Customer Reviews

Calphalon Contemporary 10-Inch Chef's Knife

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you have read any of my other reviews on Calphalon cutlery, you know that I have been impressed by the quality of the line. Until this order of knives arrived, all of my Calphalon knives have had the traditional 3 rivet handles. I bought the 10" chefs, and the 3" birds beak to fill out my collection, and decided to try the contemporary handle style.

Both of them are magnificent. No kidding. The fit and finish are at least as good as any of the German or French brands. The handle size and style is similar to the Henckles 5 star series, but look a little nicer than the Henckles, and the single forging of the blade and tang includes a thick and very stylish end cap that helps give the knife even better ballance than the 3 rivet classic style. Since the name of the knife is finely etched into the endcap, it makes selecting one of several similar looking knives from a block an easy task. The steel appears to be the same high quality formulation used throughout the line, which is to say that it holds a great edge, is easy to sharpen, and keeps it's good looks with little effort.

Although it is a huge knife, it is a pleasure to use. The shape and finenes of the blade, combined with the comfortable handle and near perfect ballance, make jobs like shredding a cabbage, or cutting up a pile of potatoes and carrots into the beginning of an appetizing dinner a real pleasure.

I think that for all but the most petite chefs, the combination of 8" and 10" chefs' knives form the backbone of an active kitchen. The 10" is big, but once you start using it, you quickly realize that even when cooking for one or two, there are many tasks that simply cannot be done as well with a smaller knife.

My only question with the contemporary style handles is will they hold up as well as the classic 3 rivet style. They are beautiful to look at as well as to use, and there is nothing about them to suggest that they will not last, but I have always been fond of the durability of three rivet handles. At this price, I'm happy to enjoy the great ballance and feel while time answers the longevity question.

Germany used to be the source for quality (at a price). Value used to mean junk. The people at Calphalon figured it out. Top quality for far less. That's value.

I bought this knife at the last minute because my 8" Henckels chef's knife didn't meet the 10" requirement I needed for class. This knife is solidly constructed, well-weighted and very workable. Most of the students bought a knife kit the school had assembled from a local supplier and this knife has twice the heft of the full tang 10" chef's knives in the school kit. The contemporary handle looks more comfortable than the traditional style but I don't really use the handle to cut so I can't really speak to whether it's "better" or not. This knife has a respectable blade and it's heavy enough to power through all the classical cuts you'd ever need to do. It may not last to get passed along to the grandkids (as maybe the Henckels will) but at this price, I'd highly recommend this particular knife for your consideration. It will stand up to professional use and it will certainly perform in the home kitchen.

I bought a complete set of these knives almost a year ago--and the 10-inch chef's knife based on the previous reviewer's recommendation. I have to double that rec--it's everything he says and more. The extra length of the ten-inch blade is just enough for cutting through large pizzas, focaccia, frittatas, etc., plus slicing large meats. The knives have been durable and have a wonderful hand as well. Feels good to hold, great balance, great looks. And I run them through the dishwashwer too!

I bought this knife based on a recommendation from a friend. It was a compromise between the much more expensive Wusthof that I wanted to have, but did not want to pay for.

Since it was a compromise, I was expecting a decent knife that will get the job done. Instead I got this beastly cutting blade. Big, heavy, sharp and an absolute pleasure to use. When I first grasped the handle and lifted the knife, my thought was this is what medival knights had their swords made of. If you came at me with this knife, I would run. My wife was intimidated by this knife, so we bought the 8" version for her.

It weights three times more than my old 10" chef's knife, and has kept an edge for the last six months with occasional honing. It is not as practical as the 8" chef's or slicer, but much more fun to use.

One warning. If you plan on storing this knife on a wall mounted magnet, be sure it's heavy enough to support the weight.