A rating of firsts.
First purchase from Cutlery & More; 5 - Painless purchase experience and super fast shipping. Great vendor!
First #2 blue steel knife; 4 - I am able to get this blade very, very sharp with ease compared to just very sharp with similar effort on stainless blades made of A-BEL, VG-10, PS61 and S35VN. I like this steel a lot so far!
First Takayuki knife: 2 - Not very impressed with F&F. Blade was "sharpened" but not sharp OOTB. Choil and spine are very sharp OOTB. Obviously no attempt to do any type of finishing after grinding for shape in these areas. Not a brand I would risk my money on again.