I'm in love, but I'm afraid it's unrequited. My new Victorinox knife slipped out of my grip this weekend and bit me just a little on the finger. Two BandAids and some embarrassment bear witness to some rather clumsy knife skills.
Perhaps I can blame the wonderfully sharp blade and light handle, however; accustomed to heavier, more awkward knives, I was unprepared for its lightness and agility. That lightness is part of why this Victorinox Forschner 8-inch Chef's Knife ($22.99, Amazon) took top honors in a recent equipment test by Cook's Illustrated, helping it to beat out much more expensive knives.
The lighter weight, given my rather small hands, and low price was appealing, and it has been a pleasure to use thus far. It is very sharp and well-balanced, with a nice curve to the blade, which rocks easily and quickly over garlic and herbs to chop them fine.
The knife's manufacturer, Victorinox, is also the maker of the classic Swiss Army knives, so hopefully the blade will stand up over time. It's a classic knife at an extremely good price, and highly recommended, especially for those who want an everyday, high-quality chef's knife without breaking the bank.
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Love at first slice! My dad gave me two Victorinox tomato knives (~$7 each) last year, and I've developed the bad habit of using them for EVERYTHING. They are light, sharp, and very easy to hold and use. I've just added the chef's knife to my birthday wishlist.
Thanks I am in search of a good everyday knife.
That's the exact knife that I use and love. It's great!
It's sharp and well-balanced and I don't have to worry about ruining it seeing as it's only a $20-25 knife.
Plus the handle is comfy and non-slip. (or at least usually, as was your case...)
Hope you heal well!
I have an older version of the same knife-it's the knife that the culinary school I went to "gave" to all the students-and it is has been a real workhorse. It's the perfect size for small hands, keeps a sharp edge and I'm still using it more than 10 years later.
For people with slightly larger hands, check out the 10" victorinox (get the Forschner version for grip and durability over the more expensive rosewood). The 10" is still lighter than an 8" fully forged blade and lots of fun to play with.
I learned a while back that Henkels knives aren't even forged: they have a stamped metal blade like the Victorinox and a solid steel bolster is sintered (sp?) on.
Josh: some of Henckels knives are forged, some are stamped:
http://www.amazon.com/Henckels-International-Classic-Stainless-Steel-Hardwood/dp/B00004RFN0/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1229704223&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Henckels-Piece-Black-Stamped-39123-000/dp/B001E9MA8Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1229704313&sr=1-1
I've had my set of Victorinox knives for 6 years and they are GREAT.
I love my Victorinox Fibrox chef's knife, but I love my Wusthof Grand Prix knives (8" and 6") a little bit more. They have a pleasing heft.
http://www.amazon.com/W%1Asthof-Grand-8-Inch-Cooks-Knife/dp/B0001WVZ3I/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1268149543&sr=1-6
I love my Oxo knife, which was recommended by David Lebovitz, bought from Amazon - http://tinyurl.com/23dezh7. And now I'm probably going to order this one, too!