2 comments about Chicago Cutlery Metropolitan 5-1/2-Inch Utility Knife.

1. Great knife, the blade was sharp, larger than I expected since it is wider from the base than my previous knife and is well sized. I bought it mainly because of the price and as a substitute for one that was used as as a screwdriver substitute at home where the point was damaged. I disliked the handle, I thought they could have used better material.



2. I bought this for my Mom. She raves about what a great knife this is!

5 comments about Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Spartan.

1. I started carrying one of these nearly 25 years ago, when I read an article in American Photo about what professional photographers had in their camera bags. Two of the four bags they went through had one of these. At the time I was an aspiring pro, so I got one, too.
   
   I must have half a dozen of them: Thinking I have lost my beloved pocket knife, I've replaced it many times only to find it under a couch cushion or car seat after I've bought a new one.
   
   I carry one every day and I use it every day. To open mail, to trim drawings, to auger a hole in something, to pick my teeth, even a few times to open wine. I've tied them to nylon cord and tossed them over a tree limb to lift a food bag out of bear range on backpacking trips. A friend of mine borrowed my knife to gut and dress a rabbit.
   
   All of them have been this model, save one. That one is a similar knife made by Wenger, the other official Swiss Army Knife maker, and sold with the Buck name on it. It has a stylish black handle, but because it's not bright red, it is more easily lost. The main blade wiggles, which has never happened to any of my Victorinoxes, though some have been abused.
   
   Get the Victorinox and skip the Wengers.



2. This wonderful knife has been around the world with me and on many miles of wilderness trails. But I recently had to take an unplanned plane trip and had to surrender it to airport security.
   
   I was crushed, but was very happy to see it is still being made.
   
   A classic.
   
   Enough stuff to get you through many crises like no corkscrew for the wine or a lose screw on the camp stove, but not so much it wears a hole in your pocket after a few back pack trips. Right up there with duct tape and hot glue!



3. There was an occasion that I needed to buy a bunch of small gifts and I saw this general purpose pocket knife on sale for $11. I compared it with many other similar models of Swiss Army knives (Waiter, Tourist, etc), and decided to go with this one. It has just the essential tools that one needs for everyday use, not bulky. People usually get to use the knife blade more often than other tools, so it is good that this model has two knife blades. It has separate bottle/can openers, which is more easier to use. I chose corkscrew over Philip screwdriver because I knew that this particular group of people would prefer it for their purposes. I only wish it came with scissors, but those models with scissors usually have other tools that one doesn't use everyday and they are bulky to carry around. Spartan, the best everyday knife from Swiss Army, couldn't be happier with this choice.



4. I have 5 saks, which made my friend joke with me ("But the point of those things is not to use one device?") I carry a tinkerer with me all the time, but for trips where opening a wine bottle will be more useful than opening a computer case the spartan is the choice. It is small, will not make a bulge on your pants, and has the most useful functions. It is so useful that I left it in my pocket going through security in the airport. Well, I bought another one now, and also a compact, which might become my daily sak.



5. I was given a Spartan Swiss Army Knife in 1996 and carried the knife with me everywhere for 12 years. I worked extensively overseas and used this knife on a regular basis and because of it's size, it was easily carried and unobtrusive. One of the most handy features to me was the corkscrew. I couldn't tell you how many times this little item saved the day. It was only until I recently lost the knife that I resorted to buying a replacement or would be still carrying it today. I had found other knives similar to the Spartan but with a philips screwdriver instead of a corkscrew and it just wasn't the same. This is a high quality product that will last for years, if you don't lose it first! A perfect all purpose knife.

No comments about Kuhn Rikon Colori Nonstick Utility Knife, Black.

5 comments about Shun Classic 6 Inch Utility Knife.

1. First off, this knife is beautiful. The wood handle and steel cap give it a sophisticated look, but most of all, it is the Damascus blade that really makes it a show-off.

   Back before guns, a lot of effort went into making steel sharp for swords. The Damascus technique involves folding steel tens or hundreds of times to achieve the ultimate in sharpness, and it dates back hundreds of years.

