How much should I spend on a knife and what kind should I get?

You should spend about one hundred dollars for a good chef's knife. I like the Global, but all knives are a matter of personal preference. They are expensive but you should not need more than two. One Chef's knife and one flexible boning knife. Stay away from the tv ads promissing 20 knives for eighty bucks.

I absolutely LOVE my Cutco knives. They are very sharp and very well balanced. I bought mine about 3 years ago and got a petite chef, a trimmer knife, a spatula spreader, a paring knife, a turning fork, 5 table knives, and the wooden storage block for around $400. I checked the Cutco website and found a new knife that I might just have to buy. It is called the Santoku knife and is $94. The full sized Chef knife is $104 and the petite Chef knife is $94. You will not be able to see the prices, since only those who currently own Cutco knives are able to view the prices; however, they are the best knives around. I have used Pampered Chef knives and the quality does not come close to that of the Cutco knives.

I own both the Pampered Chef and Cutco knives. Cutco is a great knife. You do have to call and either have someone come out or send the knife in for sharpening, some can be sharpened yourself with a sharpener they sell extra. Pampered Chef knives come with a storage case that is also a sharpener so each time you use the knife it is sharp. Pampered Chef is cheaper than Cutco, but Cutco has a lifetime warranty that covers everything. You send it in, they replace it free. The warranty even works on Cutco you find at rummage sales! Pampered Chef does not offer this. They have a limited warranty with theirs. If I were to purchase another knife it would be Cutco.

Go to a culinary store and ask to hold the knives. It has to be comfortable. I like Global knives for there edge, but have a hard time using them, handle is too small. My Wusthof Classics are the right fit for "me," and keep an amazing edge. Also, decide if you will go with a single or double beveled edge. Weight is another consideration, a fully forged knife will weigh more than a stamped blade. I recommend you try Shun, Wusthof, Global, and if you can find them, Lamsonsharp, as well as the different series the companies produce. Again, try, try and then try again....have fun.

Buy the best

The handle should not touch the flat of the blade.

??A HILT??

but the blade should pass all the way through the handle.

Three rivets to secure and be phenolic material.

Be careful an Individual knife tends to be pricey.

I bought mine in a 3 piece set that was less than the 10" alone.

It was soo long ago I think is something Like Solvang..(??)

I have a beautiful santoku knife from Henckels and I love it. I spent just over a $100.00 for it, and it is my go-to knife! I use it for almost everything - well worth the investment. I have always bought the better-quality Henckels brand knives and have never, EVER been disappointed! I highly recommend them.

You can get a decent knife for under $100.

All of my knives are from the Pampered Chef. They are great!

http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_products/catalog/r...