buzzard767
Sous Chef
* Stamp or laser cut a blank from coiled/sheet carbon or stainless
Without design or marketing expenses, I think the production costs for an outstanding carbon steel chefs knife could easily be held to under $10.00/knife.
Given their margins, I bet henckels and wusthof are not much more than that for most models. Of course their distribution, sales and marketing expenses are huge.
Hitachi Aogami Blue Super Steel costs much more compared to that 440A junk steel.
The difference in price between a quality hand made Japanese knife and the knives you describe is worth every penny.