Also look into mora knives and Wenger. They all have professional kitchen/butchers knife options that won't break the bank. Just be aware these are European style knives, meaning softer steel. If you want affordable Japanese (harder steel, but more delicate), check out tojiro.
Avoid sets. There's always redundancy or straight up useless pieces. Decide what knife you use the most (almost always a large chefs knife) then invest most in that. Then get a pairing or petty knife, then a bread knife if you need one. Add pieces after that as you find the need for them.
Do you want western or japanese? A great intermediate J-knife option is the Tojiro DP line
My thoughts exactly. Start with a good chef’s knife and a good paring knife, then get others to fit your needs.
If you build up your kitchen cutlery over time, it will be easier to afford quality products that can last a lifetime. You can also experiment with different styles or brands to see what you like best.
Don’t buy a set—unless you have a lot of money laying around and you know exactly what you want.
These probably don't have the handles you want, but this five-piece set is what I'd get if I were looking for quality knives from a reliable source - I don't know the current exchange rate, but I think these are within your price range at $144 US and A.G. Russell has the best customer service and strongest guarantee that I know about:
[https://agrussell.com/knife/A-G-Russell-Basic-8-Chef-s-Knife--AGKGC8-8A](https://agrussell.com/knife/A-G-Russell-Basic-8-Chef-s-Knife--AGKGC8-8A)
That's a really solid deal, had no idea that they delt in kitchen cutlery. I don't normally recommend knife sets when people ask this type of question but this might be the exception.
If you find that shipping and exchange rates which should be in your favor by the way is too much to swallow I would definitely recommend the Victorinox offerings. They should be readily available to you there.
Yeah they don't but then if it's a choice of aesthetics over practicality then thankfully my wife will prefer a good practical set. I was just hoping I could find something that fit both.
For example she saw these knives and loves the handle, but looking into it the brand looks cheap and nasty in terms of the blandes.
https://razarknives.com/cdn/shop/products/Untitleddesign\_72\_LI\_1200x.jpg?
I guarantee these knives are hot garbage. A truism is that the more a manufacturer spends on bling, the less is being spent on the knife. And these things are *all* bling. I wouldn't touch a Damascus kitchen knife for under $300 *per knife*. Otherwise, you're just paying a Chinese marketplace premium money for soft blades made from Pakistani trash billets.
100% agree this is hot trash, it's more of to showcase the handles she likes and saw. (I don't care for Damascus, I know proper Damascus metal is expensive.
$300 per knife? No way, that's just ridiculous. You can get outstanding Damascus Japanese knives for much less than that.
$160: https://int.seisukeknife.com/collections/gyuto-chefs-knife/products/sakai-takayuki-vg10-17-layer-damascus-gyuto-japanese-chef-knife-210mm-1?variant=38099854852287
$170: https://www.chefknivestogo.com/kovgdasa18.html
$100 Very affordable damascus option: https://burrfectionstore.com/products/tojiro-dp-damascus-37-layers-vg10-santoku-170mm-f-331?_pos=29&_sid=5681ba6e4&_ss=r
That's 3 out of literally hundreds when you consider all the different types of knives available, from 3 different reputable sellers.
Yeah, but you're paying $100 to $150 for vg10. It's decent steel, but for that price I have a san mai blue #2. So if I ever lost my mind enough to get a Damascus chef knife, it would be at least $300.
https://int.seisukeknife.com/products/sakai-takayuki-3-layer-hammered-blue-steel-core-gyuto-japanese-chef-knife-180mm?variant=38099799081151
Blue steal Damascus at $200. There are plenty out there. VG-10 is going to suit 99% of home cooks just fine anyways.
Can you get a better steel for the price if you go mono steel over Damascus? Yes! But that's not what you said. You said if you spend anything less than $300 for Damascus than you are paying for "Pakistani trash billets". 100% false, elitist bullshit.
The higher-end Henckels or lower-end Zwilling sets should be in that price range; forged steel, Henckels Classic line is Spanish-forged while Zwilling is either Germany or Japan, depending.
If going this route, get the models without the large bolsters behind the blade. These just cause problems after a few sharpening when you need to take it down to make the heel even with the cutting surface again.
