Which kitchen knife to give as a gift?

You've decided to give a beautiful kitchen knife (or several) to someone close to you. But which one are you going to give? There are so many different kinds of knives out there, it can be hard to choose. KnifeLeader gives you a helping hand and we take a look at the essential features when choosing a knife. You'll then have all the knowledge you need to give the right knife to the right person, and be sure to please!

Gift knives: what type of blade to choose?

A smooth blade

This is the most common blade shape. It can be made from a variety of steels, but we'll come back to this below. This knife is suitable for everyone. You can offer it to bothamateur andprofessional chefs. Giving a smooth-bladed knife means giving a knife that can be used every day! With a smooth-bladed knife, you can cut absolutely any kind of food, from the softest to the hardest. For professional sharpening, why not also give a sharpening gun? Complete the picture by sharpening with a stone, and your knife will retain all its sharpness!

A damascened blade

Damascening originated in Japan. The technique has been practised for many years by Japan's greatest master blacksmiths, and now by cutlers the world over. The practice consists of covering the blade with several layers of steel, both soft and hard. The number of layers can be as many as 300! It calls for a certain know-how and impeccable technique! A damascened blade is much more resistant to impact and less susceptible to corrosion. To make matters worse, damascus gives the blade an ultra-design and unique look, since each layer is different! You can cut all types of food with this blade. Damascus can be found on a chef's knife, a bird's beak knife or a bread knife. The damask knife is the ideal gift for design fans!

A honeycomb or hammered blade

This "fluted" blade prevents sticky foods from sticking to the blade. Foods such as tomatoes, fish and potatoes tend to stick to the blade when cutting. Thanks to the honeycombs on the blade, air can get in and loosen the food as you cut, without damaging it. The result is nice, clean slices. This type of blade is found mainly on santoku knives.

The hammering technique is also effective here. As the surface of the knife is irregular, it prevents food from sticking to the blade. Hammering, like damascus, gives the knife an original look.

You couldgive a honeycomb or hammered knife to a loved one who appreciates precision and a job well done. The slices will be less likely to break and will be sharper for gratins made to perfection!

A serrated blade

This special blade is mainly used for cutting bread, but also tomatoes and eggplants!

The bread knife is undoubtedly the most widely used knife in French households, as bread is an essential part of every meal! Whether it's cereal, sourdough or nut bread, you need the right knife to make delicious slices! Many people still cut their tomatoes with a smooth-bladed knife, yet slicing is so much easier with a serrated blade! It avoids damaging the tomato flesh. Have you ever struggled to cut an eggplant with your chef's knife? Eggplant flesh is sticky and difficult to cut with a smooth blade. Take your bread knife to make life easier!

As you can see, giving a serrated-blade knife is a gift that's sure to please and that will be used every day. Don't hesitate to give a bread knife as a gift, it'll be a sure-fire hit!

Gift a knife: Which steel to choose?

There are several types of stainless steel, with varying degrees of carbon enrichment. To name but a few, there are :

Stainless steel: for chefs and lesser chefs alike

X50CrMoV15 steel is mainly used by European manufacturers, notably German cutlery makers such as Wüsthof. Its somewhat barbaric name refers to its composition. Thanks to its ease of maintenance, it is suitable for both amateur and professional chefs.

VG10 steel is mainly used in Japanese cutlery, and has a high carbon content of around 1% (0.5% more thanX50CrMoV15 steel). This makes the knife blade harder (approx. 60HRC) and the cutting edge will last longer, but the blade will be more complex to sharpen.Sharpening should be done with a whetstone. This steel is often used for damascus blades.

SG2 is a top-of-the-range steel composed of fine-structured steel powders assembled at high density. This gives the blade exceptional sharpness (63 HRC), durability and corrosion resistance. Nevertheless, likeVG10 steel, it remains delicate to sharpen. It is recommended for experienced cooks.

There are, of course, other stainless steels. What do they have in common? They are corrosion-resistant, so the blade will not oxidize (or will oxidize very little) in the presence of moisture.

Carbon steel: a gift for connoisseurs

For example, Blue Paper Steel or Aogami is a carbon steel widely used in Japan. It is used in particular by the manufacturer of the Nakata BS2 range(Wusaki). This high-carbon steel (1.2%) is extremely hard, enabling the blade to be sharpened using very fine-grain whetstones (up to 12,000).

The advantage of carbon-enriched steel is, of course, the quality of the cutting edge! Connoisseurs know that you'll never achieve a similar cutting quality with stainless steel. The downside of carbon-enriched steel is its fragility and susceptibility to oxidation. You'll need to be extremely careful with shocks, preferably choosing a soft wooden board, and never cutting food that's too hard or twisting it. You must also be meticulous when it comes to caring for the blade, which tends to stain very quickly(see our care tips here).

Discover our other steels too!

What type of knife should I buy, for whatuse(s)?

