Serrated stainless-steel steak knives came into widespread household use post WWII. Prior to that all steak knives required frequent sharpening and polishing mainly due to manufacturing limitations. In the ’50s heat treatment of stainless-steel was introduced which allowed kitchen knives to remain sufficiently sharp without the need for a serrated blade surface, however, by that point in time, serrated steak knives had become well-established and continue to be used today.

Below are a few brands of some of the best to fit even the tightest budget:

Best All Around

Shun 4-Piece Steak Knife Set with Damascus stainless-steel blades that comes in a bamboo box.Each knife in Shun’s Classic 4-Piece Steak Knife set has the features that makes a great steak knife what it should be. Shun forges their blades out of stainless-steel that is comprised of 16 micro-thin layers of high-carbon steel (commonly referred to as Damascus). The blades are super-sharp, durable, and rust-resistant.

Shun classic steak knives are NSF-certified to meet the high-level safety standards required of professional kitchens. The handles are made out of durable “PakkaWood” (an engineered wood/plastic composite material commonly used in knife handles and other objects that see rough wear.) which resists moisture and are shaped to fit comfortably and balanced in the hand. Each 4-piece set (shown) comes in an attractive bamboo presentation case. $349.95; williams-sonoma.com

Best Value

TheForschner Rosewood Steak Knife set is by far the best priced. They’re blades are razor sharp, and the handles are made of rosewood. Around $140 for a set of 6; chefknivestogo.com

Most Attractive Steak Knife Sets

This is subjective but I find the Global Steak Knife set to be extremely attractive.

The box they come in looks a little cheap and the handles metal but the 4-piece set is inexpensive in comparison and the blades holds their edge well. Around $220; casa.com

Best Steak Knife Set For Heavy Use

If you plan on using your steak knives alot you’ll need those that have beveled edges that can hold up to the demands of cutting on plates and repeated washing.

The Wusthof Classic Steak Knife Set mets the requirements. They can withstand lots of use and abuse – plus they come with a lifetime warranty. That should tell you something. Starting at $190 for a set of 6; metrokitchen.com

Best crafted high end steak knives

Forge de laguiole steak knife setWe all know that the French make great wines but another product that many may not be familiar with are steak knives, particularly those produced by Forge de Laguiole from the town of Laguiole (these steak knives should not be confused with production Laguiole steak knives made in the same town.).

Forge de Laguiole steak knives are hand-forged and handcrafted with solid bolsters and blades.Their handles are wide and thick as opposed to many other brands of steak knives whose handles are more slender. Pricey at $300-800; frenchknives.com

If that is out of your price range, and understandably so, the production Laguiole steak knives are well-priced at around $140 for a set.

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