J.A. Henckels International Classic 8-Inch Stainless-Steel Chef's Knife

by Henckels

• Large-sized 8-inch multipurpose chef's knife for chopping, mincing, slicing and dicing
• Made of stain-resistant carbon steel that's hot drop forged for durability
• Triple riveted handle surrounds a full tang
• Full bolster provides weight and ensures safety
• Handwash with mild cleanser; lifetime warranty

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 13 x 2 x 1 inches ; 11.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004RFMT
• Item model number: 31161-201
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,468 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)
  • #16 in Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Knives & Cutlery Accessories > Specialty Knives
  • #17 in Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Knives & Cutlery Accessories > Chef's Knives

Product Description

Amazon.com

A good chef's knife becomes your daily kitchen companion. It's used for everything from prepping steaks for the grill to finely mincing onions, and chances are you'll reach for it every time you cook--so it better be good. This lower-priced line from Henckels is a great value: excellent quality knives with their standard lifetime warranty. There's good balance, and the handles are a shade heavier than other lines, which some cooks will prefer. The 8-inch blade length is the most practical for multipurpose use, and regular sharpening will keep the stainless-steel blade razor-sharp. It's only minimally flexible, which makes it a great choice for vegetables such as potatoes and turnips. While it's dishwasher-safe, unless it needs sanitizing after use with raw meat, it's often easier to hand wash. --Jill Lightner

Product Description

A perfect all-around kitchen tool the J.A. Henckels International Classic 8 in. Chefs Knife features a strong sharp blade with a fine cutting edge that's perfect for slicing chopping or dicing meat and vegetables. This knife is drop-forged at high temperatures to lend it extra durability and the blade is hand-honed to give you a precision cutting edge. With a full bolster to protect your hand and a full tang to give the knife perfect balance it's a great quality blade that will enhance any chef's kitchen.Additional Features:Knife measures 13.5 inches including handleHot drop-forged construction for extra strengthHandle is triple-riveted for superior strengthFull bolster for weight and safetyFull tang provides proper balanceHand-honed precision cutting edgeWarranty included; see product guarantee areaAbout Zwilling J.A. Henckels:JA Henckels has been producing the best in German steel knife design since 1895. Their products are designed for everyday use giving you the maximum value for your money. This modern company uses innovative technology to create the highest-quality products. They're so sure you'll be satisfied with their products that they back each one with a lifetime warranty. With several lines of quality cutlery and other products you're sure to find the perfect housewarming or wedding gift or addition to your own kitchen.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 91 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorites August 30, 2002

By J. F. Rick

It's important to note that this knife is not made in Germany (the 4 Star, 5 Star, and Pro-S series are).

I started my good knife collection with a set of 3 of these International Classic knives. I later decided to get a larger set (9) of the 4 Star series, some of the finest knives in the world. However, I prefer this chef's knife over the 4 Star one. The grip is heavier and makes the balance a bit nicer.

For the paring knife, I much prefer the 4 Star one, so I wouldn't recommend the set of 3, but this knife is great. I use it all the time. If you are starting out on a knife collection, I recommend these things:
-a 4 Star 3-inch paring knife (or 2 if you are lazy with clean-up)
-this Chef's knife
-a cheap and large bread knife
-a medium sized 5-6in utility knife (good quality)
-a honing steel (good quality)
-a wood block to put them in (good knives should not be shoved into a drawer with other knives)
-[optional]a carving set of knife and fork, if you need carving utensils (I don't much)
I'd weigh the cost of these together against getting a more expensive set (if you are on a budget).

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best knife I've ever used November 14, 2000

By A Customer

I don't know why anyone would spend more on a knife, unless they were looking for a status symbol rather than a useful tool. This is by far the best knife I've ever handled or owned. If you haven't updated your chef's knife for ten or twenty years (I used to have a '70s Sabatier), check out the new ones.

The high-carbon stainless steel used here sharpens and cuts as well as old knives without staining. It has scratched slightly during washing, but still shines spotlessly. The knife is stiff and thick -- the blade is about a quarter-inch across at its base. The handle is longer than I'd like (since I grip the base of the blade, like many chefs and wannabes), but it serves to balance the knife very well. The balance is actually a bit handle-heavy, so if the knife falls, it falls handle first.

A great cutter, but a bit heavy for everyday slicing -- I'm getting the 6" version too.

(Update: Henckels's warranty service also deserves praise. Eight years of continuous but gentle use after getting this knife, the handle began to separate from the steel tang. I dropped Henckels an email, they requested that I mail the knife in, and two weeks later a brand-new replacement was at my door.)

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nicely weighted August 5, 2004

By Debbie Lee Wesselmann TOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

This mid-priced line of Henckel knives, called "Classic" by the company, is a full-tang, single-piece, three-rivet line with sturdy black plastic handles. The handles are notched at the end to prevent the hand from sliding off during use. Although they are not razor sharp right from the package, their edges are sharp enough for the average cook. According to Henckel, all knives in this line are dishwasher safe, but you should expect more rapid dulling under the harsh conditions.

The chef's knife is perfectly weighted toward the blade for efficient chopping, especially if you use the chef's technique of lifting the base of the blade but not the tip. The arc of the curve falls more toward the middle of the blade than it does on my other brands of chef knives, creating more of a rocking motion than a straight up-and-down. The handle is ample for even the largest of hands, but not so large to be inconvenient for those with smaller hands like me.