Affordable ZDP-189 or HAP-40 large knives?

[Juan]

Hello.

What is the cheapest santoku, nakiri or large chef knife I can buy made with ZDP-189?

I don't mind if it is ugly, a unknown brand or an old model, I just need something ergonomic and with a very hard steel.
I already have a knife made with Hitachi Blue steel, it cuts very well but it's medium size and my knuckels hit the table.

Now I would like to get something larger, harder and more rust resistant but it's quite expensive.

Brands such as Zwilling (Twin Cermax) offer some for around $250. Japanese brands are much more expensive or they are sold at eBay and I don't know if I can trust them.

Where can I get a ZDP-189 knife for a good price?

As a cheaper alternative I've found a HAP-40 knife at Aliexpress,


The reviews say mixed opinions about this brand.

Do you know it? Is it real HAP-40 steel and has a good heat treatment?
Would it be noticeably worse than the M66 Zwilling knife?

 

[ridnovir]

There is no way around it, if you want the knives in those steels you will drop some coin. However, look for Zwilling Miyabi line some of which I believe use ZDP-189 without naming it (the hardness rating would be a tell-tale sign).

 

[Bob6794]

ZDP-189 off memory can be a bit brittle so I'm not sure how well that will play out as a kitchen knife.

Sorry I can't offer any other help or input I use a $10 Kai Luna santoku, and I touch it up as needed on my Sharpmaker so im on the opposite side of the spectrum concerning this.

 

[miso2]

In Japan, you can get one with ZDP-189 at $250 and HAP-40 at $100.
Yoshida Hamono has an English web site, so you can take a look.
Some makers may ship knives overseas.

 

[KenHash]

For Yo-handles I think Zwilling Cermax MC66 series are the the lowest priced ZDP-289 knives. They actually built a factory in Seki Japan to make these with the Miyabi line. For wa-handles, Japanesechefknives.com offers a ZDP-189 line called Fu-Rin-Kazan. Some if not all are believed to be made by Sukenari of Sakai so the quality is very high.

For HAP40, Look at the Kohetsu line at CKTG for Yo-handled, and the Akatsuki knives for Wa-handles. I would stay away from those knives
on Aliexpress made in China for now because there is talk on the kitchen knife forums that they may not be real HAP40. Tested knives weren't showing a patina as real HAP40 knives do.

If you want to try a Japanese powder steel, R2/SG2 is far more common and reasonably priced I think since quite a lot of makers are using it. I use them and they have amazing edge retention.