   This knife is a reference to those ancient swordmakers, but not exactly. Unlike true Damascus knives, Shun knives are laminated: the inner layer is a high-tech piece of expensive super-steel (called VG-10) and the outer layers (protecting the inner and bringing down the cost) are a more ordinary stainless steel. Unlike the swords of old, only the outer layers on this knife are folded. The VG-10 inner part, the part the edge is made from and the part that cuts, is a single forged piece. So in this knife, the Damascus pattern is more for looks than performance. Perhaps it also helps keep food from sticking.

   However I don't care what it is for - it looks fantastic. It also gives an exotic, handmade look to your kitchen cutlery. Normally Damascus knives are much, much more expensive.

   As for cutting, the VG-10 super steel combined with the Japanese obsession with ultra-thin, ultra-sharp edges make this knife wickedly sharp. The VG-10 core is designed to keep an edge for a long time, however all straight edged knives will need sharpening. If you never bother to sharpen your knives, get a serrated knife instead.

   The handle is a wood product. It is based on wood, but resin-injected and sealed so it repels water. Shun advertises it as dishwasher safe, but that would be like putting your fine china in the dishwasher - you could do it, but why take the chance? If you do dishwash it, you might want to take it out before the drying cycle, and keep the blade away from anything that could nick it.

   This knife is very light and sharp. The 6" length is very useful to me. I use it sometimes as a slicer, sometimes as a parer, and sometimes as a sandwich knife. It has become my main go-to knife for small jobs. Unlike other, duller knife brands, this straight-edge knife has no problem cutting bread or tomatoes.

   All in all, this is my ideal balance of performance and looks. There are cheaper knives on the market that perform just as well (some 1/3rd the price) but none that look as good, at any price. It is worth it to me, especially since knives generally last for decades, sometimes lifetimes.




2. The Utility Knife is definitely one you want in your collection, but I would rank it as the top 5, not the top 3.
   
   Shun knives are beautiful creations period. Since I'm Asian, I love the tradition look and feel of this Japanese knife. I love the beauty of the blade and the dark, polished, Pakkawood handle. The unique "D"-shaped, Wood handles are preferable. The shape fits my hand perfectly, and the wood does not get slippery when wet - providing a very secure hold. The steel is of utmost quality and sharpness. Do not put this blade into any old electric knife sharpener! Electric knife sharpeners are made to put one angle on any blade. These blades come with a 16 degree angle and you don't want to be changing that angle. There are electric knife sharpeners that can sharpen these knives, but you'll have to do some research and find out which ones can be a fit with these knives. I prefer to hone with a sharpening steel and manually sharpen with a stone if necessary (and I don't see it being necessary to touch it to a stone any time soon). The blade is sharp straight off the factory and as Alton Brown says - it's the sharpest straight out of the factory edge as he's ever seen.
   
   These knives are more expensive than most, but I think it's definitely worth it. To have the sharpest, most beautiful knife around - it's no contest. If you are on a budget, build your collection slowly. It's been said that there are only 3 knives that are the absolute basics for any kitchen: A 8" Chef's Knife, a Paring Knife, and a Long Serrated blade for cutting bread and larger items. I would add a thin utility knife and a boning knife to that list next. Then I would add those "in-between" sizes as I get more money flow in. =)
   
   If you plan on spending any time in the kitchen, good kitchen knives are a definite must. Preparation is the bulk of cooking and when you have good knives, it cuts down on the danger of cutting yourself, it adds pleasure to the work, and it cuts down on prep time. Knives are also a very personal choice and it's best to at least go to a store and try it out for yourself first. Shun Knives are designed by the Japanese, so remember - it's designed for small hands. This makes it fit most women's hands perfectly, but I've heard of guys with larger hands not like it so much and going back to the German knives. So definitely try it out. It's a personal thing, it needs to fit you.
   
   Why spend so much money on a knife? Well, if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and you almost always have to bust out a knife to prep a meal from scratch - why not use the best? Why spend that time with items that you love and brings you pleasure to use? Many times, it's the small things that brings us the most pleasure in life, and I consider my Shun knives as one of those things. Having something so beautiful and yet so sharp and perfect - it makes my time cooking just that much more enjoyable.
   
   Another good thing to know is that although the Shun Knives are usually offered for right-handers, you can get these knives for left-handers. You just need to find the guys who stock and sell those ones as they are less known, and less common.



