10 Great Steak Knives for Any Budget

Do you love steak? I mean really, really love steak? If yes, you know that a good steak knife is just as important as the cut, the perfect sear, and that extra pat of butter on top. You want your steak knife to glide through your meat, you want your steak knife to look good on the table, and you don’t want your steak knife to cost too much money.

Check out these sharp finds that are a cut above the rest, ordered from least expensive to a little splurge-y.

1. Messermeister Avanta Steak Knife Set, $55 for four: This economical option still looks decidedly high-end. Including four knives for just $55, the set is crafted out of German stainless steel with a gorgeous Pakkawood handle.
2. M. Crow & Co. Bandsaw Blade Steak Knife, $65 each at M. Crow: If you’re looking for knives with character, look no further than these knives from Oregon-based M. Crow & Co. Crafted out of upcycled (and totally safe-to-eat-with) bandsaw blades, they have a unique patina that suggest they’ve cut through steaks for generations.
3. Wüsthof Gourmet Steak Knife Set, $70 for four at Williams-Sonoma: Ask anyone who knows anything about knives and Wüsthof will undoubtably come up. The German knife-maker is considered the gold standard of kitchen knives, so this set of four won’t disappoint come dinnertime. The high-carbon steel blades resist stains and corrosion, and are sure to stay sharp through countless meals.
4. Laguiole Steak Knife Set, $78 for six at Anthropologie: Crafted in France since the 1800s, Laguiole is a go-to knife brand for discerning gourmands. This colored serrated steak knife set will brighten up any table, but if you’re not into rainbow, Laguiole has also knife sets with wooden handles.
5. ZWILLING J.A. Henckels Steakhouse Knife Set, $100 for four at Zwilling: These hefty knives with wooden handles are worthy of a giant porterhouse steak. Take a closer look and you’ll see something unique: Each knife features inverted blade serration, which prevents dulling over prolonged usage, meaning they’ll be around for years to come.
6. Stelton Pure Black Steak Knife Set, $100 for two at MoMA Design Store: If an item ends up in the MoMA Design Store, you know it’s well-designed, and this dark set from Denmark-based Stelton is no exception. Crafted out of a single piece of stainless chromium steel, the knives are less likely to break, which is why they’re a little more expensive. Not to mention they just look crazy cool, like something Batman would use at dinner.
7. Schmidt Brothers Carbon Steak Knife Set, $110 for six at Crate & Barrel: NYC-based Schmidt Brothers take classic knife-making techniques and add a New York design aesthetic to them, making these knives (crafted out of virtually indestructible carbon) as serviceable as they are sexy, justifying the higher price point.
8. Victorinox Rosewood Steak Knife Set, $135 for six: Victorinox is the parent company of Swiss Army, and it cranks out way more than just pocket knives. The company has also taken a stab at crafting steak knives, yielding incredible results. This knife set boasts stainless steel blades that were ice-tempered to stay sharp longer, and the rosewood handles not only provide the classic steakhouse look, but are also riveted for long-lasting durability.
9. Opinel Olivewood Steak Knife Set, $149 for set of four at Opinel: France-based Opinel has been crafting wood-handled knives since 1890, so you can rest assured knowing this set will stand the test of time. Featuring super-sharp stainless steel blades and gorgeous olivewood handles curved to fit the hand, you’ll consider eating steak more often just so you can use these guys.
10. Global Steak Knife Set, $220 for four at Sur la Table: Any chef will agree that if you can splurge on good knives, you should. In the “well worth the money” category, we have this set. These Japanese-made knives are constructed out of a single piece of Cromova stainless steel, feature ergonomic, dimpled handles (i.e., they feel great in your hand, will never slip, and look really unique) that are manufactured hollow and filled one by one to achieve the perfect weight.