Calphalon Katana Cutlery 7-Inch VG Slicer

for the price, this is simply the best knife i have ever purchased. i have been a professional chef for the past fifteen years and have used just about any high end knives on the market, and this knife keeps pace with the best of them. a hard core, a stainless damascus finish, and a comfortable grip, are some of the key features that earned my respect here. i also find the balance to be fair whether i hold the knife by the handle (for things like cutting greens) or by the blade (for things like more detailed work). the scalloped blade releases food easily and can be used with even softer cheeses than you might expect without running into the usual mashed soft cheese looking slices. i primarily use this knife at my work for things like slicing cheese and roasted meats, however i find that it is up to most tasks laid before it. every time i use a knife i give it one swipe on each side of the blade over a ceramic hone, and haven't needed to do anything else to maintain the edge.

as with any higher carbon steel, or damascus knives, you do have to take care of this one as you cook (this means that having a damp sanitizer towel standing by at your cutting board is a must, not wet or dry, but damp). before walking away from the cutting board just give the knife a quick wipe down and you are covered, no rust worries or spotting on the blade. based on the performance of the knife i would give it a five star rating, however, when i opened the box and removed the knife, there was a few small imperfections in the blade edge. easy to fix, but not what is expected of a new kitchen knife. i have owned many calphalon products over the years and this is the first such problem i have ever encountered. overall i have to say you will be hard pressed to find another knife in this price range that will perform as well and hold an edge as long as the calphalon katana series knives. i hope this is helpful to you and thanks for taking the time to read my review.

Nice, simple, no-nonsense sharp knife for someone who is not used to american style cutting. I like to slice straight, not to rock the knife, so this one is for me.

Handle is absolutely convenient something I was a bit worrying at first, but it just suits the knife with this style of cutting.

I am no pro by miles (just like to cook own simple food rather than go to McDonald's)

It was razor sharp the day arrived, but after 3 months it is just sharp. This is why only 4 stars.

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