8" for my girlfriend, need help...

F

futant

Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
143
I'm looking for an 8" Chef's knife, Japanese style, for my girlfriend. :D
I want to get her something she'll like using.
I was wondering what any of you might think/know about the Al Mar Ultra Chef's knife, $115
http://www.damascusknifestore.safewebshop.com/al_mar_damascus_steel_ultra_chef_8_inch_knife.html
or the regular Al Mar Chef for $80...
http://www.knivesplus.com/AL-AMC8-Al-Mar.HTML
The Kikuichi Gyoto (it called to me) sells for twice the money at $160
http://www.knifeoutlet.com/shop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=KIGYUTO.
Of course, there's always the Kershaw 8" 6600 series chef knife for $25...
http://www.newgraham.com/kershaw_kitchen.htm
I don't mind spending more where it's worth it but I don't really know when that is in this case. Any information would be appreciated, I've been trying to decide for a couple of days and my head hurts.
THANKS.
 
Will she look after it?

Japanese knives have very thin edges, very sharp if you look after them but I see a lot of kitchen knives with chips in the edge. If she will look after it then I think a good kitchen knife is a great idea.
 
Go over to www.foodieforums.com and check out the cutlery sub forum. Your head will really hurt them, but you can find out about a bunch of affordable ($150 or so) to really high end Japanese cutlery.

Even the lower end Japanese knives blow out most western kitchen cutlery, but you do need to know what you're doing with it though. You can wreck one of these knives real quick with carelessness. Your call.

Rob
 
Guys , the rude comments and so forth belong in W&C. Futant was asking an honest question and got two honest answers....
 
It is kind of funny that there aren't more, though. Only on BF could anyone actually overlook that sort of freebie and actually comment on KNIVES. LOL, how I love this place.
 
rebeltf said:
Guys , the rude comments and so forth belong in W&C. Futant was asking an honest question and got two honest answers....
Click to expand...
On one level I agree with you, on another....
Look at how he worded the question, I mean, COME ON!!!
 
Lobo103 said:
So you need 8" for your girlfriend huh? Don't we all :D
Click to expand...
Don't we all what? Need 8" for my girlfriend? I'll assume you meant otherwise. :mad:
Yes...
Funny thing is, I worded the question like that purposely because I thought you might all enjoy it and I thought it might draw attention to my question.
I didn't expect it to become the focal point.
But by all means, have at it.
If I can go off-topic... I think that I might spend the $160 for the Kikuichi.
As it might be a little prone to chipping, as a couple of you have pointed out, I'll just have to tell her to go easy on it.
Thanks for the responses, I'd still REALLY appreciate feedback, not going to decide for sure until tomorrow.
 
Looking at the big fat grin after the first line, I would say this one was intentional .... good one! :D

As to the knives, I would go with one of the Shun series. Very high quality of knives for a very affordable price and not quite as high maintainance as the average girlfriend....oooops, as the average high carbon japanese blade, I meant to say...:D. Still ground quite thin though (the Shun knives I mean :) ), so no banging around (the allusions keep getting better)...the knives again, I mean :D. They are "westernized" Japanese style but this way you won't have to deal with chisel or asymmetric grinds.
 
HoB said:
Looking at the big fat grin after the first line, I would say this one was intentional .... good one! :D

As to the knives, I would go with one of the Shun series. Very high quality of knives for a very affordable price and not quite as high maintainance as the average girlfriend....oooops, as the average high carbon japanese blade, I meant to say...:D. Still ground quite thin though (the Shun knives I mean :) ), so no banging around (the allusions keep getting better)...the knives again, I mean :D. They are "westernized" Japanese style but this way you won't have to deal with chisel or asymmetric grinds.
Click to expand...

:D
I was looking at Shun. Maybe I'll look again. Thanks.
KOSTER, NICE KNIVES. I need to take a good look at those, too.
Getting somewhere...
 
I think she would love the 9-1/2" model I have been using! :) Got it on close out from www.johnfjensen.com It's made by Spyderco. Their French Chef Model. It's razor sharp. I also really like Spyderco's 7" santoku if she likes them a little shorter. Both great knives I got reciently for about $40 each. Both are better than my Wusthof's! Would make a great test run to see if she takes care of them. Good luck!
 
I have an Al Mar 8" chef knife and a Henkels 4 Star 7" Santoku. The japanese Al Mar is thin and sharp and a wicked slicer. The Henkels is thick and a good, sturdy dicer and chopper. The Al Mar is my favorite, but you can tell that it's delicate. I wouldn't want to see someone chop ice or chicken bones with it or try to cut something in a metal pan. I'm extremely happy with the fact that my wife usually reaches for the Henkels. You might want to think about this one a bit.

And even though the Henkels is only 7", I'm sure with the proper technique your girlfriend will be satisfied. (had to throw that in ;) )
 
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