When purchasing cutlery and cooking tools for their kitchens, discerning consumers and professional chef's are looking for quality and features first, and this is why Messermeister forged cutlery is recognized by culinary professionals and cutlery enthusiasts alike as the finest forged cutlery on the market.

Made in Germany, the knife comes in a padded gift box. To keep the blade sharp, it's best to hand wash this knife in soapy water. -Fred Brack.

Global knifes are forged in Japan from CROMOVA 18 Stainless Steel, a blend of 18 percent chromium for good stain resistance plus molybdenum and vanadium which gives excellent edge retention. High-tech from tip to handle, Global knives from Japan created a sensation when they burst onto the world's culinary stage as an alternative to traditional European-style cutlery. Blades are made of hard molybdenum/vanadium stainless steel and "face-ground" with a long taper rather than a short bevel so edges remain sharp longer than even the best high-carbon stainless-steel knives. Edges also are ground at a more acute angle than traditional European-style knives and arrive from the factory razor sharp. Although Global also makes a heavyweight line for cooks who prefer hefty knives, its original knives-of which this 7-inch Oriental chef's knife (or santoku) is an example-have thinner blades and are lighter than traditional European-style knives. Global also dispensed with bolsters on its original knives to reduce weight. Global achieves balance in these knives by injecting a precise amount of sand for a particular blade style into a hollow handle. To ensure balance is continuous, the sand flows inside the handle as a cook maneuvers the blade. A finger notch between blade and handle provides safety. Stainless-steel handles are Global's most striking feature. They're molded to fit the hand and dimpled to resist slipping. Smaller around than many European-style handles, they're easy for small-handed cooks to grasp, and the seamless construction between handle and blade is more sanitary. This knife's wedge-shaped handle is particularly well engineered for grasping securely with a relaxed hand. Global recommends using a ceramic sharpener or a diamond steel instead of a metal sharpening steel for its knives, supplemented by a synthetic whetstone, a ceramic whetstone, or a Shinkansen Sharpener. Global also makes a sharpening guide set so blades can be honed on a whetstone at the proper angle. Global knives should be hand washed to protect edges. They carry a lifetime warranty against defects and breakage. -Fred Brack.

The Knifesafe sheath is dishwasher safe and features tabs that clamp tight, and rubber pads that hold the knife securely in place for safe storage and transportation. Lamson & Goodnow, the makers of LamsonSharp knives, have been handcrafting cutlery since 1837 in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. Lifetime warranty. Made in the USA. Blade style: 8" Serrated Bread.

Thanks to the rising popularity of sushi and other Asian delicacies, Asian-style knives are now commonly found in American kitchens. The next-to-largest Asian chef's knife in the Twin Cuisine collection, the 7-inch santoku features a straight spine that curves downward to a fairly flat edge that excels at a multitude of chopping, slicing, and dicing food preparation tasks. Hollowed-out ovals along the razor-sharp edge reduce friction during cutting, resulting in paper-thin slices of fish, meat, or vegetables. A versatile addition to any kitchen, the santoku makes a superb gift for the chef who especially enjoys preparing Asian cuisine. -Ann Bieri From the Manufacturer Twin Cuisine is the first quality forged knife to combine the comfort of a truly ergonomic, molded handle with the precision weight and balance of a full horizontal tang. Plus, the Twin Cuisine’s exclusive, award-winning patented handle design is a new standard in fine cutlery (U. S. design patent #D524,121). The series is available in many styles for numerous cutting tasks. Twin Cuisine is also available in a variety of block sets and gift sets. The Twin Cuisine series truly is a masterful blend of form and function. A Higher Standard in Knife Construction Twin Cuisine knives are traditionally forged from a single piece of J. A. Henckels’s exclusive high-carbon, no-stain steel formula. The result is a knife with high durability, professional strength, and weight. Twin Cuisine also uses J. A. Henckels’s Friodur ice-hardening process, which results in a blade that has excellent cutting-edge retention and corrosion resistance. The blade edge is precision honed and laser controlled to maintain a sharper and consistent blade angle. New Ergonomic Handle Technology The Twin Cuisine handle features exclusive new and innovative handle technology: a full horizontal tang without rivets. High-impact polypropylene is bonded with J. A. Henckels’s high-carbon, no-stain steel, resulting in a remarkably comfortable handle with a smooth shape and no gaps. The world-famous Zwilling J. A. Henckels logo is etched on the end of every Twin Cuisine knife handle, indicating its quality. Features Traditional one-piece hot drop-forged construction: Provides high durability, strength, and weight. Laser-controlled edge: Is sharper and stays sharper longer. Has a more consistent blade angle. Friodur ice hardening: Maximum no-stain properties and more blade strength. Improved resistance to corrosion and pitting. Super bolster: Provides weight, insures safety, and adds balance. New, patented full horizontal handle tang without rivets: Provides a strong, smooth, comfortable handle with great control and balanced design. High-carbon no-stain steel, an exclusive J. A. Henckels formula: Nonstaining, nonrusting. Precision-honed blade: Is sharper and stays sharper longer. Dishwasher-safe: Easy care (although hand washing is recommended by J. A. Henckels). Full warranty: J. A. Henckels stands behind all its knives.

Because of the handle shape and balance, the knife stays comfortable during long bouts of food preparation. After use, Chroma knives should be immediately washed and dried by hand, and placed in a storage block for safekeeping. To sharpen, use only a Chroma original 301 ceramic whetstone, never a sharpening steel which can damage the fine blades. Chroma Type 301 knives make exceptional gifts and are covered by a lifetime warranty against defects. -Ann Bieri.

The material used will resist sudden temperature changes (from -40 degrees C to +150 degrees C), corrosive agents and detergents. This means that the knife can be cleaned in a dishwasher and sterilized. The handle is perfectly balanced with the blade. The handle's green color makes the knife immediately visible on the work bench: greater safety at work. The shape of the handle was designed at the computer. By creating the Premana Professional collection, the aim of Coltellerie Sanelli S. p. A. is to make a decisive contribution to improving safety, reliability and hygiene at work. No other collection of professional cutlery currently available has all these properties. The Premana Professional collection knives are covered by European and U. S. patents.