Knife Reviews by BLWCHEF

Knife Reviews
1-5 RATING

GYUTOS/CHEFS
HATTORI HD

WEIGHT:7.5oz
LENGTH:210mm
BALANCE: just in front of bolster
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: VG-10 Stainless Damascus Clad/ San Mai
HANDLE MATERIAL: Pakka wood
RC (Hardness): 60

This is a light and nimble little knife with one of the thinnest edges I've ever used (is prone to dings). It cuts like a laser and holds an edge quite well with a RC(60). Very comfy in the hand with nice round handle with a bolster that eases into the blade. The spine is a little sharp but is an easy fix. Over all a great knife.

FIT: 4
FINISH: 4
PERFORMANCE: 4
VALUE: 4
OVER ALL: 4

MASAHIRO VIRGIN CARBON:

WEIGHT:7.5oz
LENGTH:210mm
BALANCE: just in front of bolster
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Virgin Carbon Steel (maybe White?)
HANDLE MATERIAL: Rosewood
RC (Hardness): 61-62

One of my favorites. It is my trusty garde manger knife. Perfect for fine prep work like daikon ribbons or micro brunoise. Handle is a little square but not bad. The scales fit nice but the spine of the blade is razor sharp. I quickly fixed that with my stones and now it's like butter. I love the feel of how this knife cuts and how easily it sharpens up to hair popping levels and stays that way. Great edge geometry, very thin blade but does not chip or ding as easily as the HD. I would chose it over the HD if carbon doesn't bother you.

FIT: 3.5
FINISH: 3.5
PERFORMANCE: 4.5
VALUE: 4.5
OVER ALL: 4

WUSTOFF CLASSIC (9"):

WEIGHT:9.25oz
LENGTH: 240mm
BALANCE: at bolster
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Solingen Stainless Steel
HANDLE MATERIAL: POM
RC (Hardness): 52-54

Decent reliable chef knife, soft steel so it doesn't hold and edge that long. Is pretty tough and is a versitile player in a busy rough kitchen. Comfortable handle and nice finish typical of German products.

FIT: 3
FINISH:4
PERFORMANCE:3
VALUE:2
OVER ALL:3

(240MM) NENOX S1:

WEIGHT:
LENGTH:240mm
BALANCE: at bolster
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Super Secret High Performance Swedish Tool Steel/ Honyaki
HANDLE MATERIAL: Quince Burl
RC (Hardness): 61-62
This was one of my dream knives that I waited for ever to buy. It was worth the wait. It is every thing you think it would be. The handle is so smooth and warm feeling with plenty of room and it eases into nice buttery smooth spine. The thin blade is remarkably tough and takes one of the scariest edges I've seen. It does require a bit more loving on the stones to achieve this edge than say a VG-10 knife but is well worth it. My only gripe is that I wish that the balance was a touch more forward, but this is just my personal pickiness. I scored it low on value because I believe that it is being price gouged a bit because of the hype around it. I think $30-40 less and the price would be just right.

FIT: 4.5
FINISH: 4.75
PERFORMANCE: 4.75
VALUE: 3
OVER ALL: 4.25

HATTORI KD:

WEIGHT: 8.8 oz.
LENGTH:240mm
BALANCE: 1/4" in front of bolster
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Cowry-X laminated in Nickel & Stainless Damascus/ San Mai
HANDLE MATERIAL: Linen Micarta
RC (Hardness): 63-65

I mean what can I say. I love this knife. It has it all. Beauty and the beast all wrapped up in one. I thought about babying this knife when I bought it, for about 2 seconds. I decided that if I paid this much for a knife it better deliver. It did and still does. It is such a fun knife, crazy sharp edge that is only less shocking than it's resilience. It is hard and tough and nails. Takes out chicken & fish bones, shaves paper thin any thing and the edge just lasts forever. Thank goodness too because sharpening it can take some time. To get the edge just perfect it will take me about 30 minutes of concentrated effort. The factory edge is pretty lame but once I re-set it, it still surprises and scares me to this day. As for the value. I see it as functional art. Each one is hand made my Mr. Hattori himself. You get what you pay for.

FIT: 5
FINISH: 5
PERFORMANCE:5+
VALUE: 4
OVER ALL: 4.75

(270MM) GLESTAIN:

WEIGHT:11oz.
LENGTH:270mm
BALANCE: 1/4" forward
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Acuto 440, now with dimples
HANDLE MATERIAL: pakka wood
RC (Hardness): 58-59

This was my first gyuto. You never forget the first time you slice into that onion and the blade just falls through. It was my work horse knife for two years until I sold to fund my S1. The handle on this knife was a little large for my small hands but not uncomfortable. I really liked the blade, it was a great all around knife. Good for cutting cheese, slicing meat, portioning steaks, butchering fish and fine work. I used and abused the crap out of it. The steel is very forgiving and great for a beginner to learn how to take care of and properly treat a gyuto. Again I think it could be a little cheaper $20-30 less.

