If you are interested in our other reviews have a look at Dalstrong knives or Cangshan knives reviews. After about 4-5 months of solid use I must say that all the knives are amazing! I have to say when I received the knife I was very pleased, the construction is super solid. Although we generally prefer knives with bolsters, we appreciate the chance to use the entire cutting edge. These knives … Maybe this is because of their long history; they’ve had over 100 years to perfect their art. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2017. Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2019. For another interesting article have a look at our best Cuisinart knives review. Today, you can find a wide variety of Kai kitchen knives across several main lines and collections. Kai PRO knives are easily re-sharpened when needed. Trust that you're getting phenomenal cutlery when you choose Kai … Instead, they prioritized making pocketknives before expanding into razors and kitchen cutlery. Today, Seki Magoroku knives are the perfect combo of ancient Japanese sword making techniques and new technologies. Delighted with this knife! It features a cutting angle of 16 degrees on both sides, hand-sharpened to be 32 degrees comprehensively. We noticed that the knife needs regular sharpening which may affect the knife’s longevity. Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2017. The blade also has a rounded tip to provide safety. The unique hammered finish does not only make the knife look beautiful, but it’s also highly functional. As expected, it’s made from the same AUS-6 steel that many people who are looking for a high-quality knife tend to discard. I appreciate this knife much more than I thought I would and prefer it to the Chicago Cutlery bread knife that I also purchased along with this knife. Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Indeed, Kai was created in the Japanese knife center of the world, Seki City, alongside other knife manufacturing legends like Miyabi and Shun (We’ve previously reviewed some of the, Some people mind the Japanese AUS-6 steel. This is also partly because of the hammered finish. Kai Shun 3 Piece Knife Set Review Launched in Japan in 1908, KAI has been manufacturing knives for over a hundred years and produces some interesting product ranges. The only problem is the quality of the blade. Each knife features full-tang construction and a riveted POM handle. It’s surprisingly versatile and will assist you in the kitchen with all sorts of jobs, from finely chopping herbs … Technical innovations and the … Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2019. Covering the full-tang is a black handle made of a combination of bamboo powder and polypropylene. The "bargain" from Kai turns out to be overpriced and ready for the trash. *Due to YouTube’s new monetization policies, I can no longer make money off of my videos. Got this two of these for a beginner sushi chef, and a new prep guy. I am shocked at what I got for the price. For those who are used to working with bigger knives, the Kai Pro 10” chef’s knife might just be the best choice. When it comes to combining the old samurai tradition with the modern techniques of knife manufacturing processes, KAI is probably the best brand in the whole world. However, this knife is worth giving it a chance as the steel is tempered to perfection. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Aside from enhancing the overall balance, full-tang design protects against breaking as well. Kai Knives has been around for more than 100 years, serving customers worldwide with beautiful, high-quality cutlery and accessories that are backed by rigorous quality assurance. You can still see all customer reviews for the product. Sharpened at a fine, 16 degree angle from the both sides, this knife managed to outperform some high-end Western-style knives. Moreover, the Kai Seki Magoroku Damascus 7” Gyuto has one of the sharpest edges, able to hold it for prolonged time. Every knife … It’s made of composite wood that looks and feels like natural wood. Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The effectivity of this knife lies on its razor-sharp and durable cutting edge. This model doesn’t feature a bolster and you’ll either love or hate this fact. This material is widely known for its stability, hardness, and creep resistance. Although the knife offers enough balance due to its size, the full-tang design only further increase the knife’s stability. In addition, it increases functionality by helping food easily release from the blade and by reducing drag. The Shun chefs knife is a fantastic piece of Japanese cutlery that gathers praise and positive reviews all over the world. However, they didn’t begin by making kitchen knives. We’ve spent some quality time with other 6” chef’s knives as well. Kershaw Knives was first started in 1974 by Pete Kershaw, formerly of Gerber Knives.Pete wanted to make his own cutlery based on his own designs, so he launched his own company in Portland, Oregon. However, brands like Kai … Well, Kai Corporation, the makers of Shun knives have. With 16 layers of altering steels on both sides (32 in total) that further protect and support the cutting core. It feels strong, tough, and can take quite a good beating. With the price being what it was I decided to take a chance and make the purchase. Full-tang design also assures that your knife won’t break regardless of the pressure you put on the handle when chopping. Even better, Kai knives are all hand-sharpened before they ship them out, ensuring excellent performance out of the box. Update: After less than two years, the blade has lost its ability to take or hold an edge. Shun knives review helps you understand the difference between different lines of knives the manufacturer offers. Disabling it will result in some disabled or missing features. Due to its versatility, this knife is often found on lists of best