Help me find a small kitchen utility knife for my lady!

FortyTwoBlades

FortyTwoBlades

Baryonyx walkeri
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So my fiancee has been using a crappy serrated knife with a 4" blade in the kitchen for the past year or so. She uses it for everything, but it has an overly thick blade with a stubby hollow grind and an uncomfortable handle--it simply won't do! :barf::D

She has a preference for wooden or rubber handles (not plastic) and it would be ideal if it also had a fully serrated blade (more along the lines of Victorinox serrations--nothing too aggressive or it becomes too specialized.) Thin blades are a plus, as are full flat grinds. I'd also like to TRY to keep it under $30, though I'd consider slightly more. The thing is I don't want it to be so nice that she's afraid of hurting it (like she is with my personal kitchen knives). Any thoughts? :o
 
for a plain edge, I'd suggest an Opinel paring knife at SMKW.
other than the victorinox (I know, not rubber handles), I can't think of a decent serrated low end kitchen blade.
I'd suggest a CS kitchen knife for the grip, but I really hate their serration pattern.
 
Victorinox makes a nice serrated paring knife.

If there is no stainless/ carbon preference -Old Hickory makes some nice carbon steel kitchen knives (non-serated)
 
Serrated is rather specialized. Wushtof makes a nice 3" model that I have & use. There's a new Shun serrated parer in the Williams Sonoma catalog. Looks great actually. They show a great paring set by Shun that I don't see elsewhere. Henckels makes nice 3" and 4"' serrated parers as well. If she only uses one knife, a 4" is more useful than a 3".
 
Hey myright..........I've been wanting that Shun model for sometime. If anyone out there has it, please share with us your impressions. Thanks
 
D2FB said:
How about the Victorinox Rosewood Paring Knife Serrated Edge
Click to expand...

That's looking like the most likely candidate out of the options so far. I think those that mentioned Shun didn't notice that I was trying to keep it below a scant $30. :p

I realize that wanting serrations really makes this tricky...but that's exactly why I'm looking for help! The serrations are useful since she often cuts on plates and the like (she tries not to, but old habits die hard and you don't argue with a pregnant lady with a knife, even if she just dulled it! :D)
 
If you can find the Pure Komachi line by Shun, those would be more in your price range. Bought an entire set of Pure Komachi 2 at Costco for $25.

3644970333_52cea93ff6_o.jpg


One of the posters in an earlier kitchen knife thread said a good place to look for kitchen knives is:

http://www.chefknivestogo.com/

Knife Center also has a kitchen knife site:

http://www.kitchenknives.com/kitchen-knife-styles.html
 
You may be able to find something you like at a Crate & Barrel outlet store. They always have good quality.

No serrations , but IMO the best kitchen knives are the old high carbon wooden handled you can get from second hand stores at <=$5.
 
Humor her with whatever serrated you settle on, but throw in a pair of the Opinels. Nobody ever has enough paring knifes and she'll get around to using them sometime. Don't urge, don't explain, just slip them into the block or drawer and wait. The pair are only about $12.

I'm also partial to a Mora 760 in the kitchen. It's a little thick for some stuff, but will it ever turn cheap quick sale beef into stew chunks! The logic of paying more for stew beef than for a chuck roast or sirloin tip steak totally escapes me. I prefer chunks to hamburger for chili, and make a pot pie now and then, so I rarely pass up a chuck roast on quick sale.
 
Well, thanks for the help, guys! I actually ended up finding the ideal knife for her on my own. The Victorinox/Forschner 4.75" rosewood serrated paring knife, model 40003. I hadn't see it before, since Victorinox lists it under steak knives, in spite of the name. :rolleyes::p It's a fair amount larger than the more common Victo paring knives, and should be perfect to replace her current knife. :)

40003.jpg
 
My wife would likely love that 4.75" Victorinox knife also. Most people aren't into knives. They just pick one up....whatever is close by.. and start slicing.
 
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