Knives are an essential part of every kitchen. Just as important as having a good collection is, it’s vitally important to know which knives you need. Each knife has a different degree of sharpness and a design that suits specific applications better than others.
One of the world’s very best manufacturers is undoubtedly Miyabi, and we’ll be looking at two of their most popular options. Our comparison between the Miyabi FC61 vs. VG10 knives has everything that you need to know to pick the best chef’s knife coming up.
Miyabi FC61 Vs. VG10 Comparison
| Miyabi FC61 | Miyabi VG10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Names | Miyabi FC61, Miyabi FC61 Evolution, Zwilling J.A. Henckels’s Miyabi Evolution | Miyabi VG10, Miyabi VG10 Kaizen, Zwilling J.A. Henckels’s Miyabi Kaizen |
| Definition | Japanese Chef's Knife Made From FC61 Steel | Japanese Chef's Knife Made From Damascus Steel |
| Uses | Rocking & Chopping Cuts - Slicing, Chopping, Dicing, Mincing | Slicing, Chopping, Dicing, Mincing | Excels At Extremely Thin Slicing |
| Composition | FC61 Fine Carbide Steel | Damascus Blade Forged From 64 Layers Of Steel |
| Length | 6.5-Inch, 8-Inch, 9.5-Inch | 8-Inch |
| Layers | One Single Layer | 64 Layers, 32 Per Side |
| Hardness | 61 Rockwell Hardness | 60 Rockwell Hardness |
| Sharpness | Scalpel Sharpness | 9° - 12° Edge On Both Sides. | Scalpel Sharpness | 9.5° - 12° Edge On Both Sides |
| Handle | Triple-Riveted Polyoxymethylene Crystalline Thermoplastic Handle | Triple Riveted Black Linen Micarta Handle With Mosaic Pin |
| Benefits | Mirror Polished Blade, Ultra-Light Knife Design, Limited Lifetime Warranty | Excellent Blade For Thin Slices From Wide Cuts Of Meat, Limited Lifetime Warranty, Traditional Handle |
| Affordability | $179.99 To $225 | $179.99 To $225 |
Miyabi FC61 Vs. VG10
Mid-range chef’s knives don’t get better than the Miyabi FC61 and the VG10. Each is considered to be among the best in its class.
Despite both being chef’s knives, each is subtly different, offering specific advantages, and we’ll be taking a look at all these core differences to help guide your purchase.
Miyabi FC61
Time and time again, the Miyabi FC61 Evolution has been chosen by those looking for superior cutting performance, durability, and comfort.
Names
The Miyabi FC61 is known by its steel descriptor, ‘FC61,’ and is termed Zwilling J.A. Henckels’s Miyabi Evolution as well.
Definition
The most basic description for a Miyabi FC61 is that it’s basically a Japanese chef’s knife that’s made from FC61 steel that utilizes a combination of superior German engineering and world-famous Japanese steel to form an ultra-durable ultra-sharp chef’s knife.
Uses
A chef’s knife like the Miyabi Evolution FC61 is easily one of the most versatile knives in the kitchen. This design excels at rocking cuts and chopping, remaining comfortable throughout. The Miyabi FC61 is ideal for slicing, chopping, dicing, and mincing.
Composition
Each FC61 chef’s knife is made from FC61 fine carbide steel, which is ice-hardened into a FRUIDURx2 blade. There are no less than one-hundred steps involved in making each knife, which totals to a forty-two-day hand-crafted process.
Length
Each Miyabi FC61 has a 9.5-inch blade length. The FC61 is 1.5-inches longer than the Miyabi VG10. The 9.5-inch is the standard size that most retailers stock. However, 6.5-inch and 8-inch Miyabi Evolution are also available.
Layers
The entire knife is crafted from a single piece of fine carbide steel, thereby meaning that the FC61 is one solid layer. Without multiple layers, the single-cut knife design means that the Miyabi FC61 is harder to sharpen than the VG10.
Hardness
The Miyabi Evolution FC61 has a Rockwell hardness rating of 61. An average chef’s knife has around 50 hardness, whereas the hardest knives available are rated 65.
Sharpness
Each FC61 blade is dry-sharpened, which grants it sharpness comparable to a scalpel. The blade angle falls between 9 and 12° on both sides.
Handle
An ergonomic triple-riveted Polyoxymethylene crystalline thermoplastic handle with hardness and density just below aluminum is fitted to each Miyabi evolution.