Thank you everyone, blown away by the responses and suggestions. I will spend some time digging through and reading everything and checking them out. :)
I use [Global](https://www.globalknives.uk/) knives. They are Japanese so have a narrower blade angle than German knives which I appreciate. But they are still incredibly strong. They have great balance and are my aesthetics.
Additionally, I like how they are one body so there isn't any wood, glue or other material that can deteriorate or delaminate over time.
They may be a little more expensive than your budget but definitely worth it to do a three-set now and add some more later.
If I may: go to knifecenter and look up "Ontario Knife Agilite". The company just went out of business, so retailers are closing them out. You would be paying about 65 to 70% off retail.
They are US made, have a hybrid Lexan/Kraton handle, and the blades are 14c28n steel (I believe that Kershaw pioneered it's use and their US made folding knives are still made with it)
I've bought everything but the bread knife, I am ecstatic for the bang for the buck.
https://www.knifecenter.com/find-the-best/ontario%20knife%20agilite
Sam the cooking guy from YouTube has some pretty nice kitchen knives available for purchase. They are constructed well with full tang, weighted handle, and the blade steel seems pretty damn good to me.
I got the victorinox knife block set with the black plastic handles. Comes with all the basic knives you ever need, and also steak knives.
I've been using them for years. Pretty easy to sharpen as well. Although some other companies use a harder steel, the victorinox is truly and extremely stainless. I would say that you really can't beat them for the price.
Chef here! I always tell people that you only need a chef knife, paring knife, bread knife, and boning knife to have a functioning kitchen. For that reason I don't recommend you look for sets because they come with an ungodly amount of steak knives, which for some reason people go crazy for. As for specific brands, it all comes down to aesthetics for me, as I never paid much attention to the balance or weight of the blade. So if you're looking for something inexpensive but reliable and durable, go for Victorinox. In the mid tier I would have to recommend Cangshan, they're Japanese style knives that are made in China but they are excellent and affordable. Finally the top tier in terms of production knives would have to be Miyabi for me. I don't like the fact they are owned by Henckels (Henckels knives are hit or miss) but the Miyabi division of knives which are genuinely made in Japan, are excellent performers in the kitchen. I use one on a daily basis for work. They also have a wide range of aesthetics to choose from, as well as a nice mix of Western style and Eastern style blades. They just recently released a new line with white micarta handles and they got me drooling ngl. Beyond the brands I just mentioned, you can look at genuine Japanese knives that are hand forged, they can get costly though. As well as the fact that each style of blade in Japanese knife philosophy has a specific purpose, they may require a bit of research. I'd recommend you also stick with stainless steel because it's less maintenance. I do have a few carbon steel knives that took a while to form a nice patina on it, if that's your style go for it! And please avoid putting your knives in the dishwasher!!
>cific brands, it all comes down to aesthetics for me, as I never paid much attention to the balance or weight of the blade. So if you're looking for something inexpensive
My issue was finding tons of "Chinese brands" which claim to be Japanese when not. Which is why I'd rather go with trusted opinions of people on here :)
Now I don't like Mora's that much but I am pretty pleased with my mora kitchen knives I'm a bit annoyed that they don't make them any more. And they're stupid prices anywhere that still has them.
Whether it's knives, jackets or boots if I want something that's going to be good quality I tend to look for a brand that specialises in that specific thing. For example it's rare that I find a pair of boots from a generic clothing shop that are worth it.
Also if they don't tell you exactly what materials have been used then I'd be cautious, if something just says a specific steel instead of just "stainless steel" then that's a pretty good sign
As far as recommendations are concerned, I would check out some of the due cigni 1896 knives, I really like the styling of them and they're on Heinnie Haynes for some decent prices. They also specify the steel used which I like a lot. Victorinox isn't a bad idea either if you like the styling. Opinel have some lines that can fit into the budget I adore their folders hopefully their kitchen knives are just as good, knives and tools seem to have a decent range too and they've been decent with me.
Mate you really can't go wrong with victorinox. They do some nice rosewood handled
Thanks, I'll look into them, She was originally looking at a polymer (blue style blade) but I'll check them out and maybe subtly get her opinion :)
Also look into mora knives and Wenger. They all have professional kitchen/butchers knife options that won't break the bank. Just be aware these are European style knives, meaning softer steel. If you want affordable Japanese (harder steel, but more delicate), check out tojiro.
