KAN Core Professional Chef Knife 8-inch VG-10 67 layers Damascus Ambidextrous (Hammered Japanese VG-10 Blade, G10 handle-upgraded version)

We have enjoyed this knife for a couple of years now. We liked it so much that this is actually the 2nd Chef's knife I purchased. This one as a gift for my brother & his wife.Besides that, it is a beautiful instrument, it is comfortable to handle and has a great balance.We use ours several times daily, so I sharpen it about once every 3-4 weeks to keep it tomato skinning sharp. You can extend that time if you leather strop it before each use which would keep it razor sharp longer. We are not that disciplined.We sharpen with one of those Ruixin sharpening systems you see advertised. We use the diamond whetstones up to a 3000 grit and finish off with a polishing compound on a leather strop. Some will say that is unnecessary, but I find that is truly refines the edge and helps it last longer.This is a professional grade knife and if you expect to perform it needs to be treated like one. Do not put this in your washing machine, simply hand wash, rinse, and wipe the knife off before you store it. Takes all of 30 seconds if you are slow.The knife is packaged in a beautiful case which makes it a great gift presentation.We have since purchased several of the other knives that KAN offers.They have great customer service which is a huge bonus.The only thing negative thing I can think of is the handle discolored slightly after a year but meh, hasn't changed my opinion of it.All in all, this is a great buy.

I've been using a combination of Wustoff Classic knives for over 20 years and generally been happy with them. I've banged them around over that time and needed to replace my 8" chef knife so have been doing research for well over a year. I've tried a few knives during that time and ended up giving them away to family and friends. They just didn't feel right or hold an edge. Most came sharp and quickly diminished. Price wasn't the issue-I spent quite a lot and actually liked the least expensive knife the most out of the group. I was referred to KAN knives and as I researched the knife, the background, the company, and most importantly the chef reviews it sounded like a great knife. I wanted the hammered chef but none were available. After a 2 week hold, I went ahead and ordered the plain. I've been using it and have been amazed. The care in packaging is exceptional. My only gripe is that Amazon packed the knife with other cutlery and the knife box inside the larger box had been gouged but the knife was well packed and not damaged. I washed it off and started making a couscous salad so I could finely chop some veg. It feels better than the Wustoff it was replacing and in feels more balanced and natural in my hand than any other knife I've owned. The balance is spot on and the knife is easy to handle. It is amazingly sharp out of the box and seems to hold the edge at least for the time I've used it. I'll update more after a few months but the quality of the knife speaks for itself. I am planning to give several of the chef knifes as gifts this Christmas and now that they have expanded the line buy a Santoko and utility knife as well. One last point is customer service for the brand is exceptional. You get a quick response from the Owners of the company for any questions or concerns. They stand behind their products.

High Quality non-hammered VG-10 core with 67 damasus layers on each side of the VG-10. Very sharp and ebony handle fits well in my hand. I recommend this knife.

I HATE making dinner. It’s the worst. I’m actually not a bad cook, but I detest the chore of preparing meals. So *anything* that will make it easier is something to look at ...as long as it actually helps. With that in mind, I can’t say how much I love my new KAN knife. LOVE!! I thought I had a decent knife before. Pffft. Nope! The difference is insane. I had no idea how much of a strain it would take off meal prep. I’m going to sound like a huge nerd, but it makes cutting things up actually fun. Fun! Who knew??***BTW, I’m not getting compensated for this review. This is my honest opinion on a legit purchase.***Without further ado... the knife. I’m including a bunch of pics that I’ll reference. The first thing I wanted to see when I opened it was the claim that it was perfectly balanced. I tried the balance thing with my previous chef knife and it was so impossible I couldn’t believe it could be done. Well... see the pic. WOW! Next, a couple pics checking out the blade and the beautiful ebony handle. Beautiful is right. The 67 folded (?) layers on the knife aren’t super visible in the pics or from far away in person. I didn’t really expect it, nor is it the reason I bought the knife, but for anyone thinking the wavy lines are the most important thing you should be aware.I tested the knife on a few different mediums. The squash and zucchini were mostly for fun, and man, it was! It was like cutting through soft butter with a hot knife. Barely exerted any pressure to get thin, consistent slices. It was the same for sausage. Amazing! I’m not a bad cook, but I never went to school or anything. Here I was feeling like Rachel Ray!For me the biggest “tests” are on tomatoes and bread. I feel like those are the two most obnoxious things in the world to slice. Again... check out the pics! I made small, uniform slices from a cherry tomato! What the what?! Blown away. And the bread? Same thing. No squishing it down and sawing through. Unbelievable.I’m so thrilled with this knife. I went to the website and read everything about caring for it, plus all the extras on grip and safety. I learned a lot, and I think it’s especially great they included that. My kids laugh at me now getting all fancy in the kitchen. I don’t care, at least I’m having fun! It doesn’t plan or cook my meals, but it’s definitely a game-changer in making cooking less of a chore. I love this knife!!

This is a great knife. I have GLOBAL knives that are way more costlier...and I like this one much better! However, really sharp so you need to handle it well. Nice packaging...I even bought it several times as a gift for people who have complained about their dull knives. Makes my vegetable prep time a breeze!