It repels water while granting an aesthetic that resembles natural wood, just with far better slip resistance, grip, and durability. Even though the handle looks similar to the VG10 in terms of its finish, the shape is entirely different.
Non-traditional and made to fit the shape of your hand, it’s a vastly improved ergonomic design that is meant to grant better comfort.
Benefits
The mirror-polished blade makes the Miyabi FC61 an extremely attractive chef’s knife. The Miyabi FC61 Evolution is far lighter than the V610 Kaizen. Purchasing a Miyabi knife comes with knowing that your knife comes with a well-honored limited lifetime warranty.
Affordability
The standard retail price for the Miyabi Evolution 9.5-inch chef’s knife is $225. However, the knife is commonly found at a 20% discount from the supplier at $179.99.
Miyabi VG10
The Miyabi VG10 Kaizen Chef’s Knife is the perfect option for people who want to have the sharpest knives available. It is designed and crafted with advanced hardening technologies, boasting superior Japanese craftsmanship throughout.
Let’s take a closer look at the defining characteristics of this ever-popular choice.
Definition
The Miyabi VG10 is also known as the Miyabi Kaizen Chef’s Knife. Made by Zwilling J.A. Henckels, the VG10 carries a Damascus blade and is made using a combination of Japanese manufacturing and German engineering.
Uses
The Miyabi VG10 is ideal for slicing, chopping, dicing, and mincing regardless of which chopping action is preferred, but the longer blade makes it better than the FC61 at slicing thin slices.
Composition
As a Damascus blade, the VG10 is composed of 64-layers of super steel arranged to create a flower pattern that reinforces strength and durability.
After the core is forged, the blade undergoes four-stage hardening, which involves treatment in a vacuum furnace, quick quenching, and cryogenic freezing to -321°F, making the blade highly resistant to corrosion.
Length
Each Miyabi VG10 has an 8-inch blade length. The Miyabi JKaizen is 1.5-inches shorter than the longest Miyabi Evolution FC61.
Layers
The VG10 classification refers to the 64-layered steel, which is also known as CMV- 60 steel. An abundance of layers, 32 on either side, makes the Miyabi VG10 very easy to sharpen and far easier than the FC61. Even with rudimentary tools, sharpening is effective.
While the exact composition is proprietary to Zwilling J.A. Henckels, we do know that each layer of the VG-10 utilizes steel that’s a blend of cobalt, vanadium, and molybdenum.
Hardness
Once the Damascus blade is complete, it has 60 Rockwell hardness which translates to a great cutting edge. Rockwell 60’s remain sharp for a very long time.
Sharpness
The company sharpens the edge by hand, giving it the same finish as a Katana using the traditional Japanese three-step Honbazuke method. Once complete, each VG10 has a 9.5° to 12° angle on each side, granting sharpness comparable to a scalpel.
Handle
The Miyabi VG10 features a triple-riveted black linen Micarta handle using a mosaic pin while featuring two attractive red spacing components and an end cap sporting the Miyabi logo.
The D-shaped micarta handle, which is slip and moisture resistant, grants a wood-like natural texture that looks utterly amazing while granting exceptional comfort.
Benefits
The longer blade of the Miyabi VG10 makes it better suited to cutting very thin slices from wide cuts of meat and various fruits and vegetables. It’s particularly well suited to cutting a full deboned ham or a roast-like top round into wafer-thin slices.
Affordability
The standard retail price for the Miyabi Kaizen 8-inch chef’s knife is $225. However, shoppers will commonly find it discounted by 20%, just like the Evolution, which brings the price down to $179.99.
Both the Kaizen and Evolution sell for the exact same price despite the Kaizen being a slightly shorter blade.
What Is The Difference Between The Miyabi FC61 And VG10?
The main difference between the Miyabi FC61 and the VG10 is that the Miyabi FC61 Evolution is a lighter, longer chef’s knife that is forged from a single piece of fine carbide steel that utilizes a non-traditional ergonomic handle, whereas the shorter Miyabi VG10 Kaizen is made using 32 layers of Damascus steel on either side while incorporating a traditional Japanese D-shaped handle.
Which Is Best Between Miyabi FC61 Vs. VG10?
You will look long and hard to find a long tang chef’s knife that compares to either the Miyabi FC61 Kaizen or the VG10 Evolution. However, the better option largely depends on which design you prefer between the two.
Traditionalists will prefer the aesthetic and handle of the shorter Kaizen. However, the superior composition, lighter weight, and longer blade of the Evolution make it the better choice for most cooks.