3. Update 9/10/07: Before purchasing this knife separately, check out the Shun Classic U2 (Ultimate Utility) Knife. You may like it better.
   
   I believe if you're serious about cooking, you should own great cookware and excellent knives. I finally stepped up and got excellent knives. For those who haven't heard the hype, Shun is one of the most respected knife brands in the world. Check them out on the Web at [...].
   
   Great features of the entire line include these cool "D" shaped handles that fit your hand better. Each knife is made in a right- and left-handed version ([...] for lefties). The steel used for the blades is harder than what you would find in most other knives. The knives are EXTREMELY sharp. One thing to note about Asian knives is that they must be sharpened at a different angle, 16-18 degrees vs. 20 degrees for German knives. The Shun steel takes the guesswork out of getting the angle correct because of the flat edge on one side of the metal disc below the handle.
   
   It's been a while since I've had a utility knife, but I'm learning quickly. If you're building your set and want to take care of the must-haves first. Move this down on your priority list. Get the chef's, paring and bread knives first. With that said, there is a place for this knife in your kitchen. As with all of my other Shun knives, this one is extremely sharp and it's relatively light. It doesn't take as much force to slice and chop.
   
   This is an expensive, but lifetime investment. I encourage you to visit stores and feel the knives in your hand to make sure you are comfortable with them. For more info on Shun, check out Alton Brown's website. For ratings on various brands and types of knives, check out [...]' equipment ratings.
   
   This is probably the best kitchen purchase I've made and the one I'm most proud of.



4. After 10 years in the kitch, I have good skills with knife.
   
   But, first day with this knife, I cut my finger. Shun cuts yam like tofu, it happen so fast that I wasn't even able to react to it. I need to be extra careful with this blade.



5. Not much more to add to the legendary built and quality of Shun. Great knife and a pleasure just looking at it!

5 comments about Global 4-1/2-Inch Utility Knife.

1. I use my Global chef's knife for nearly everything in the kitchen. But some of the more delicate kitchen tasks require the care and precision that is just plain difficult with an 8 inch blade. That's when I pull out this bad boy. It has the same razor sharp blade and stylish good looks as its big brother, but in a much smaller package. I use this knife for every small task ranging from segmenting oranges to coring or filleting strawberries.
   
   Just beware... Many of my coworkers who have big hands or "sausage fingers" find this knife a little too... well, little. If that is your case, you may want to skip Global and find a paring knife with a larger handle.



2. This replaced my Henckel 4 inch paring knife, which could never stay sharp. So for the Global works a treat. I'll probably need to get a stone to keep it as sharp as it was when it arrived, but a standard steel keeps it easily sharp enough to use. I don't know why I ever hesitated to buy one.



3. Global knives are top of the line. Beautiful ergonomic style. High-end Cromova steel alloy for super stay-sharp blades



4. As with all Global knives, the blade is outstanding. The handle on this knife is really too small though. I'm a man with medium sized hands and a touch of arthritis and find that it can be a bit cramp inducing to peal more than a few pieces of fruit with this knife. Our other Global knives are excellent to my hand.



5. I have owned and used my set of Global Knives for 5+ years now and have enjoyed using them.
   
   One of the good things about Global knives is that they keep an edge much longer than do other knives. This is achieved by using a very hard steel alloy.
   
   The down side of this is that hard steel is very brittle and care must be taken not to subject the blade to twisting forces or impact/shock.
   
   My wife dropped my utility knife from waist height onto the kitchen floor and the blade broke in half.
   
   This is not covered by the global warranty.

5 comments about Victorinox Swiss Army Swiss Champ XLT.

1. I have been carrying a Swiss Champ for the last 15 years. As a computer consultant, electronics hobbyist, woodworker, and Scout leader I use the knife constantly.
   
   As the Swiss Army line has been growing, I have been having "tool envy" over the newer, slicker knives with the translucent cases, multiple bit screwdrivers and USB drives. I was loath to switch to the tech tools because I would be losing some of my favorite items like the magnifying glass.
   
   When I saw the XLT, my initial reaction was, "It must be mine"! Then rationality took over. I would be adding almost a pound and about 1/2 of an inch to an already extreme pocket load. On the other hand, it had the cool ruby case, lots of extra "stuff" and the freak-out factor when people see it was worth at least $25.00 over the life of the knife. I was sold.
   