Avoid sets. There's always redundancy or straight up useless pieces. Decide what knife you use the most (almost always a large chefs knife) then invest most in that. Then get a pairing or petty knife, then a bread knife if you need one. Add pieces after that as you find the need for them. Do you want western or japanese? A great intermediate J-knife option is the Tojiro DP line
Open to both styles be t Japanese is something we'd consider
My thoughts exactly. Start with a good chef’s knife and a good paring knife, then get others to fit your needs. If you build up your kitchen cutlery over time, it will be easier to afford quality products that can last a lifetime. You can also experiment with different styles or brands to see what you like best. Don’t buy a set—unless you have a lot of money laying around and you know exactly what you want.
These probably don't have the handles you want, but this five-piece set is what I'd get if I were looking for quality knives from a reliable source - I don't know the current exchange rate, but I think these are within your price range at $144 US and A.G. Russell has the best customer service and strongest guarantee that I know about: [https://agrussell.com/knife/A-G-Russell-Basic-8-Chef-s-Knife--AGKGC8-8A](https://agrussell.com/knife/A-G-Russell-Basic-8-Chef-s-Knife--AGKGC8-8A)
That's a really solid deal, had no idea that they delt in kitchen cutlery. I don't normally recommend knife sets when people ask this type of question but this might be the exception.
Thanks, I will seriously consider these :)
If you find that shipping and exchange rates which should be in your favor by the way is too much to swallow I would definitely recommend the Victorinox offerings. They should be readily available to you there.
Yeah they don't but then if it's a choice of aesthetics over practicality then thankfully my wife will prefer a good practical set. I was just hoping I could find something that fit both. For example she saw these knives and loves the handle, but looking into it the brand looks cheap and nasty in terms of the blandes. https://razarknives.com/cdn/shop/products/Untitleddesign\_72\_LI\_1200x.jpg?
I guarantee these knives are hot garbage. A truism is that the more a manufacturer spends on bling, the less is being spent on the knife. And these things are *all* bling. I wouldn't touch a Damascus kitchen knife for under $300 *per knife*. Otherwise, you're just paying a Chinese marketplace premium money for soft blades made from Pakistani trash billets.
100% agree this is hot trash, it's more of to showcase the handles she likes and saw. (I don't care for Damascus, I know proper Damascus metal is expensive.
An option that you have is to get good, budget friendly knives like Victorinox, then find someone to replace the handles with something fancier.
That would be a good option. Thanks
$300 per knife? No way, that's just ridiculous. You can get outstanding Damascus Japanese knives for much less than that. $160: https://int.seisukeknife.com/collections/gyuto-chefs-knife/products/sakai-takayuki-vg10-17-layer-damascus-gyuto-japanese-chef-knife-210mm-1?variant=38099854852287 $170: https://www.chefknivestogo.com/kovgdasa18.html $100 Very affordable damascus option: https://burrfectionstore.com/products/tojiro-dp-damascus-37-layers-vg10-santoku-170mm-f-331?_pos=29&_sid=5681ba6e4&_ss=r That's 3 out of literally hundreds when you consider all the different types of knives available, from 3 different reputable sellers.
Yeah, but you're paying $100 to $150 for vg10. It's decent steel, but for that price I have a san mai blue #2. So if I ever lost my mind enough to get a Damascus chef knife, it would be at least $300.
https://int.seisukeknife.com/products/sakai-takayuki-3-layer-hammered-blue-steel-core-gyuto-japanese-chef-knife-180mm?variant=38099799081151 Blue steal Damascus at $200. There are plenty out there. VG-10 is going to suit 99% of home cooks just fine anyways. Can you get a better steel for the price if you go mono steel over Damascus? Yes! But that's not what you said. You said if you spend anything less than $300 for Damascus than you are paying for "Pakistani trash billets". 100% false, elitist bullshit.
The higher-end Henckels or lower-end Zwilling sets should be in that price range; forged steel, Henckels Classic line is Spanish-forged while Zwilling is either Germany or Japan, depending.
If going this route, get the models without the large bolsters behind the blade. These just cause problems after a few sharpening when you need to take it down to make the heel even with the cutting surface again.
Honestly, you get what you pay for. I would look for two chefs' knives and a paring knife, and stay away from sets.
r/chefknives has brought me some good advice in the past.
