Paring knife?

[LETHAL GTS]

Seeing how you guys have been so helpful, I figured I may as well lean on you for some more advice?
I want to buy a really good paring knife.
Any suggestions?
Thanks

 

[ChowderMan]

the most important thing with a paring / fine work knife is the size / shape / fit of the handle to your hand and your task.

you can buy a $25,000 finest steel handmade whatever - and if handling it turns into a death grip, not such a good knife.....

 

[LETHAL GTS]

Yes I hear what you are saying and I agree totally with you.
However I can buy a knife for half the money over the net straight from Japan compared to what I have to spend in town.
I could look around for one in town that I really like and then source it over the net.
But being in sales myself I hate having sales people spend their time on me when I already know I'm not going to buy from them.
So far I have done very well getting advice here.
I have bought four knives in the past 2 months.
The only one I'm not totally happy with is the one I bought without consulting the fine people here.
I mean it's a nice knife, but had I done my research properly and had come here first, I would have bought a different knife.
Thanks

 

[ChowderMan]

>>look here, buy there....

yes, it's a two edge sword thing. I've got a batch of Wuesthof - but when it comes to a small knife for fine work/paring, I'm after an old wooden handed slightly recurved one from my parent's collection. if it ever had a name on it, it's been long worn off.

quite simply, it "fits" my hand/grip better - and since everybody has different hands, rather tricky to say "this one is the best"....

 

[Rob Babcock]

The Shun Classic paring knife is excellent. But to be honest that's an area where I go for a handful of cheapo knives.

 

[chocolate moose]

I"ve been wanting new knives all years, went to BBB several times and couldn't commit. I just got locally a brand called Icel from Portugal. Serrated Eight bucks. If I don't love it, it's not a big deal.

 

[joec]

I have a couple of paring knives but my favorite one of all is the Shun Classic period. Much better than any other paring knife I've ever used.

 

[buzzard767]

I love my 3" that I got here. The blade is solid carbon steel, though, so you have to wash it right after use.

 

[SilverSage]

I love my 3" that I got here. The blade is solid carbon steel, though, so you have to wash it right after use.

I always thought you have to wash every knife right after use!

 

[buzzard767]

I always thought you have to wash every knife right after use!

Ditto. How many actually do that?

 

[LETHAL GTS]

I have a couple of paring knives but my favorite one of all is the Shun Classic period. Much better than any other paring knife I've ever used.

The Shun Classic paring knife is excellent. But to be honest that's an area where I go for a handful of cheapo knives.

What is it you guys like best about the knife?
Is it the handle?
I would guess because of the handle style, it would be pretty comfortable no matter how you hold it.

 

[lilbopeep]

I have 2 sizes of Wustoff the tiny 3 (or 3 1/2 not sure) inch and a Henkel. I also have several cheapo paring knives.

 

[Rob Babcock]

What is it you guys like best about the knife?
Is it the handle?
I would guess because of the handle style, it would be pretty comfortable no matter how you hold it.

Not the handle- it's the blade shape. It's perfect.

 

[LETHAL GTS]

But being in sales myself I hate having sales people spend their time on me when I already know I'm not going to buy from them.

Guess what, I went down to one of my favorite stores and walked out with a 3.5" Shun pairing knife for $70. That's pretty much what you pay on the net.
At first I didn't know what it was. I just told the owner that I was planning on buying myself a pairing knife for Christmas.
He brought out about a half dozen and I quickly narrowed it down to a MAC and this one.
He explained that nothing cuts better than a MAC. However I like the way this one felt better.
It was then that I realized it was the Shun you guys mentioned here.
I'm now very happy that I was able to find the knife I was leaning towards based on what I have read here and on other websites.
And I bought it locally for the same as pretty much what it is available for on the net.
Now I am content with my knife inventory.
Thanks for the input all!

 

[Doc]

Congrats on your new paring knife. How about posting a pic of it for those of us who have never seen a Shun?

 

[buzzard767]

Now I am content with my knife inventory.

Hahahahahahahahahahahhahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Just wait. You're hooked. Get out your check book and credit card. It will never end. You're headed for knifeaholic detox and rehab.

 

[LETHAL GTS]

Congrats on your new paring knife. How about posting a pic of it for those of us who have never seen a Shun?

