Paring knife recommenations.

[John Joseph]

I "creatively acquired" one like this from a boyfriend a long time ago. It's easy to sharpen and stays sharp unless certain people use it to open envelops.
View attachment 1046837

That's a filet knife. I have one just like it----excellent steel btw.

 

[shoobe01]

The main thing you want out of a paring knife is to add an s. Plural. A lot of them for being dirty, different tasks, multiple workers prepping etc. A lot of similar ones, so you have similar performance each time.

We have at least 16 paring knives alone. Most are the Henckels. Variety of these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00068P9J8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But if starting with knives, get this kit as the little serrated one is nice to have also
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007FRWA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also a couple of Victorinox and a Wustoff I think without looking.

I've gone 1000% to plastic handles when getting knives of any sort now. For full size, the Victorinox stamped ones with the Fibrox handles can be had dirt cheap very often as everyone turns their nose up at the blue but it's a great knife. Anyway, all these paring knives work great, and have very good handle shapes, stand anything. We've had many of these for 20 years and do bad things like dishwasher them. No problem.

 

[rust collector]

The main thing you want out of a paring knife is to add an s. Plural. A lot of them for being dirty, different tasks, multiple workers prepping etc. A lot of similar ones, so you have similar performance each time.

We have at least 16 paring knives alone. Most are the Henckels. Variety of these:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00068P9J8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But if starting with knives, get this kit as the little serrated one is nice to have also
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007FRWA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also a couple of Victorinox and a Wustoff I think without looking.

I've gone 1000% to plastic handles when getting knives of any sort now. For full size, the Victorinox stamped ones with the Fibrox handles can be had dirt cheap very often as everyone turns their nose up at the blue but it's a great knife. Anyway, all these paring knives work great, and have very good handle shapes, stand anything. We've had many of these for 20 years and do bad things like dishwasher them. No problem.

It is disappointing to see the Henckels trademark on knives made in China. They all claim to be made of German steel, but in my experience it does not perform like the Solingen specimens. I do agree 100% on the need for multiple knives. I just pared the population down to six.

 

[shoobe01]

Had to search this out and look at what's left of the blade marks. Surprised to find about half of ours are made in China, but they are identical except for marks and the amount of metal removed from sharpening over the years to those that say Germany (or: for the very old ones, nothing about country so I assume Germany).

(Politics aside) I always say that it's about process, oversight, and QA; iPhones are often held up as the very definition of quality... but are made in a sweatshop in China. I suspect this is like that, or all the HK knockoffs that are very good, because there are Germans in lab coats at every step saying "nein, nein,..." But good to keep in mind.

 

[rust collector]

There is no denying that a quality product can be and is made in China. The increasing incidences of counterfeiting, copying the IM of others and the politics have just made me a bit more sensitive in recent years. I did not intend to criticize. Just being a cranky old guy

 

[Jim Watson]

I read that if you wish to import a product from Red China that the first production runs will be right up to spec to confirm your decision to buy from them. After that, stuff gets more cheaply made.

 

[nettlle]

My selections are made on the blade steel. There are better blade steels out there than VG10 but for my price range VG10 has the been the best steel for the money.

And feel free to correct me if I am wrong. If I had my way all my knives would be D2 but D2 is hard to find and expensive.