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Good Product: Victorinox 8-inch Chef's Knife

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.

Comments (6)

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.

posted by EJ on 2007-02-21 09:50:44

Thanks I am in search of a good everyday knife.

posted by Kanchan on 2007-02-21 10:06:17

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!

posted by Noah on 2007-02-21 10:26:42

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.

posted by Arin on 2007-02-21 11:58:31

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.

posted by Josh on 2007-02-21 23:49:39

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

posted by ! on December 19th 2008 at 11:32am
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