Calphalon Contemporary 6-Inch Chef's Knife

While looking at cutlery for a wedding present a couple months ago I stumbled on Calphalon's new line. Being cheap by nature I was intrigued by their prices on chef's knives. This led me to get myself one of their 8" models. It is a great knife with only one drawback it's almost too big for my small handed wife. Although it almost killed me to pay more for a smaller knife I recently purchased a six inch version. This knife we both love. Fit, finish, and balance all would make you swear that this is a high grade tool. Although priced nearer the cheapened up versions of Chicago Cutlery found in the Marts this is a knife that feels like it is a high grade piece. On the downside the knife is not German or American made but is another Chinese product. Unlike a lot of stuff from over there this time they got it right.

My main kitchen knife has been an 8" Henkels Twin chef's knife, but I wanted something a bit smaller. I picked this knife based on the reviews and the Calphalon name, and I wasn't disappointed. Though it's marked "Made in China", it's also marked "German Steel". This knife is HEAVY, feels like twice the weight of my Henkels...very thick backbone. The workmanship and finish are outstanding, and this thing takes a wicked sharp edge if you know how to hone it. I think it's a better knife than my Henkels, and at less than a third of what I paid for my Henkels ten years ago. Wish I'd bought this knife sooner!

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You want a knife that is rugged and stays sharp, but won't set you back $100, this is a good choice. I have several of these in different sizes. Use them daily. Bought a hand-held sharpener which hones the blade in three or four strokes. No need to sharpen after every use. Full tang, which means the metal of the blade extends all the way through the handle. Junk knives tend to cut off the metal after going about an inch into the handle. As a result, they break under pressure.

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This review is inspired as much by my fiance as it is by me. For the most part, I'm the one who cooks around the house, and this is my main 'backup' knife. It is not too long, but its still nice to hold with a good amount of weight due to the solid forged construction. It wasn't as expensive as my 8" Miyabi chef's knife, and it's very easy to sharpen, so this knife ultimately ends up getting more use than any of my other knives, mostly because I don't mind using it on a plastic cutting board (plastic tends to make knives dull faster than, say, a cedar cutting board, so expensive knives are best used on cedar to preserve their edge).

So, this knife is pretty good. My only complaint is that it doesn't hold an edge particularly well (even when used with a wooden cutting board), and definitely does not hold a razor-sharp edge at all. The difference is quite stark when you compare this knife to a higher end Miyabi or even a cheaper stamped victorinox knifeyou can easily tell that this knife doesn't feel as sharp. However, it makes up for this by being a well-balanced knife, and is a pleasure to hold. Plus, if it starts to get dull, its one of the easiest knives to sharpen. Just hone and sharpen it every now and then, and you'll be good!

While my criteria for a knife revolve around sharpness, construction and all-around badassitude, my fiance selects knives entirely based on how comfortable she feels using them. My fiance loves this knife, and it's her go-to because it is easy to handle and control, while being reasonably sharp. So, this knife is an all-around winner in our kitchen!

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The first thing about this knife is the weight. It is heavy for its size and the user stated that it almost slices by itself. It weighs about 8.0 oz and is about 11 1/8 inches long. The blade is 6 1/2 inches long an is sharpened from the point to within 1/2 in of the handle leaving about 1/4 in of the blade near the handle not sharpened. The fit and finish is not perfect but the knife is a good sturdy tool. The handle fits comfortably in the hand and inspires confidence when cutting. For the price the knife is a good value, IMHO. I really like it and do not regret my purchase.

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