J.A. Henckels International Classic 8-Inch Stainless-Steel Chef's Knife

Product Description

Classic 31161-201 8" Chefs Knife

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12930 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Henckels
• Model: 31161-201
• Dimensions: 1.00" h x 2.00" w x 13.00" l, .70 pounds

Features

• Large-sized 8-inch multipurpose chef's knife for chopping, mincing, slicing and dicing
• Made of stain-resistant carbon steel that's hot drop forged for durability
• Triple riveted handle surrounds a full tang
• Full bolster provides weight and ensures safety
• Handwash with mild cleanser; lifetime warranty

Amazon.com Review
A good chef's knife becomes your daily kitchen companion. It's used for everything from prepping steaks for the grill to finely mincing onions, and chances are you'll reach for it every time you cook--so it better be good. This lower-priced line from Henckels is a great value: excellent quality knives with their standard lifetime warranty. There's good balance, and the handles are a shade heavier than other lines, which some cooks will prefer. The 8-inch blade length is the most practical for multipurpose use, and regular sharpening will keep the stainless-steel blade razor-sharp. It's only minimally flexible, which makes it a great choice for vegetables such as potatoes and turnips. While it's dishwasher-safe, unless it needs sanitizing after use with raw meat, it's often easier to hand wash. --Jill Lightner

Customer Reviews

Best knife I've ever used
I don't know why anyone would spend more on a knife, unless they were looking for a status symbol rather than a useful tool. This is by far the best knife I've ever handled or owned. If you haven't updated your chef's knife for ten or twenty years (I used to have a '70s Sabatier), check out the new ones.

The high-carbon stainless steel used here sharpens and cuts as well as old knives without staining. It has scratched slightly during washing, but still shines spotlessly. The knife is stiff and thick -- the blade is about a quarter-inch across at its base. The handle is longer than I'd like (since I grip the base of the blade, like many chefs and wannabes), but it serves to balance the knife very well. The balance is actually a bit handle-heavy, so if the knife falls, it falls handle first.

A great cutter, but a bit heavy for everyday slicing -- I'm getting the 6" version too.

(Update: Henckels's warranty service also deserves praise. Eight years of continuous but gentle use after getting this knife, the handle began to separate from the steel tang. I dropped Henckels an email, they requested that I mail the knife in, and two weeks later a brand-new replacement was at my door.)

Nicely weighted
This mid-priced line of Henckel knives, called "Classic" by the company, is a full-tang, single-piece, three-rivet line with sturdy black plastic handles. The handles are notched at the end to prevent the hand from sliding off during use. Although they are not razor sharp right from the package, their edges are sharp enough for the average cook. According to Henckel, all knives in this line are dishwasher safe, but you should expect more rapid dulling under the harsh conditions.

The chef's knife is perfectly weighted toward the blade for efficient chopping, especially if you use the chef's technique of lifting the base of the blade but not the tip. The arc of the curve falls more toward the middle of the blade than it does on my other brands of chef knives, creating more of a rocking motion than a straight up-and-down. The handle is ample for even the largest of hands, but not so large to be inconvenient for those with smaller hands like me.

An excellent value
About a month ago I looked at the motley assortment of knives in my kicthen and resolved to get one decent chef's knife. I didn't wanted to spend a fortune, but at the same time I didn't want a cheap piece of garbage that was impossible to sharpen. Luckily I found this Henckels.

The handle appears to be synthetic; it grips like wood, but doesn't swell up, loosen or stain. Fits the hand nicely, too. At 8" long it's a good all-around blade, suitible for almost all kitchen cutting needs. It's got some heft to it as well. Made of high-carbon stainless, it holds a very sharp edge but it's not impossible to sharpen. A few strokes on the steel every time I use it keeps the edge cutting like new.

My knife block has now been reduced to just two blades: A serrated knife for bread and other tough skinned items, and this.