   For the extra mass, volume and cost here is what you get over the standard Swiss Champ:
   
   pharmaceutical spatula: This is a 1" long flat non-cutting item. It's intended use is to get small amounts of powder out of containers. My family refers to it as the "coke spoon". Good for stirring coffee, unsticking stuck things and moving stuff you do not want to touch.
   
   Electrician's blade: This is a half-sized blade, about 3/4 inch high. It has a hooked shape that makes it look a little like a linoleum knife. It also includes a notch for scraping wire. It's intended use is for removing insulation from wire. It is great for cutting carpet, cardboard and those annoying wire-ties.
   
   Pruning blade: Another half-size blade. This one looks a little like a meat cleaver. Very flat blade, it is designed to remove small shoots and branches from plants cleanly. This is a great blade: it is wonderful for clean cuts in soft wood and plastic. I use it as a hobby knife like an x-acto #2.
   
   Driver: This is a 3 inch bit holder and a set of bits. The holder is 4mm hex. The bits include #0 and #1 Philips, a 4mm straight bit, 5,10 and 15mm Torx bits and a 5mm socket. This is really handy. You get a full sized screwdriver with a beefy handle. The Torx bits are nice, and they came in handy when emergency replacement of a headlight was called for.
   
   All in all, it is a great product. The only thing that it lacks is the USB drive, and I guess I can carry one of those on my keychain. It is heavy and it is very wide, about 50% heavier and about the same size as a standard flip open cell phone. But it does have incredible geek chic!



2. This knife is amazing, I have been collecting Victorinox knives since I was 8 and have over 75, so I am a very qualified person in this subject. This is an amazing knife it has every basic tool plus more, you can even use it to hammer in a nail, (but don't use the handles). The only problem with it is the size makes it hard to grip and use the awsom screwdriver. If you want it mainly for the screwdriver I suggest buying 1 of the cybertools because they are smaller and way easer to grip. I work as a yacht captain and use the cybertool 34 every day. The amazing thing about Victorinox is that they make a knife, (or as I perfer the term multi tool because if you've noticed it doesn't only have a knife), so first befor you buy a knife check out which one fits your purpose. lastthing is stay away from the cheep Wenger knives, they are not as good and Victorinox is the Origional and Wenger is a fake copy cat.



3. I have about a dozen Swiss army knives both Wenger and Victornox, This knife has all the best features and has a wonderful fit and finish! Outstanding!



4. I've owned my XLT since shortly after it came out, and it is absolutely the best knife I've ever owned, even better than the SwissChamp I'd carried for 10 years prior. I work as a computer tech, and this knife has about 90% of the tools I need to fix a computer, all in a (relatively) small package that I can carry in my pocket. It's got things like Torx and Hex bits, and the bit driver is exactly the perfect size for tightening the little nuts on either side of a D-SUB connector (VGA, Parallel, Serial port, etc). Even the little straight pin has come in handy for resetting PDAs. I have used every single tool on this knife except the fish scaler. Heck, even the toothpick has proven useful!



5. Bought this model for my girlfriend who happens to like the Swiss Army line and I bought the huge xavt for myself (You can see my review on that). Excellent quality and many useful features. Don't be afraid to use it - it's solid.

5 comments about J.A. Henckels Twin Four Star 5-Inch High Carbon Stainless-Steel Serrated Utility Knife.

1. Great knife, Henckles knives are typically of excellent quality with excellent warranty.



2. I have many of the Henckels knives. This one is, by far, my favorite.



3. It's now time to replace this "most used knife in the kitchen". We bought it 4 years ago, but now most of the serrated area is worn away. This value level of knife should last longer than that. As with most serrated knives sharpening is not recommended, this really diminishes the value. Honing does keep the blade somewhat sharp--but not like a good sharpening would do. Since they don't last very long it may be wiser to purchase lower priced knives--that's what I'm looking for now.



4. This is a great, basic serrated knife. Not too big, not too small. Works wonderfully for a variety of kitchen jobs, including hard cheeses, tomatoes, cooked meats.
   
