reputable cutlery knife brandsThere are a plethora of kitchen cutlery brand names that can found in most retail cookware stores. Which are the best you ask? That’s easy; there is no ‘best’. It’s all about personal choice.

Global

Global Knives & Cutlery are known for their single-piece stainless steel design that makes them lightweight. They produce a thinner blade than most German knives and are they made of a harder alloy of steel than other brands, which allows them to keep a very sharp edge for a long time. That said, because of the harder steel, Global knives are more difficult to sharpen and you can really mess it up by sharpening it yourself, or taking it to the local knife sharpener. In other words, take care when it comes time to sharpen a Global, or you could end up ruining it.

J A Henckels International

J.A. Henckles is a German manufacturing company that has been around for over 200 years. Zwilling’s higher end knife lines includes the TWIN, Four Star, and Professional “S”. Zwilling knives are similar to Wusthof’s knives in terms of weight and feel, and quite comparable with regard to quality and durability. Each knife is jointlessly assembled, which eliminates weak points in its overall construction. Zwilling knives are also rust-resistant. So if you’re considering a heavy German-style knife, try to test drive a Zwilling before making your decision.

Tamahagane

Tamahagane knives are made in Japan. Their blades are made from a hard VG5 steel core which is then clad with stainless steel. The stainless steel on the outside helps protect the knife from moisture damage and corrosion while the hard steel core helps the knife retain its sharp edge after repeated use. Tamahagane knives have beautiful hardwood handles that provide an excellent fit and feel in your hand. Knives by Tamahagane come with a lifetime warranty with normal use and proper care.

Messermeister

Messermeister, headquartered in in Solingen, Germany, produces both German and Japanese-style knives. They are drop-forged from high quality steelwith tapered bolsters. While not as widely known as other knife brands, the Messermeister name is associated with quality. I have a Messermeister potato peeler that is over 10 years old, and it still performs well (having never been sharpened). Messermeister’s German-style knives feel heavier and more substantial than Japanese-style knives. However, Messermeister also has a line called Mu Micarta that is produced in Japan. This line is lighter, made similar to other Japanese-style knives.

Mac Knives

Mac Knives are manufactured in America. Like Victorinox, they are stamped knives, not forged. Stamping produces a thinner, more flexible blade and “razor-like” sharpness—however, some cooks feel that stamped blades are sub-par to forged blades. I’ve come to believe that it’s really a matter of personal preference. A knife shouldn’t be crossed off of your list just because it’s stamped. Mac knives are known for being both light and strong. They are a favorite of chefs Thomas Keller (French Laundry) and Charlie Trotter.

Kyocera

Kyocera offers high-quality ceramic knives. Ceramic knives stay sharp much longer and hold their edge longer than the forged or stamped steel knives. The blades do not absorb any food element; thus making them a a very sanitary knife. These knives are used for cutting soft foods and boneless meats. Kyocera stands behind their ceramic products with their Lifetime Warranty and Lifetime Sharpening.

Sabatier-K

Sabatier-K has been in the knife business for over 200 years. The company itself has not moved from Bellevue, France since its creation. A family business they specialize in cutlery and folding knives. Their knives are made forged from carbon steel or stainless steel.

Al Mar

Al Mar is named after the late Al Mar, a well-known player in the high-end knife industry for many years. Al Mar knives are manufactured in Japan; they are quite beautiful in terms of fit and finish. The knives are known for their ultra-light Japanese design. The drawback of Al Mar is that they have fewer knife styles than larger cutlery companies like Wusthof and Zwilling.

Most if not all of these brands can be purchased online, in culinary speciality stores, such as Williams Sonoma, Sur La Table etc., and in the kitchenware sections of major dept. stores.

Tojiro

Tojiro are known for their excellent steel and great value. While perusing their website, I have found them refreshingly open and honest. They truly want to inform their potential customers on what elements should go into a good kitchen knife.

Wusthof

Wusthof is a family owned company. Since 1814 Wusthof has been providing knives to chefs and cooks. They offer various handle options providing a wide range of grips. Each knife is forged from a single piece of steel alloy (X50 Cr MoV 15). This steel alloy combination allows for the blade to stay sharp, have a longer lasting cutting edge, have a higher stain resistance and is easier maintenance and sharpening.

What makes a Wusthof knife perform so well has to do with how its blade is produced. Each blade is forged from one solid piece of heavy-duty steel, and then its edge is beveled on both sides to form a special “V” shape that allows it to retain its factory sharpness for a very long time without having to be sharpened.

Shun

Shun is an American manufacturer that produces Japanese-style cutlery. Their knife blades are forged from a light-weight steel making them much lighter than their Western counterparts making their ‘out of the box sharpness’ like that of a razor. However that presents a caveat; the blade tends to lose its edge faster.

Victorinox (aka Forschner)

Those of you who’ve ever owned a Swiss Army knife, you know that quality and strength are synonymous with the Swiss Army name. Their kitchen cutlery line, produced under the name of Victorinox/Forschner, lives up to the excellent reputation the Swiss Army has so carefully created. (Victorinox is the sole supplier of multi-purpose knives to the actual Swiss army.)

Victorinox knives are stamped, rather than forged like most high-end knives. Because of this, they’re not as expensive as the other brands on this list. However, many cooks swear by their quality. They’ve repeatedly been singled out by Cooks Illustrated as a “best buy,” performing comparably to more expensive brands. If you’re looking for a quality knife that won’t break the bank, you’d do well to consider Victorinox/Forschner.

Other reputable brands:

In conclusion:

The best way to narrow down your choice(s) is to know your price point. There are low-end, mid-range, and high-end prices for kitchen knives and many popular brand names make more than adequate kitchen knives in all price groups. After selecting your price range, do your homework (online is best) and then visit your local kitchen supply store. Most cutlery sections provide small vegetables so that you can try out each knife to see how well it performs and most importantly how it fits and feels in your hand.