As any good chef will tell you, the first step to cooking a good meal is to acquire your tools. There are many items that can help keep you efficient in the kitchen. But the most important tool, without a doubt, is a sharp, well-made knife.
Used properly, a good knife is a multifunctional tool. Chopping your vegetables? Check. Slicing up ham or some other meat? A good knife has you covered.
Not all knives are created equal, though, so a high-quality chef knife is worth the investment. Whether you’re looking to spend for the best or pinch your pennies, there’s a chef’s knife to suit every budget.
Lamson’s Signature Forged 10-Inch Chef’s Knife
This Lamson’s 10-inch knife is made of top-quality, high-carbon stainless steel from Germany. If you are looking for something tough and durable, then this knife is a great option. The blade is made from a single piece of steel, which increases its sturdiness.
The handle is crafted from pakkawood, infused with resin. The handle is also held firmly together by three nickel silver rivets, providing you with a comfortable grip.
While the handle of this knife looks and feels like plain wood, it is far more durable than it appears. It has a curved, recessed full bolster. This provides a smooth transition from the handle to the blade; giving the knife a balanced feel in your hands.
Be sure to also invest in some of the top knife sharpeners from our list. as well.
Lamson’s Fire Forged 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
If you are in need of an all-purpose kitchen knife, then this is definitely the one for you. It features a broad blade that’s useful for slicing or dicing vegetables, cutting meat, and much more. Also, the wide blade keeps your knuckles from touching the cutting board.
This 8-inch knife was precision forged from a single piece of grade 4116 stainless steel, straight from Germany. The knife consists of a thoroughly polished, hand-edged convex-ground blade.
The handle of this knife is of an interesting fiery color and is made from a long-lasting and waterproof acrylic material. The handle is held firmly together by three silver rivets to provide the perfect weight and balance.
Lamson & Goodnow Walnut Handle Chef Knife
For a knife that gets the job done and with a unique design to boot, this is the one you might want to look into. The blade of the knife is made from superior quality high-carbon stainless steel. And the blade is tempered and hardened for toughness.
The blade of the knife is also tapered for sharpness. It is available in either a full-tang or half-tang construction.
The hilt is built with remarkably tough Walnut. The color of this material varies from one knife to the next, but the quality remains the same. The handle is held together by double rivets. These are of a brass material, which contrasts well with the look of the wooden handle.
Lamson Rosewood Forged 10-Inch Chef’s Knife
This is another all-purpose knife. If you are looking for something suitable for slicing, dicing, or even chopping, then give this knife a shot.
The blade of this knife is broad and long (10 inches). This makes it useful for cutting meats and veggies, all while protecting your fingers from the cutting board. It is also made from high-quality stainless steel, imported from Germany.
The blade is made from a single sheet of steel, which increases its strength. It is very finely polished and well-honed for sharpness.
The handle of this knife is built from natural rosewood, complete with a mineral oil layer for preventing a slippery grip.
Lamson Rosewood Forged 6-Inch Chef’s Knife
You might be on the hunt for a shorter knife. If that is the case, then give this one a go. This Lamson’s knife is similar to the 10-inch model except that the blade is a bit shorter and more manageable.
It is characterized by a broad blade, which makes it very useful for chopping fruits, veggies, and even tough meat. The broad blade keeps your fingers away from the cutting board, preventing damage to your knuckles.
As is common with Lamson’s knives, this blade is made from high-quality steel coming from Germany; the blade is well-polished and hand-edged.
The handle is crafted from natural rosewood, and it is held firmly together by three rivets.
Cutco 7-5/8” Petite Chef Knife
If you are on the hunt for a smaller knife that is easier to handle, then this one is a good pick. The blade of this Cutco knife measures between 7.5 and 8 inches in length. This is a genuine Cutco product, and the blade is made from strong stainless steel.
The knife features a black handle that was built with ergonomics in mind for ease of use and comfort. It is a double-rivet handle, held together by two silver-colored rivets.
Once you have purchased this knife, you are eligible for Cutco’s “forever guaranteed” warranty. You are also entitled to free factory sharpening for the life of the knife.
Cutco Model 1766 Santoku Knife
For a sleek and functional knife, you might want to consider this Cutco model. It features a straight-edge blade that measures 7 inches in length.