FIT: 3.5
FINISH: 4.5
PERFORMANCE: 4
VALUE: 3
OVER ALL: 3.75

HONESUKIS
TOJIRO DP:

WEIGHT:6oz.
LENGTH: 150mm
BALANCE: handle heavy
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Swedish Carbon Steel and 13% Chromium
Stain-Resistant Steel/ Honwarokomi
HANDLE MATERIAL: stamina wood
RC (Hardness): 60

Chicken cutting machine! I love this knife. 4 years of hard labor in the trenches and it is now retired to home. Still kicks butt. Came sharp and ready to go out of the box and put my old forschner to shame. I think it jumped off prep table and into garbage can because it was so beat. Easy to maintain edge gets sharp quick and easy. Best bang for the buck as usual with Tojiro.

FIT:3
FINISH:3
PERFORMANCE:4
VALUE:5
OVER ALL: 3.75

NENOX S1:

WEIGHT:8oz
LENGTH:150mm
BALANCE: handle heavy
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Super Secret High Performance Swedish Tool Steel/ Honyaki
HANDLE MATERIAL: Quince Burl
RC (Hardness): 61-62

Took the Tojiro’s place at work.
Similar in performance qualities to the gyuto. The blade is single beveled right handed so the spine is thicker than the Tojiro’s but the edge is more acute and just as tough. The blade came so sharp it scared me when I was taking a breast off a chicken and the blade went through the rib cage like nothing. It didn’t hardly make a crunch.

FIT: 4.5
FINISH: 4.75
PERFORMANCE: 4.75
VALUE: 3
OVER ALL: 4.25

PETTIES/PARERS
MAC Pro Series:

WEIGHT:2.3oz.
LENGTH: 120mm
BALANCE: handle heavy
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Molybdenum alloy stainless steel
HANDLE MATERIAL: Resin impregnated wood
RC (Hardness): 60

This little knife is a good sold petty. Nice size for garde manger and for boning small game birds in a pinch. The steel holds a nice edge but I find that it has strange feel to it when sharpening, almost a rubbery feel like it wants to grip the stone a lot. The handle is a little small but not too bad.

FIT: 3.5
FINISH:4
PERFORMANCE: 3.5
VALUE: 4
OVER ALL: 3.75

DOJO:

WEIGHT:1oz.
LENGTH:3.5"
BALANCE: handle heavy
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Stainless steel forge-welded on a "blue" steel core
HANDLE MATERIAL: Pakawood
RC (Hardness): 62

This is my favorite petty to this day. No bells and whistles just pure performance, a real joy to use. The blue steel edge sharpens up like a scalpel but you don't have to worry much about rusting because of the stainless outer layer.

FIT: 3
FINISH:3
PERFORMANCE:5
VALUE:5
OVER ALL:4

MESSERMIESTER(TOURNE):

WEIGHT: .75oz
LENGTH:2"
BALANCE: handle heavy
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Solingen Stainless Steel
HANDLE MATERIAL: Poly resin something or other
RC (Hardness): 52-54

It's a good knife for peeling small stuff and turning veg. It holds an edge ok because it doesn't touch the cutting board. It has proved itself useful though years of potato duty. I like it but if I lose it won't cry.

FIT: 2.5
FINISH:3
PERFORMANCE:3
VALUE:4
OVER ALL: 3

SUJIHIKI/SLICERS
WUSTOFF CLASSIC Granton Edge(9"):

WEIGHT:8oz
LENGTH: 9"
BALANCE: handle heavy
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Solingen Stainless Steel
HANDLE MATERIAL: POM
RC (Hardness): 52-54

Decent slicer, soft steel so it doesn't hold and edge that long. Is pretty flexible and is decent for filleting large halibut and lox from small salmon. I used it for tuna carpacio for years before I got a sujihiki. Comfortable handle and nice finish typical of German products.

FIT: 4
FINISH:4
PERFORMANCE:3
VALUE:2
OVER ALL:3.25

NENOX S1 (285MM):

WEIGHT: 8.5oz.
LENGTH:285mm.
BALANCE: 1/2" forward
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Super Secret High Performance Swedish Tool Steel/ Honyaki
HANDLE MATERIAL: Quince Burl
RC (Hardness): 61-62

Best slicer I have tried so far. Perfect fit and finish. Razor sharp and nicely balanced. Excellent fish knife. Great for sushi and sashimi. Trims tuna and hamachi loins like dream. I only wish it was 300mm.