chef’s knives. All things considered, Kai is another brand that managed to stole our hearts. However, we’re more interested to see how it performs. These cavities form tiny pockets of air, thus helping release food from the blade. This page works best with JavaScript. to put this knife in the dishwasher. Shun Classic. For both of these guys, this will be their knife. There’s stainless steel bolster and end-cap for improved overall balance. I purchased these knives as a gift for my husband, who loves to cook. Your Kai PRO cutlery … They work very well, and he enjoys using them, but the handles are really small. The handle provides maximum comfort, and there is also a control plastic bolster. Another gorgeous feature is the wooden handle. Knives made from this steel come at a certain price, but we believe it’s totally worth spending a few more bucks for such properties. I've used this to dismantle roasted chickens, cut cheese, slice tomatoes and other veg, and cut sandwiches full of rotisserie chicken into parts. They have a good reputation and use very high quality materials in their knives… The story of this knife begins in the Kamakura period, or more precisely from the 12th century. The finish is responsible for the hollow cavities that you can see along the length of the blade. It’s no surprise that most Kai blades are known for their rust resistance, especially since they use a cobalt steel alloy blend with a Rockwell hardness rating of between 61 and 62, on average. We’ve dealt with few partial-tang knives as well, and we would choose a full-tang design 10 out of 10 times. If you are a true fan of Japanese cutlery, then you surely are aware of the great quality of all Kai kitchen knives.Known for their impressive cutting performance and beautiful designs, Kai knives … The Wasabi Black line of knives by Kai consists of 17 shapes. Once again, the handle is made of POM that you’ve read previously about. Just set your priorities straight, know what you need, and Kai’s there to deliver! Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2018. This creates the watery, flowing texture that many Japanese-style knives are well-known for. This kitchen essential is designed to handle whatever you throw at it. Inspired by the sword smiths that crafted the best Japanese swords back then, Kai introduce their Seki Magoroku range of knives. I'm not gonna go into great detail about this knife, because from the all the good reviews you can probably already tell this is going to be a good buy. Maybe this is because of their long history; they’ve had over 100 years to perfect their art. If you’re an amateur chef, you probably own a knife made from this steel. For the price, you really will be hard pressed to get another paring knife as capable as this. We are big fans of minimalistic style, but there’s no accounting for taste. Kai Wasabi Black Santoku Knife, 6-1/2-Inch. While fine European knives can require honing after each use, Shun's harder steel means you can hone just once a week or so, depending on your level of use. However, brands like Kai manage to balance both aspects and make it look effortless. It also means that it can be sharpened along the full length easily. With this sort of sword and knife making legacy on your doorstep, it isn’t difficult to see why Shun is world renowned for their blades today. The ergonomics of the Japanese knife aesthetic combined with dirt low price is a winner in my book. As our final recommendation, we present to you the Kai Pro 6” chef’s knife. In addition, it features full-tang construction for better balance. AUS-6 is also fairly easy to sharpen. Due to the high-chromium content, the blades made of this steel are highly corrosion resistant. On a positive note, the Kai Pro 6” chef’s knife is sharpened with ease. Each knife boasts a striking, hammered blade finish that is not only beautiful, but helps reduce drag and releases food from the blade quickly and easily. My bff gifted me with a Kai Wasabi Utility knife several years ago and I've been delighted with it so I've purchased the Chef's knife and now this Nakiri knife from the same line. Knives have ebony PakkaWood D-shaped handles; Damascus cladding VG10 cutting core, stainless steel, double-beveled blades. Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2017 The questions and reviews for this knife are apparently all (except the two 2016 reviews) of a set of 6 higher quality knives that were made in Japan. It is very easy to hand wash. Just use a sponge and be careful along the blade. But the blade size on the paring knife is *perfect*, it comes absolutely razor sharp, and I have been able to keep it in great condition. Hand crafted in the USA, Kai offers lifetime warranty, free sharpening and support that … The baby brother from the Pro chef knives family is a force to be reckoned with. Let’s break down some of the best knives that Kai offers right now, and explore what makes them worth your time. Kai Knives Review – Which are the Best Ones? As you probably know, many Shun knives use the VG-10 steel in their production process as it comes with some of the best properties. In all honesty, we haven’t put the knife down since we got it, so the weak edge retention might be our fault. After all, this is the qualities that every knife should have. In addition, these layers enhance the stain resistance properties. The handle is made of PakkaWood … It offers better stability, and the knife won’t break even if you’re putting too much pressure when cutting through solid foods. Although we often return the knives that we test, we don’t seem to be able to part ways with the knives we talked about in this Kai knives review. As far as performance is concerned, the Kai Wasabi Black 8” chef’s knife meets the expectations of home and professional chefs. So absolutely wash them by hand right after using them then dry completely because these are high carbon which will gets spots and or rust. I work in a busy production kitchen in major West Coast city. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, Kai Wasabi Black Santoku Knife, 6-1/2-Inch, See all details for Kai Wasabi Black Santoku Knife, 6-1/2-Inch, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. That said, although considered as a low-end knife steel, we believe that Kai Pro 8” chef’s knife doesn’t show any weakness when it comes to the steel it’s made of. The one knife to cut them all, the Kai Pro 8” chef’s knife, offers everything that Kai and Shun products do, minus the high-price tag. Of course, it features the same beautiful finish. When you’re looking for quality kitchenware, it can be tough to find a brand that provides affordable knives without compromising performance. One of kai's fortes are japanese kitchen knives of special quality and origin. Shun knives lines. Indeed, Kai was created in the Japanese knife center of the world, Seki City, alongside other knife manufacturing legends like Miyabi and Shun (We’ve previously reviewed some of the best Shun knives available on the market). Although it does the same thing as the Kai Wasabi knife… Ridiculously sharp. But budget-minded shoppers will really appreciate that most of their knives are quite affordable, as opposed to other premium manufacturers that may charge exorbitant prices. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. I already had the Kai Wasabi Deba, Usuba, and Yanagiba, which I was happy with. The bright colors of the Kai Pure Komachi knives make them as pleasant to look at as they are to use. Precision machining, superior craftsmanship, ultra-premium materials, and a higher standard of performance. Bamboo is known for its anti-bacterial properties, so you can rest assured that the handle will protect against bacteria and germs. From French bread to dense, chewy, as well as hard breads, this knife handles them all with aplomb. However, 440 grade steels are known for low wear resistance and edge retention. But their kitchen knives deserve special focus. The common denominator is based on the centuries old art of Japanese Samurai sword forging. Kai PRO blades are made of Japanese AUS6M stainless steel, hand sharpened and finished to a 16° cutting edge on each side—much sharper than standard Western-style knives. A chef’s knife (also sometimes called a cook’s knife) is a firm, large bladed, all-purpose kitchen knife. The triangular-shaped handle allows good grip and better control. Apparently, the Pro line of Kai knives is made of Japanese AUS-6 steel, which is comparable to 440A. Our high-carbon steel … I can tell you that I have somewhat of a knife obsession, and when I was looking to buy a new knife this size I didn't really want to get this (in my opinion) off brand knife. It helps reduce drag and plays a major part in food release. The knife comes with a stainless steel blade and plastic handle. Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2017. Since there’s a huge demand for the Kai Pro 8” chef’s knife that we just talked about, Kai introduced other size options as well. I had this knife on my wishlist for a couple of years before I finally splurged and got it. Works well, seems well built, and cuts all types of bread easily. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. I need a strong knife to get me through 50 hours of cutting vegetables each week, oftrn consisting of brunoise or julienned cuts of large portions (gallons). To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Although it was originally designed for separating meat from bones, nowadays the knife is widely used for day to day kitchen tasks as well. The knife is made from Daido 1K6 steel, newly developed chromium-rich steel. I'm not a fancy knife person, I just need sharp, good quality, comfortable knives that will be durable. You can shop online today for Japanese style kitchen knife sets like KAI Komachi Series knives, KAI Luna knives and the famous KAI Wasabi Series. Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2015. The steel is sharpened thin to a 58 Rockwell hardness. Works well, seems well built, and cuts all types of bread easily! It also has increased carbon content for better edge retention. The beautiful finish present in all Pro models is not only pleasant to look at, but makes the knife more durable by protecting its core. It is a classic Japanese high-performance steel that has high carbon content. Most of their blades are made with 32 layers of steel in a Damascus pattern. 1. Caring for Your Cutlery: * Handwashing and drying are recommended * Do not cut frozen food with these knives … The manufacturer of this knife KAI also produces Kershaw knives… Be it an onion, nuts, fish, or a chicken, the knife will do its job. When I first gave them to him, he slipped and cut himself a couple of times when using them because he found it hard to get a comfortable grip on them. Who would’ve thought that for a fraction of the price, you’d get to experience the functionality of a chef’s knife? If you want to learn more about kitchen knives, check our full review of Wusthof knives or our Miyabi knives review. A very gentle hand will pull a modest edge that lasts only a few minutes. It has met every job without a problem. Like other Shun knives, this terrific knife also utilizes an ergonomic and weighted handle made from black Pakka … It comes with a sharp edge like a regular knife … However, when it comes to Kai, they made sure to temper the steel to perfection, therefore producing a knife that is there to suit professional needs as well. Similar to its smaller brother, the Kai Pro 10” chef’s knife also utilizes the Japanese AUS-6 steel. They do not correspond to the single Kai Luna Santoku knife shown in the description which in itself is an inexpensive Chinese made knife. Above the core, there’s a beautiful Damascus pattern. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. With a price so low, we wondered what the catch is. This pattern is created by layering soft and hard stainless steel on top of the core. These days, they’re one of the largest knife manufacturers worldwide and produce several other types of household products alongside kitchen blades. But, AUS grade steels, like the one in question, have vanadium alloyed therefore increase these properties. Coming from the same bloodline as its 8” and 10” Pro brothers, the knife certainly descended from royalty. The manufacturer of this knife KAI also produces Kershaw knives. The JapanBargain S-1553 Knife has a blade length of nine and 1/8 inches, and it comes equipped with a 14-inch wooden handle. As expected, the Kai Pro 8” chef’s knife comes with a full-tang construction. Shun's beautiful chef's knife literally glides through ripe tomatoes with its sharp edge.The rounded black pakkawood handle is comfortable even for small hands to get around, and if an 8-inch … The Classic line offers different shapes of knives … The blade extends to the end of the handle, resulting in a full-tang construction. Goes through all the goods like buddah. To make honing to the correct 16° Shun angle … There's a problem loading this menu right now. The handle is made of POM. The first product on our list is from Kai and the good … The thing I was surprised about the most was the quality of the blade, like I said I have a lot of knives and out of all of them this one has the second longest edge retention, edged out only by a santoku with a VG10 layered blade. So after years of the old scoutmaster sharpening the knives around the house, I thought I'd try this one out. The riveted POM handle further adds to the overall stability that the knife offers, making it a worthy addition to both professional and amateur kitchens. Please make sure that you are posting in the form of a question. Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2017. In all fairness to the Chicago Cutlery knife, a previously purchased (ca.20 years ago) version of that knife was much better quality than the recent version of it. The lightness of the knife really is impressive and such a nice feature anytime you have a lot of knife work. Experience Zero Tolerance Pocketknives. Made from razor-sharp carbon stainless steel, the Kai Pure Komachi kitchen knife series slice easily … It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. I love the feel, thinness and light weight of Japanese knives,Shuns in particular, but the chipping of the layered steels is ridiculous, and the price too much. A quick run across the honing steel and it's gliding through tomatoes again. We were thrilled at first, but time has been no friend to this blade. The Kai Stainless Steel Chef Knife is a perfect knife for kids to use with its lightweight design. Kai USA is home to Kershaw sporting & EDC knives, ZT premium knives, and high-performance kitchen cutlery from Shun and Kai Housewares. My new favorite kitchen knife! I do recommend, however, that you do NOT put this knife in the dishwasher. Being that I am not making a lot of money at my job and just need a simple workhorse knife to get me through the day, I picked up this nakiri style knife from Kai/Wasabi. Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2020. The blade core is made of VG-10 stainless steel. 1,553 global ratings | 967 global reviews, Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2016. The Kai Pro 6” chef’s knife is extremely strong, tough, as well as stain, rust, and corrosion-resistant. Handling slicing, dicing, and basically every task related to prepping with ease, the knife is as versatile as they come. Despite being a "cheap knife" (in every sense of the word) I am very impressed, and I think this knife will offer years of service with a little bit of care. So, what’s so special about it? As you know by now, chef’s knives are our favorite, so to kick start this list, we chose the Kai Wasabi Black 8” chef’s knife. Furthermore, they produce their knives with wooden, laminated handles that create an ergonomic experience and a long-lasting piece of kitchenware. This means that the handle won’t bend or deform over long period of time and exposure. They’ve still retained they’re edges and still incredibly sharp even after almost daily use. Perfect for slicing ultra-thin pieces of fish or delicate herbs to create salmon and … The knife sports a simple design, and in all honesty, it looks like an average knife. When you’re looking for quality kitchenware, it can be tough to find a brand that provides affordable knives without compromising performance. It will even cut straight and thin slices, too. Our next pick is the Kai Wasabi Yanagiba 8 1/4-inch sushi knife which performs every bit as beautifully as it looks. In sum,this knife definitely outperforms its price-point. Such a finish increases each blade’s overall durability and provides a stylish aesthetic. Kai has knives for every need by offering a diverse selection of shapes and styles from the basics to specialty blades. To wrap things up, we’d say that you can’t go wrong when buying a Kai knife. The thing I was surprised about the most was the quality of the blade, like I said I have a lot of knives and out of all of them this one has the second longest edge retention, edged out only by a santoku with a VG10 layered blade. Although unexpected, the blade has solid wear resistance and it can maintain its edge for longer periods than other knives made from the same steel. In 1977, Kershaw Knives became a subsidiary of the KAI Group, and manufacturing of Kershaw Knives is done primarily out of Kai USA’s factory in Tualatin, Oregon, with some knives … I have even been lazy enough (shame, I know!) Long story short, this knife has the hardness of a carbon steel and corrosion resistance of stainless steel. But, none of those impressed us as much as the Kai Pro 6” chef’s knife did. Thanks to the full-tang design, the knife works as a charm under increased hand pressure.