The blade is made with 440A high-carbon stainless steel. The blade is more of a square shape instead of the usual convex shape found on many knives.
The handle has a very sleek design. It comes in a classic brown color that is often mistaken for black. It has a triple-rivet build; the rivets are made from top-quality nickel-silver alloy, which holds the knife firmly together.
This knife is also covered under the Cutco forever guarantee agreement, where you are able to get free repairs and replacements, along with sharpening.
Cutco Model 2166 Petite Santoku Knife
For a smaller version of a Santoku knife, this is a good one for you to consider. It features the same square-shaped, straight-edged blade as its longer counterpart. The difference is in the length of the blade. This knife measures in at 5.6 inches in length.
It features a classic brown handle (often confused as black) that measures almost as long as the blade itself: 5.1 inches in length.
Its highly engineered ergonomic handle was built to completely resist cracking, chipping, and fading. Better still, the material used does not absorb what’s on your hands or in your dishwater.
The handle has a triple-rivet build, with the rivets being made from high-quality nickel-silver.
Cutco Model 1725 French Chef Knife
For something on the longer side, this French knife is a suitable option. The blade measures in at 9.2 inches and is made of top-quality high-carbon stainless steel. The blade is mostly straight, and then tapers at the end for a pointy tip.
The knife features a highly- engineered thermos-resin ergonomic handle. This was built to resist chipping, fading, or cracking. It also does an excellent job of not absorbing any material on your hands or in the sink.
The handle has a triple-rivet construction, with the rivets made from-top quality alloy. And the knife is covered under Cutco’s forever guarantee. This means you get free repairs, free replacements, and free sharpening indefinitely.
Cutco Model 1728 Petite Chef Knife
For a knife on the smaller side, this will be a good option for you. The blade of this Cutco knife measures in at 7 ¾ inches. It is made from the same high-carbon stainless steel characteristic of the brand, and it has a mostly straight form that tapers at the point.
The knife’s handle is very well made, keeping ergonomics in mind. It is made from a dark brown material that is often mistaken as black. The handle measures in at 5 ½ inches in length. It was also built to resist cracks and fading.
This is a triple- rivet, full-tang construction knife. The rivets are made from high-quality alloy.
Warther Cutlery 9-Inch French Knife
If you are looking for something on the slightly higher end, then this Warther Cutlery knife is definitely worth a look. The blade of this knife is handmade from high-quality CPM S35VN steel and features a very interesting pattern. The blade has a slight curve that creates a gentle rocking motion as you cut.
The blade of the knife measures in at 9 inches. This makes it very easy for you to chop large amounts or wider vegetables all at once. The edge of the blade is filed very thin. So, using this to slice vegetables is a breeze.
The overall length of the knife, including the handle, is 14 inches.
Warther Cutlery 7-Inch Knife
For another version of the Warther cutlery knife, you might want to consider this one. The blade of this knife measures only 7 inches in length. This makes it very lightweight and easy to use. The blade has a very slight curve, which creates a slow rocking motion when in use.
As is characteristic of many Warther Cutlery products, the blade is handmade from top-quality CPM S35VN steel, making it a very sturdy tool. The overall length of the knife is 12 inches, including the handle.
The handle is made from a traditional brown wooden material. It is a double-riveted handle, which holds the knife firmly together. The rivets are made from a silver metallic material.
Rada Cutlery Carving Knife
For a solid carving knife, give this one a try. This knife makes handling bone-in meat a breeze. It has a long, pointed and slender blade, giving it an elegant look. The blade measures 6 5/8 inches, giving the knife a total length of 11 inches.
This blade is made from top-quality stainless steel, helping you make quick work of whole birds, hams, and any other large cooked meats.
It comes in two colors: black and silver. The black handle is stainless steel and dishwasher friendly, while the silver handle is brushed aluminum and should be hand washed.
Rada Cutlery Fillet Knife
Whether you are a chef in the kitchen or a fishmonger, this knife is perfect for you. This fillet knife is very flexible and lightweight, making it very useful for removing meat from its bone.
The blade of this fillet knife is made from stainless steel. The handle is black rubber. This provides an excellent, non-slip grip, even when your hands are wet.
The overall length of the knife is 12 ¼ inches and it comes with a leather scabbard for safe storage.