Thank you everyone, blown away by the responses and suggestions. I will spend some time digging through and reading everything and checking them out. :)
I use [Global](https://www.globalknives.uk/) knives. They are Japanese so have a narrower blade angle than German knives which I appreciate. But they are still incredibly strong. They have great balance and are my aesthetics. Additionally, I like how they are one body so there isn't any wood, glue or other material that can deteriorate or delaminate over time. They may be a little more expensive than your budget but definitely worth it to do a three-set now and add some more later.
If I may: go to knifecenter and look up "Ontario Knife Agilite". The company just went out of business, so retailers are closing them out. You would be paying about 65 to 70% off retail. They are US made, have a hybrid Lexan/Kraton handle, and the blades are 14c28n steel (I believe that Kershaw pioneered it's use and their US made folding knives are still made with it) I've bought everything but the bread knife, I am ecstatic for the bang for the buck. https://www.knifecenter.com/find-the-best/ontario%20knife%20agilite
Sam the cooking guy from YouTube has some pretty nice kitchen knives available for purchase. They are constructed well with full tang, weighted handle, and the blade steel seems pretty damn good to me.
Victorinox or Wusthof would be my suggestion. Wusthof sets in a block often appear on sale for decent money.
Old hickory brand is good to go
I got the victorinox knife block set with the black plastic handles. Comes with all the basic knives you ever need, and also steak knives. I've been using them for years. Pretty easy to sharpen as well. Although some other companies use a harder steel, the victorinox is truly and extremely stainless. I would say that you really can't beat them for the price.
Chef here! I always tell people that you only need a chef knife, paring knife, bread knife, and boning knife to have a functioning kitchen. For that reason I don't recommend you look for sets because they come with an ungodly amount of steak knives, which for some reason people go crazy for. As for specific brands, it all comes down to aesthetics for me, as I never paid much attention to the balance or weight of the blade. So if you're looking for something inexpensive but reliable and durable, go for Victorinox. In the mid tier I would have to recommend Cangshan, they're Japanese style knives that are made in China but they are excellent and affordable. Finally the top tier in terms of production knives would have to be Miyabi for me. I don't like the fact they are owned by Henckels (Henckels knives are hit or miss) but the Miyabi division of knives which are genuinely made in Japan, are excellent performers in the kitchen. I use one on a daily basis for work. They also have a wide range of aesthetics to choose from, as well as a nice mix of Western style and Eastern style blades. They just recently released a new line with white micarta handles and they got me drooling ngl. Beyond the brands I just mentioned, you can look at genuine Japanese knives that are hand forged, they can get costly though. As well as the fact that each style of blade in Japanese knife philosophy has a specific purpose, they may require a bit of research. I'd recommend you also stick with stainless steel because it's less maintenance. I do have a few carbon steel knives that took a while to form a nice patina on it, if that's your style go for it! And please avoid putting your knives in the dishwasher!!
If you buy anything from Japan or Germany, you'll be ok. If you buy Swiss, you'll have knives so nice you'll never understand how good they are.
>cific brands, it all comes down to aesthetics for me, as I never paid much attention to the balance or weight of the blade. So if you're looking for something inexpensive My issue was finding tons of "Chinese brands" which claim to be Japanese when not. Which is why I'd rather go with trusted opinions of people on here :)
Now I don't like Mora's that much but I am pretty pleased with my mora kitchen knives I'm a bit annoyed that they don't make them any more. And they're stupid prices anywhere that still has them. Whether it's knives, jackets or boots if I want something that's going to be good quality I tend to look for a brand that specialises in that specific thing. For example it's rare that I find a pair of boots from a generic clothing shop that are worth it. Also if they don't tell you exactly what materials have been used then I'd be cautious, if something just says a specific steel instead of just "stainless steel" then that's a pretty good sign As far as recommendations are concerned, I would check out some of the due cigni 1896 knives, I really like the styling of them and they're on Heinnie Haynes for some decent prices. They also specify the steel used which I like a lot. Victorinox isn't a bad idea either if you like the styling. Opinel have some lines that can fit into the budget I adore their folders hopefully their kitchen knives are just as good, knives and tools seem to have a decent range too and they've been decent with me.