   This is my second one. My first one got "borrowed" -- and I couldn't make it a week without buying the replacement! (The first one was at least 10 years old, and it looked as good and worked as well as the day I bought it...even though my husband kept putting it in the dishwasher instead of washing it by hand. Grrr.)



5. I had one of these for years as part of a set but it got lost somewhere along the line. I put off buying a new one because of the cost but now that I have it back I can honestly say it's worth the money and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one immediately if this one ever goes missing.

3 comments about Oxo Good Grips Professional 5-Inch Serrated Utility Knife.

1. Not as good as the better brands, but doesn't have their price-tag either. For everyday slicing, esp. bagels, bread, cake, etc. this is a very comfortable and useful knife. Although I have high-end knives for real prep work, this probably gets more use as an all-around, easy to grab knife.



2. I purchased this knife for my aunt who has arthritis and has trouble gripping objects.She found the knife to be very comfortable to hold, well balanced and sharp enough to cut a ripe tomato. I have always been impressed with OXO kitchen tools and this knife is no exceptionOXO Good Grips Professional 5-Inch Serrated Utility Knife.



3. Dear Knife, Where have you been all my life? How could I have lived for so long without you? I love to hold you in my hands everyday and cut to my hearts content. My hands never tire of holding you. You stun all the other knives with your serrated sharpness. May we both live long happy lives with each other. XXXX

3 comments about Shun Classic U2 (Ultimate Utility) Knife.

1. I believe if you're serious about cooking, you should own great cookware and excellent knives. I finally stepped up and got excellent knives. For those who haven't heard the hype, Shun is one of the most respected knife brands in the world.
   
   Great features of the entire line include these cool "D" shaped handles that fit your hand better. Each knife is made in a right- and left-handed version ([...] for lefties). The steel used for the blades is harder than what you would find in most other knives. The knives are EXTREMELY sharp.
   
   If you're building your set and want to take care of the must-haves first. Move this down on your priority list. Get the chef's, paring and bread knives first. With that said, there is a place for this knife in your kitchen. As with all of my other Shun knives, this one is extremely sharp and it's relatively light.
   
   This is great for sandwiches; you can use one knife to do everything well. I like the wider blade on this better than the narrow utility and tomato blades. This knife does not replace the bread knife, but it is good for small quantities of bread. I quickly tired of it when I used it to prep French bread for bread pudding.
   
   This is an expensive, but lifetime investment. I encourage you to visit stores and feel the knives in your hand to make sure you are comfortable with them. For more info on Shun, check out Alton Brown's website. For ratings on various brands and types of knives, check out Cooks llustrated's equipment ratings.
   
   Unless you are a daily sandwich fiend, make this one of the last knives you get to complete your set. It is certainly a nice knife, but not as crucial as other knives. My only regret is that I already own the tomato and utility knives.



2. I thought I was going to have at least 2 guests at a party try to steal this knife!
   
   After getting a gift certificate at a kitchen store I wasn't sure what to get...but knives always grab me. The young lady who helped me kept pointing me to this Shun knife. The folded steel blade really got me and I could bring it back if it was a bust. My husband loves knives as well and does the sharpening.
   
   One slice with this knife and I was hooked. Then a friend helped prep a party and she immediately picked it up and used it...and started raving about it without any input from me. Then a second friend arrived to help and grabbed the knife and couldn't believe how good it was.
   
   I haven't found anything it doesn't slice well. I'd love a longer version for those bigger bread jobs...though it did 4 loaves of crusty french without a sore hand. Tomatoes don't stand a chance and never lose their shape in the cutting.
   
   This knife is worth every penny and I'll buy another Shun knife when I'm ready....the Chicago cutlery is on its way out for sure now...I'm in my 50's and buying my lifetime knives.



3. This Shun product is a beautful well made knife. The layers of stainless steel in the Damascus style blade form an interesting pattern resembling growth rings in wood. Shun refers to it as the U2 utility knife and while it is balanced, comfortable, and extremely sharp; it probaly won't replace your chefs or santoku kife. It will slice like crazy but because of the curve in the blade dicing or chopping are limited. Consider it a good knife for making sandwiches.

5 comments about Victorinox Swiss Army Deluxe Tinker.

1. This was a Christmas gift to my grandson. I don't think I could have given him a better one. It has all of the functionality that he needs as a Scout.