FIT: 4.5
FINISH: 4.75
PERFORMANCE: 4.75
VALUE: 3
OVER ALL: 4.25

SANTOKUS/Utility
TOJIRO DP:

WEIGHT:6oz.
LENGTH: 165mm
BALANCE: at bolster
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Swedish Carbon Steel and 13% Chromium
Stain-Resistant Steel/ Honwarokomi
HANDLE MATERIAL: stamina wood
RC (Hardness):60

Good little knife. I use it at home as a utility knife for sandwiches or just some quick small prep. My wife loves it and grabs it first. Easy to maintain edge gets sharp quick and easy. Best bang for the buck as usual with Tojiro.

FIT:3
FINISH:3
PERFORMANCE:4
VALUE:5
OVER ALL: 3.75

HENKELS 4 STAR UTILIY:

WEIGHT: 5oz.
LENGTH: 6"
BALANCE: Hanle Heavey
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION:Solingen Stainless Steel
HANDLE MATERIAL: POM
RC (Hardness): 52-54

This is one of my least favorite knives. Not good for much other than awkwardly cutting fixings for a sandwich. Got it as a gift 10 years ago. Tried to sell about 4 times no one wants it. A waste of steel.
FIT: 3
FINISH:4
PERFORMANCE:2
VALUE:2
OVER ALL:2.75

DEBAS/WESTERN DEBAS
HON KASUMI (210MM):

WEIGHT: 10.6oz.
LENGTH: 210mm
BALANCE: 2" forward
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Single bevel white carbon steel forge-welded to wrought iron
HANDLE MATERIAL: Ho Wood
RC (Hardness): 62

This is my first Japanese traditional knife. I was surprised at the keenness that the edge can achieve and with so little effort. It sold me on single bevel knives. Great budget knife I recommend it to any one looking to add a good inexpensive deba to there collection. Butchers poultry and medium size fish incredibly well. It takes a little adjusting of technique but once achieved the results are fabulous. The pic show the spine, the back, the edge geometry and patina. The shiney one is after I tried to mirror polish the bevel.

FIT: 3
FINISH:3
PERFORMANCE:4.5
VALUE:5
OVER ALL:4

MASAHIRO VIRGIN CARBON WESTERN(270MM):



WEIGHT: 16oz
LENGTH:270mm
BALANCE: 2" forward
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Virgin Carbon Steel (white?)
HANDLE MATERIAL: Rosewood
RC (Hardness): 61-62

This is a beastly knife that fish and poultry fear. I couldn’t believe it when Koki emailed with a list of Masahiro knives and a 270mm western deba was on it. I had to have it. I butcher a good bit of very large fish in Seattle so it was just what I was looking for. When I got it in the mail I noticed right away that the handle scales were all out of whack and mounted unevenly. This is reason for the low ratings. If it had the same handle finish of my Masahiro gyuto then the second ratings are what I would have awarded it. I didn’t return it because I figured I’d just get a custom Fish handle put on it. So far it performs great. Takes and keeps and super sharp edge and is very, very tough. It chops through fish bones like I’m chopping carrots. One of the best purchases I’ve ever made.

FIT: 1 (3.5)
FINISH:1 (3.5)
PERFORMANCE:4.5
VALUE:4
OVER ALL:2.75 (4)

BREAD
MESSERMIESTER (240MM):

WEIGHT:
LENGTH:240mm
BALANCE:
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Solingen Stainless Steel
HANDLE MATERIAL: Rubber plastic something or other
RC (Hardness): 52-54

Average cheap bread knife. Does the job. Good price.

FIT:3
FINISH:3
PERFORMANCE:3
VALUE:3
OVER ALL:3

CLEAVERS
NARITA:

WEIGHT:15.25oz
LENGTH:170mm
BALANCE: 1"forward
BLADE MATERIAL/CONSTRUCTION: Mystery Japanese Stainless
HANDLE MATERIAL: POM
RC (Hardness): 56-58
Medium Heavy Cleaver. It's a tough little sucker and it holds an edge pretty well. It busts up chicken and fish bones unscathed. Great value knife ($15) My Mom has one too and loves it for hacking up chicken for stews.

FIT:4
FINISH:4
PERFORMANCE:4
VALUE:5
OVER ALL:4.25