****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I have quite a few of the high-end expensive knives such as Shun, Wustoff, etc, and have found that many of the high-end knives are more expensive because you are paying for a known brand. As I have learned more about kitchen knives, I have found that it is more important to pay attention to the materials the knives are made of, the content of the materials, the manufacturing processes used to produce the knife, and the angle of the blade. Since I am an avid cook, my knives and their quality is important to me. So, I am always on the lookout for new knives that meet my qualifications.This is a knife that meets all of my qualifications and then some. - It has the 10-15 degree blade angle maintained by Asian knives that is much sharper than the blade angle of European and American knives. - It is made of VG-10 steel that results in a harder sharper blade that holds the sharpness much longer than other steels and resists staining and rust. - It is a Damascus steel that increases the hardness and sharpness of the blade. - It is also important to consider the carbon, chromium, and cobalt content of the steel as these add to the hardness and structure of the metal which helps to increase time the blade will hold sharpness, resistance to breakage, resistance to rust, etc. I won't get into the details of these as more info can easily be found on the internet.This knife comes boxed in a very attractive sleeved box that make it perfect for a gift. Since I bought this knife for myself, I won't keep the box, but I do appreciate the supplied protective sleeve. If you keep your knives in a drawer as I do, it's important to protect the blades from damage. In the past for my more expensive knives, I have had to buy protective sleeves separately. So I do appreciate that a sleeve is supplied with this knife. I also like the finger protector that is supplied since I tend to cut myself when I am in a hurry. The finger protector has an adjustable holder for your middle finger on the back so it fits your finger. With this protector, you can do fast consecutive cuts without worrying about cutting your fingers. The weight of the knife feels good in my hand, and the handle is comfortable. In addition to being made very well, I think the handle is very attractive.I have been using this knife almost daily for over a month, and I couldn't be happier with it. It is excellent for slicing even delicate foods such as tomatoes, and is a dream for chopping. As yet, I haven't had to sharpen it and it cuts as well as it did the day I got it.Update 05/20/19:I have had this knife for about 2 1/2 months and use it daily. It has quickly become my go-to chef's knife. As yet, I haven't had to sharpen it, and it's still sharper than some of the knives I have bought more recently. I highly recommend this knife, and am sure it is one you will not be disappointed in.UPDATE 2/21/21:I have been using this knife daily for 2 years, and have had to sharpen it only 3-4 times because I prefer a very sharp knife. I have used it for slicing, chopping, dicing, and mincing, and it has never disappointed me. This has become the knife I use most often other than a couple of specialty knives I have. I would still highly recommend this knife.I hope this review was helpful for you, and I will update this review as to how it holds up over time.
