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Blackcat and the Art of Zen
December 03, 2016
Fantastic utility knife! Highly recommend!
Zelite does it again. Utility knives are one of my most used knives around the kitchen. Whether it's slicing an apple or deboning chicken, this works amazingly well. Like all of the Zelite knives I own, this is incredibly sharp. When you go to cut a carrot, without really any effort, it just *grips* the carrot. No chance of it rolling away from under the knife as you start to press down. It's so impressive! The feel of the handle in your hand is really nice as well - it's very very comfortable and ergonomic. So as you work with the knife, it doesn't ever feel awkward, and gives you very precise control. The size is exactly right for a utility knife. It's bigger than a paring knife (but can be used as a paring knife), but not so big as a full size chef knife or Santoku, and so it gives you finer control. This is an abosolutely fantastic entry-level blade. Far superior to other utility knives that I've had, but still at a reasonable price! If you are looking for a basic set of kitchen knives to replace others you have, are looking to upgrade, or just love great knives, this is a fantastic place to start! Next to a solid chef knife (Zelite has an array of amazing chef knives at various price points), a utility knife like this may just be one of the most important to have on hand in the kitchen. If you are looking for a great knife, you won't be disappointed when you buy this one!
✔ Verified Purchase
Amazing Quality, Amazingly Sharp Edge, Amazing Value
I had intended to purchase a "Name Brand" knife. I am a chef with decades of experience and I wanted a quality product with a recognizable name for my home kitchen. However, after reading some reviews about this knife I decided to give this knife a try. All I can say is WOW! it is an incredible kitchen knife. I have knives that cost significantly more that cannot begin to compare to this knife. I just received it and, after I washed it, I decided to test it by slicing an onion. This knife performed brilliantly. I will use it exclusively for slicing onions and tomatoes and general prep work. After I do, I'll leave another review. At this point I can say ~ if you're looking for a quality knife for general kitchen use, do not hesitate to try this excellent knife . . . and such a value.
✔ Verified Purchase
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wildflowergirl
March 16, 2025
5☆
Really happy with this knife. Good basic knife to have on hand. It came packaged really well and super sharp! Ready to go, I just rinsed it off first. All our knives we use every day are this brand and I'm very happy with them.
✔ Verified Purchase
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Lionel LaGrow
December 02, 2018
Good value for the money, but could use a little polish
So I decided to take a chance on this as I needed another utility knife. Most of my knives are Shun or Wustof. So I am going to compare them, but recognize that I am not faulting the knife for not being equal to knives more than double its price. I am simply pointing out differences so people know what to anticipate if they purchase this knife.First impressions -The box it comes in is very nice, even if unnecessary as you will likely never use it again. That said I am a big fan of a quality presentation and this knife comes packaged in a very nice box, in a fitted foam cutout and a silk wiping cloth. Now I'm completely unsure of what the cloth is supposed to be for as that is something that typically comes with sunglasses, but it is still a nice touch. So if you are planning on gifting this knife, you can pretty much just wrap the box as it comes and it presents very nicely.The leather sheath is well constructed a nice. I don't personally find it useful as I have a nice knife block, but for someone who does not, this is a great way to keep the knife protected in a drawer.The fit and finish of the knife is fairly nice, but there are a couple of flaws that need to be pointed out. The handle is the first thing that jumps out. It is quite comfortable in the hand, but the finish isn't as polished as some of your finer knives. You can feel the transition from the wood to the rivets and tang. It isn't a sharp transition, it is simply there. The heel of the knife doesn't have the same transition so it feels like a case of the manufacturer using a single finishing process for the handle instead of a couple of stages to really polish it. Again it is important to note that I am not knocking the knife for this as this is a $40 knife, not a $100+ knife.The spine of the knife is where I have my first real complaint as one side is sharp. It isn't cut your hand sharp, but it is sharp enough that I feel the manufacturer could have done a much better job here. Basically what I am dealing with here is a burr that didn't get properly polished off as you only feel it rubbing your finger from the edge to the top. I have the stones and stroppes to polish it out so it isn't that big of a deal to me, but it is something that needs pointing out. This is one of the reasons why I dinged the knife some points when rating. This is where I feel the manufacturer could have and should have done a much better job finishing the knife as you will almost never find this kind of flaw even on cheap $20 knives.The edge is as sharp as expected. It handles the paper test with a smooth effortless cut from tang to tip with no obvious catches. It is carbon steel so I do expect the edge to hold up, but only time will tell. Right now the overall build quality is such that I wouldn't expect it to fail my expectations.Lastly the balance. This knife is balanced on the first rivet. While this may not mean much to most, there are some that will find this useful. Overall the knife feels good in the hand and outside the issue I mentioned, is a well built knife for the money. If you have someone who is a budding amateur chef and trying to make the transition from cheap knives to more expensive ones, this will make a good transitional utility knife without breaking the bank. It would also make a good knife for those looking to get more experience sharpening the harder carbon steel knives without risking their more expensive knives. Actually this was one of my primary reasons in purchasing this as I wanted a reasonably good quality carbon steel knife that I wouldn't be as worried about making a mistake while polishing my sharpening skills on.
✔ Verified Purchase
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Angelheart
February 18, 2017
This knife will not disappoint!!
I am no Master Chef but I love to cook. If you love cooking then you know how essential it is to have the right tools. I own several knives from Bob Kramer's stainless Damascus to Miyabi. I typically purchase my knives at Williams Sonoma or Sur La Table because I like to feel the knife in my hand. The balance, design and grip are important to me. However, I needed an additional knife quickly and decided to purchase this one online. May I say, I am thrilled with my decision. The knife came in beautiful packing but the best surprise was how well balanced this knife was. That will be a big advantage over competitors because it makes any cutting action easier and requires less effort!!! Therefore, less strain on the arm! I love the design too. Very low maintenance with the high carbon stainless steel, unbelievably sharp, no rivets in the handle to trap food or bacteria, which makes it very easy to clean. Plus a great price point. What more could you ask for? If you are looking for a gift or to add another knife to your collection, this won't disappoint.
✔ Verified Purchase
