decoration. Layered (Damascus) patterns are popular. There are some arguments about function of Tsuchime and layered. Tsuchime pattern avoid sticking foods on the blade. Layered blade is not easy to bend.

In my opinion, there are almost no differences in functionality. Main difference is just visual.

Tsuchime and layered (Damascus) patterns are more expensive generally.

 

Handles

In the past, there are not many options of handles. Blade is important for cutting. People didn't care about handles. 

Now there are many type of handles in the knife industry. Some people pay attention to handles more than blades. Using buffalo horn or western style handle are more expensive.

It's difficult to talk what is better. I believe It's a personal preference. 

 

Details

Details of work are mysterious. It’s difficult to sense it but it makes big difference sometimes for some people. It makes difference in functionality but it’s difficult to prove it scientifically for everyone. This is the most interesting factor of handmade products.

Smoother shape, surface and better forging

It cannot distinguish by photos nor one time cutting test. I can see the difference when I sharpen the knives by whetstones. Better shape and forging knives are easy to sharpened and I feel noble atmosphere. 

Some people feel it, some don't. Some people like it, some don't like it even they know the differences. It's a personal preference. 

Rounded corner

This is the one of the new trend. In the past, most of people didn’t care it. Now some people like it, some don’t care. This additional work makes price higher.  

 

Pricing is not logical. I can say that price is not clear correlation with cutting functionality. Please do not expect that if price is double, everyone feel better cutting. If robots use them, it's pretty much the same. Some people feel it's totally difference. It's a personal preference.

Hiroshi Takeuchi