2. I teach sculpture at a midwestern university. On the first day of class I tell students how important it is to carry a Victorinox Swiss Army Deluxe Tinker knife. I have carried one all of my professional life (35 years) and it is simply the most useful possession I own. It does things that are well beyond it's design intentions and when it breaks, the company stands behind it even if the fault was mine. I cannot recomment the Deluxe Tinker strongly enough. I feel naked without it, especially when I have to fly somewhere. How can I fix the plane if it breaks if I don't have my favorite tools!
   
   Jeff Boshart, Professor



3. This is the smallest Victorinox knife of which I am aware will fit in my pants pocket and contains pliers. The pliers are extremely handy on many occasions. The only faults I find with the knife are the Philip's Head Screwdriver which is almost useless (protruding, as it does, at right angles to the bolster) and a the absence of a corkscrew. I would like to see the knife reconfigured with a useable Philip's Head Screwdriver extending out along the bolster axis like an ordinary blade and a corkscrew replacement for the existing Philip's Head Screwdriver. Other than that it is a fine knife.



4. I used this tool for 2 years as a field computer support guy on a university campus. It was more useful than most of the other items in my kit. Pair this up with a small flashlight and perhaps a hemostat and you have a fantastic field service tool. I had a ratcheting screwdriver as well, which is nice due to the awkward philips driver on this thing.
   
   It's been over 7 years since I left that job, and the knife works like new. I try to think up excuses to buy other knives, and it's hard when so many other knives fit in this category and are absolutely dominated by the SAK.
   
   Some complain about the weight and bulk factor. This is not a very thin knife, and I dislike having to carry it around when I'm trying to travel light. I have some Haggar slacks that are very thin, and carrying a knife like this in those slacks just doesn't work well. With that said though, in many cases I'll put on heavier slacks or take a bag with me so I can bring this knife along. Sadly, I work at home now (boo hoo) so I don't find myself in the weird situations I used to.
   
   If you carry the standard cell phone, keys, and wallet combo, adding this knife to the group may make you yearn for the man-purse (women get off easy). If you're like me and you dabble in photography too, you're lucky in that you can purchase a slightly oversized camera case that fits your cell phone as well and not look like an idiot.
   
   -Tool breakdown-
   Hook: Used for carrying paint-type cans with the thin metal handle. Perfect for this, much more comfortable.
   Awl/punch: Used for drilling through many different materials, hard and soft. Used hole in awl as a pinhole lens when I couldn't find my glasses (try it if you're nearsighted).
   Philips head: Useful for opening computers, but would be more useful if it ran lengthwise rather than perpendicular.
   
   Main blade: Used for cutting bread in the field, spreading butter, cutting sausage, etc.
   Can opener: Used to open cans many times.
   Pliers: Used to unplug cables from electronic boards in tight situations. Used to flip dip-switches. Used to extract cassette tape from broken car tape player. Tape was inserted deep in the player on its broad side and I was able to grab it by the small ridge running down the narrow end of the tape. Used to extract a CD from a finicky Compaq CD drive.
   Scissors: Used to clean up neckties and other clothing with loose threads. Used to trim bandages.
   Small blade: Most-used blade for me. Used most often for opening those dumb plastic packages everything comes in now.
   Bottle opener: Used for opening bottles of martinelli's. Flathead side used for many screws.
   
   Toothpick: A lot of people say this one is useless, but I admit I've used it as a toothpick. It worked, so I won't say any more about it.
   Tweezers: Used mostly for removing splinters. Makes quick work of the simple ones.



5. Without the Deluxe Tinker I'd be just another slack-jawed mouth-breather calling for my drool-bucket to be changed. Eventually I hope to have my Deluxe Tinker implanted in my arm. How could I interact with the modern world without pliers and Phillips screwdriver? I have a subconscious urge to take it onto airliners -- that's how I lost my last one. The scissors confer critical cuticle care. The toothpick makes a fine map pointer. And ever since the plastic actuator broke off the top of my Braun coffee grinder, I have used the awl to press the tiny recessed button that turns on the motor and pulverizes the beans of rapid thought.
   
   This wouldn't be my first choice for a picnic knife (no corkscrew) but nothing beats it for a day in the lab.