Well, I've used it on the line for a couple days, plus let one of the few cooks I trust with a knife use it a bit. Overall I'm very favorably impressed. It's pretty sharp OOTB; that's to say it's about as sharp as most other low-to-mid-priced Japanese knives. It's pretty thin, too, although you'd expect that with a 210mm blade. Fit and finish is okay, about on the level of a Tojiro. Although you can't see it, mine has some spots on the handle where the scales and tang aren't ground perfectly flush. You can feel it, but I don't find it bothersome. And the contours of the handle are a bit nonsymetrical; again, not enough to notice unless you're looking for it.
Now again, I'm talking about a $60 knife. If I'd paid the $115 or so it's sold at on other sites I'd probably be a little upset. F'n'F is nowhere near that of a Shun, and if I paid a Shun price tag it'd be going back already!
Bladewise, though, it seems to be pretty comparable to any of the $100 or less knives. My initial feeling is that it's not far from Shun quaility. The edge isn't perfectly ground (or it may be more asymetrical than I think) but it's very sharp.
I let one of the cooks slice some tomatoes with it and he was very, very impressed. He's no knifegeek but I've let him use my Tojiros to prep in the past, so he knows "Japanese sharp," or at least he's in the ballpark (my Tojo is obviously no Murray Carter or Hattori KD!).
Summary: I think it's a great deal at the price. If the "sale" is still going when I get paid again I'll probably get another one, maybe two. I'd like to try the 240mm and maybe get another 210mm for my brother. I wouldn't mind trying the petty, although there are other good pettys for about the same general price; plus, I don't use a petty all that much.
To anyone on the fence,
I say go for it. A very good knife for the price, and a great option for someone shopping for their first Japanese knife.
