Top of the chops: knife brands examined
There are many knife brands and just like cars they can be cheap and cheerful or expensive and designer.
They vary from low quality mass produced knives to bespoke works of art.
Here, the UK's favourite local knife sharpening service will run through the most common ( and a few esoteric brands ) to give you our honest appraisal.
At Blade & Butler we sharpen thousands of these knives every week across the UK so are in a great position to rate them against each other and also against their price.
We'll keep it short and to the point. Links to manufacturer's website in titles.
1. Victorinox.
Fantastic quality steel. We find their steel is universally excellent and consistent.Slightly soft which sharpens up a treat. A no frills design but for quality Vs cost, this is probably our winner.
2. Global.
Probably the most recognised on the high street. Global did great PR in the 90's and the general public took to the novel stainless steel handle concept with much enthusiasm.
As a knife they are mid table. We'd give them a 7/10. The steel on good batches is decent however the quality varies wildly and some knives we receive have poorer quality steel. Global's tend to pit rust if you dishwasher them and there are many fake Global knives for sale on line so best purchase from a reputable retailer. The paring knives we find are particularly dangerous as the handles are so thin without bolsters that wet hands can easily slip onto the knife blade.
3. Wusthof
If push comes to shove, their 'Classic' range is our favourite knife out there for quality V price and reliability.
Excellent quality steel 9.5 / 10. Superb design. Great handles and balance/weight. Slightly cheaper ( -5%) than Global. Sharpen up easily on a steel and rarely rust. If you buy one, you'll have it for life.
Very similar to Wusthof, the Zwillings ( or Henckels as they are more commonly known as ) come in various ranges from high end 'pro' to economy 'chef'. The quality varies but the high end range is similar to Wusthof, though we find the steel to be a little harder and they don't sharpen up quite as easily.
5. Sabatier
Sabatier used to make their own knives until they licensed their brand name to various manufacturers around the world. Now Sabatier is just a brand name made by around 5 - 10 different companies. Most now located in the far east. Needless to say the quality varies greatly. Some makes are decent enough, some are poor. It is difficult for the buyer to determine which Sabatier is best to buy.
A similar knife to Victorinox but at a slightly cheaper price point. Good consistent steel and decent balance. Only come in polymer composite handles though. A no thrills but good quality knife choice popular on the high street.
A slightly heavier knife with an unusual handle shape and design. Decent quality steel which we give an 8/10 however these knives are thick tapered and dull quicker than other thinner tapered brands.
8. Rober Welch
A common knife that frequents our workshops. A decent softer quality steel that we give a 7.5/10 to. Comfortable handles. Some blades namely the chef and utility knives have an unnecessarily thicker taper at the cutting edge which does not help longevity of sharpness.
In our opinion, without question, the most beautiful knives on the planet. Aesthetically gorgeous to look at.
As these knives are genuinely hand made their tolerances vary compared to stamped mass produced knives. Generally a softer steel than most brands, but this is not a bad thing. A little too blade heavy and handle light in our opinion for the price paid. Excellent steel and generally thin tapered at the cutting edge for fine cuts.