Give a multi-purpose knife: the safe bet

The chef's knife or its Japanese counterpart, the santoku knife, are perfect for all your everyday cutting needs! They're multi-purpose! Their shape enables them to cut, but also to chop and mince!

The paring knife is also very useful for everyday use. It has a short, sharp blade. It can be easier to handle thanks to its smaller size than a chef's knife, and will be more precise when cutting small foods. The gift of one of these knives is a sure bet!

Gift a meat knife to meat lovers

For carnivores or butchers, you can offer a boning knife, or a butcher's leaf. And why not a butcher's case containing all the essential knives?

For those who prefer tasting to cooking, offer a set of steak knives! The Brazilian brand Tramontina or Arcos offer some very attractive, top-quality knives!

Offer a fish knife to sushi fans

The Deba Japanese knife is used for cutting fish flesh. Its wide, heavy blade has several uses: filleting fish and slicing the various parts: head, tail, bones. You can also offer a filet de sole knife, which is lighter and easier to handle thanks to its long, flexible blade.

For sushi lovers, give a Japanese yanagiba knife. With its long, one-sided blade, it's perfect for making thin slices of fish!

Give a vegetable knife to help you eat 5 fruits and vegetables a day

The Nakiri Japanese knife has been specially designed for cutting vegetables. With its rectangular, axe-like shape, you'd think it was designed for cutting bones, but no! The tip of the blade is slightly rounded for faster cutting of vegetables. The result is fine vegetable sticks. It's also great for chopping or mincing vegetables!

The bird's beak knife is similar to the paring knife, but with a curved blade. It can be used to carve, or "turn" as we say in kitchen jargon, fruits and vegetables.

A folding knife for adventurers

Folding oroutdoor knives are ideal for all outdoor activities! They're small, easy to store and sometimes even multifunctional, like the Swiss Army Knife. They'll stand up to all the trials and tribulations of the great outdoors! The person to whom you give it will be able to cut his fishing line, chop wood, go mushroom picking or even free himself from his rope should he be kidnapped by Indians!(you never know...).

Who to give a knife to?

Beginning cooks or CAP/BEP students: a gift that's easy to maintain

For beginners, it's best togive solid, easy-carekitchen knives. Choose knives that are easy to sharpen with a sharpening steel rather than a stone. Avoid carbon steel knives, which are difficult to maintain due to their susceptibility to oxidation. A chef's knife or a utility knife (slightly shorter) will be ideal for a first kitchen knife!

Wüsthof' s Silverpoint range or Sabatier 's Chef range will enable novice cooks to master all kitchen techniques in complete safety!

For professional cooks: a sharp, ergonomic gift

For professionals, we offer high-performance, easy-care kitchen knives with ergonomic handles for long hours of cutting! For this, Wüsthof 's Classic range or Sabatier 's Ideal Inox range are perfect! For a Japanese touch, Global Japanese knives are also recommended! When it comes to knife shape, anything goes: filet de sole knives, chef's knives, paring knives...

For collectors and fans of fine knives: a handcrafted gift

For lovers of fine knives, don't hesitate to give a handcrafted Japanese knife! 100% handmade, each knife is unique! They exude Japanese tradition and craftsmanship! They're so beautiful, you almost don't want to use them to display them in your kitchen. And why not, after all? Brands such as Moritaka, Wusaki Nogami and Yoshimi Kato offer knives with stunning design and sharp cutting edges! A must-have gift for fans of beautiful blades and top-of-the-range knives!

Give the gift of a knife, but at what price?

There are, of course, different price ranges, depending on the model, the quality of the steel used, the brand, the know-how and the amount of work that went into making the knife, as with artisan knives, which are 100% handmade!

Among the most expensive are, unsurprisingly, the masters in the art of cutlery, Japanese knives! Virtually indestructible, they remain the benchmark when it comes to knives. Japan boasts some of the world's finest master blacksmiths and ancestral know-how. Many Japanese cutlers still make their knives by hand. This of course increases the price, but the quality is there! What's more, this process makes each knife unique! You won't find two alike, and it's a worthwhile investment! Expect to pay between 100 and 500 euros for a Japanese santoku knife.

Brands such as Sabatier, Au nain and Fischer are excellent French knife brands offering a vast choice of knives with excellent value for money! Expect to pay between 50 and 150 euros for a French chef's knife.

On the German side, you'll find Wüsthof, which has ranges for amateur cooks like the Silverpoint range and for professionals like the Classic range, as well as Dick, Zwilling or Güde with its ultra-design Kappa range! Expect to pay between 50 and 200 euros for a German chef's knife.

Outdoor folding knives include Opinel, Victorinox, Laguiole, Douk-Douk and more exotic brands such as Mcsuta and Buck. You can expect to pay between 10 and 100 euros for a folding knife.

If you'd like to offer a boxed set of knives, budget between 100 and 400 euros.

To give a block of knives, you'll need to spend between 50 and 300 euros, depending on the number of knives supplied.

To offer a knife case, you'll need to spend between 50 and 500 euros, depending on the number of knives and utensils.

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