The Knife That Ended My Bread-Related Crumb Nightmares.
Let's talk about bread. Specifically, slicing it. For years, it was a battle. A messy, crumb-filled war against delicious carbs. My old bread knives were less "precision slicing tools" and more "aggressive bread-rippers." I'd end up with a loaf that looked like it had been attacked by a flock of angry pigeons and a counter covered in enough crumbs to feed a small bird sanctuary. Then, the DALSTRONG Bread Knife - Shogun Series arrived.First off, this knife looks like it belongs in a samurai's kitchen. The Damascus pattern is stunning, and the handle feels incredibly solid and comfortable. It's got a serious presence. Holding it, I felt a sudden urge to dramatically slice something while staring intensely into the middle distance.Using this knife on bread is an absolute dream. It doesn't saw; it glides. The serrations are perfectly spaced and wickedly sharp. Hard crusty loaves? Soft, fluffy brioche? Bagels that usually put up a fight? This knife goes through them all with minimal effort and, more importantly, minimal crumbs. It's like a bread-slicing miracle. My counter is no longer a disaster zone. My loaves look like they were sliced by a professional bakery ghost.The 10.25" length is perfect for even the widest sourdoughs. It's got a nice weight and balance that makes slicing feel controlled and precise. I've even used it on large fruits and roasted meats with similar impressive results. This isn't just a bread knife; it's a slicing superhero with a specific, carb-related kryptonite (which it easily defeats).Yes, it's a serious knife with a serious price tag. But if you love bread and hate the crumb-pocalypse that usually follows slicing it, this is the answer. It's beautifully crafted, incredibly effective, and makes a mundane task feel oddly satisfying. My bread is happier, my counter is cleaner, and I feel like I've finally won the war on crumbs.
✔ Verified Purchase
V
Vantageshop-com
September 24, 2016
Measures up in its class. A very good bread knife. Great fit and finish.
I have knives from many high end makers including Henckel, Wuestoff, Messermeister, Tojiro and others. For value, quality materials, and fit and finish, the Japanese and Japanese style knives seem to be the best choices for my needs these days. All of my knives were purchased at retail prices, so this review is not based on a reviewer program.I needed a good bread knife and found some new brands being offered. Research indicated the Dalstrong Shogun Bread knife would be a good fit. The knife came in the box and with accompanying items mentioned in many reviews. The blade had a notable amount of black polishing rouge on it, but it wiped off easily. Three of the serrations had a slightly rough edge, that is they twinkle. I am confident these will correct with a small effort using a steel or water stone. There were a couple of very small scuffs that may be an issue for some, but I bought it to cut bread and not for display. Despite these tiny "flaws" the over all fit and finish of the knife is excellent. The extra labor used to polish it helps the knife stand out in appearance over my more satin finished Tojiro blades. The fit of the handle to the full tang blade is especially well edecuted. That the back of the blade has had edges softened is a plus. Several Japanese made knife brands in this class are known for sharp backs/corners that need sanded or honed down between bolster and tip.I did test the knife on some quite stale french bread. In comparison this Dalstrong Shogun did indeed cut better than other knives I tried including a competing brand bread knife. It required much less pressure, and cut cleaner leaving far fewer crumbs. I will update after I use it to cut stone ground rye baked with wood coals. My favorite feature of the knife is the angle of the bolster where it meets the blade. I also like that its not a full bolster that will prevent full sharpening strokes, and change shape of blade with time. This bread knife did not travel to one side or cut in an arc as many do. I am left handed and many bread and serrated knifes are miserable to use due to being so assemetrically ground on the "wrong" side. That the knife blade is 10+ inches long is important if you slice artisan and or old world style breads. Many are concerned with the location of manufacture. This knife is made in a Chinese factory using Japanese steel products found in many other high end knives. The Chinsese have factories that make everything from junk to world class goods depending on market demand. Japanese style, and Japanese and European hybrid knifes made with the finest stainless steels are in demand and Chinese factories are fulfilling that demand. The Dalstrong is an example of high end at a reasonable price. I have other knives in ths same class, / price range and this competes well. VG10 stainless is used in the core and the 30 plus layers on each side are a more forgiving type of stainless. VG10 alone would be a somewhat brittle blade that would be less stain resistant. This harder core with softer layers is a win win. Compared to the stainless used in Henckel ProS, and many similar European knifes, this knife will require sharpening far less often, but may require a bit more effort to sharpen when needed. Being that it is serrated, so nicely, I dont anticipate sharpening for a long time.
✔ Verified Purchase
J
J Gillespie
September 17, 2016
FINALLY, the Perfect knife
I bought this and the chef's 8" knife from this company. What a beautiful knife. You can see the forging that went on to make this, all the ripples of Damascus steel are like waves in the ocean. 60 days it took them to make this and it shows in every way. I have wanted quality knives forever and finally I can quit looking and simply enjoy. They both slice through food like it's butter, not even using pressure, just a stroke and it is done. Comes with a sleeve to protect the knife and also you so you don't get an accidental cut. Even that is beautiful. My husband loves the keychain and claimed that as soon as he saw it. WOW! I am so impressed.Thank you for making such wonderful knives and at prices that every good home cook can afford. If you think it is slightly pricy, think how many knives you will pay for over the years and how much time you will waste trying to slice with a lesser knife. This doesn't even come close to the over the top prices that some knives can cost yet these work just as well.
✔ Verified Purchase
