Help! I'm buying a chef knife for me to use for the foreseeable future. $200 budget

[RipD]

i too just decided to get a for-real kitchen knife. obviously, i don't have any experience for comparison, but i will walk you through my thought process.
<snip>
again, this is my first foray into kitchen knives. i expect i will try several others to really find what i like. but, in the meantime, i think i will like this knife....
http://www.chefknivestogo.com/yawh1gy21.html

P.S. i know the handle is cheap. that really doesn't bother me, as i trust i could rehandle it. in fact, i am looking forward to it.

That looks like a nice choice. Great steel and a very nice knife for the money. I really need a good 210 - this may be the one. It's not as thin as some knifes. But for a general purpose knife that will hold an edge this looks fantastic. (I read a comment where somebody a bunch of work to thin and reshape this knife. If that's what you need, why not just buy a different knife?)

Please let us know how it feels in the hand. I really like a good balance in a knife. Not sure how to describe it, but I know it when I feel it. For me, takes and holds an edge, balance, not too hard to sharpen, and handle in that order. Aesthetics are not even on the list. (I have a bunch of carbon steel pans the wife hates because they're not shiny when company comes over. )

 

[TPVT]

That looks like a nice choice. Great steel and a very nice knife for the money. I really need a good 210 - this may be the one. It's not as thin as some knifes. But for a general purpose knife that will hold an edge this looks fantastic. (I read a comment where somebody a bunch of work to thin and reshape this knife. If that's what you need, why not just buy a different knife?)

Please let us know how it feels in the hand. I really like a good balance in a knife. Not sure how to describe it, but I know it when I feel it. For me, takes and holds an edge, balance, not too hard to sharpen, and handle in that order. Aesthetics are not even on the list. (I have a bunch of carbon steel pans the wife hates because they're not shiny when company comes over. )

just received it tonight. the handle is a bit too light. weighted blade forward, though i did not actually get a balance point. that was just my first impression. heckuva blade though. really like the steel. definitely don't think it's too thick. super sharp right out of the box.

i will be replacing the handle, and i think i will like this very much. 89 bucks? oh heck yeah....