No problem, I look forward to it.

Hahahahahahahahahahahhahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Just wait. You're hooked. Get out your check book and credit card. It will never end. You're headed for knifeaholic detox and rehab.

No kidding! Is there an AA for this kinda thing

 

[joec]

Guess what, I went down to one of my favorite stores and walked out with a 3.5" Shun pairing knife for $70. That's pretty much what you pay on the net.
At first I didn't know what it was. I just told the owner that I was planning on buying myself a pairing knife for Christmas.
He brought out about a half dozen and I quickly narrowed it down to a MAC and this one.
He explained that nothing cuts better than a MAC. However I like the way this one felt better.
It was then that I realized it was the Shun you guys mentioned here.
I'm now very happy that I was able to find the knife I was leaning towards based on what I have read here and on other websites.
And I bought it locally for the same as pretty much what it is available for on the net.
Now I am content with my knife inventory.
Thanks for the input all!

Well I see the addiction beginning so I've warned you.

Ok now for the paring knife it is the same I have. Now keep in mind your next obsession will be sharpening, just ask Buzz. VG10 steel which is what this knife is made off works best from a 10° to 15° bevel per side less it will chip due to the carbide size in the steel and more won't cut as it should. This is true of most VG10 steels which is one of my favorites.

 

[LETHAL GTS]

Well I see the addiction beginning so I've warned you.

Ok now for the paring knife it is the same I have. Now keep in mind your next obsession will be sharpening, just ask Buzz. VG10 steel which is what this knife is made off works best from a 10° to 15° bevel per side less it will chip due to the carbide size in the steel and more won't cut as it should. This is true of most VG10 steels which is one of my favorites.

Ya I've already made my other knives dull compared to what they were, because I don't shit about sharpening. It's something I definitely have to work on.

 

[joec]

What kind of cutting board you using? The best to save your knife are the rubber type or end grain hard woods such as Cherry wood like I have. David Smith of the boardsmith makes some nice boards I have 3 of his myself.

 

[LETHAL GTS]

Not the handle- it's the blade shape. It's perfect.

Now that I've used it in my kitchen, I see what you mean.
This is a very useful little knife. Love it. Thanks for the input everyone.

What kind of cutting board you using? The best to save your knife are the rubber type or end grain hard woods such as Cherry wood like I have. David Smith of the boardsmith makes some nice boards I have 3 of his myself.

I definitely need to hone my sharpening skills.

 

[LETHAL GTS]

Hahahahahahahahahahahhahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Just wait. You're hooked. Get out your check book and credit card. It will never end. You're headed for knifeaholic detox and rehab.

Well I see the addiction beginning so I've warned you.

Ok now for the paring knife it is the same I have. Now keep in mind your next obsession will be sharpening, just ask Buzz. VG10 steel which is what this knife is made off works best from a 10° to 15° bevel per side less it will chip due to the carbide size in the steel and more won't cut as it should. This is true of most VG10 steels which is one of my favorites.

Merry Christmas to me! Merry Christmas to me!

Well you guys were right!
I ordered this bad boy Christmas Eve! They just shipped it from Seki Japan today.
I asked for their Honba-duke Sharpening Service. Seeing how my sharpening skills still have a ways to go and I figured this knife would be especially difficult to get the edge I want. I figured it best I just pay the pro's to do it before they ship.
I can't wait to carve some sashimi with it.
it's a Masamoto KS0430 300mm.
Traditional high carbon steel cutting edge core of Hitachi White steel (Shiro Ko) is forge welded with soft iron for the perfect balance and cutting efficiency. Traditional Japanese Magnolia wooden handle with water Buffalo bolster.
Hon Kasumi is one of the Sharpening style. Unlike Masamoto KK Kasumi Series, KS Hon Kasumi, the blade is hand sharpened, polished and finished by only the skilled workers throughout the whole process. It makes sharper edge and makes blade easier to resharpen.
In Japanese language "Hon" means "Real" or "True"."Kasumi" means "Mist". Honkasumi blade pattern looks similar to the Mist.
The HonKasumi knives are the top of the Masamoto line produced by Masamoto's distinguished craftsmen team with special skills and long experiences.