Customer Reviews

Pure Komachi by Kai 6-1/2-Inch Stainless-Steel Chef’s Meat Knife

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this color coded knife and after using it for 5 months it is still sharp as the first day. The handle is plastic but comfortable and if you hold it against the light you will see small designs of a cow, a chicken, and a pig. It is meant to use for meats, but it is really a Chef's knife you can use for chopping everything else. The only downside would be the color, pink, which I personally love (and don't mind), but I don't know if a man would like to use a knife this color. I originally bought it for the color, because as a woman Chef working in a profession dominated by men, I thought this knife is very cool. But now I use it everyday - in fact I like it so much that I also bought the green and blue (vegetable and fish) Komachi knives of the same line. I recommend them for use both at home and professionally, and of course, as a Chef's or serious cook's prime utensil, good care has to be taken in order to keep it in good state for a long time. When I teach cooking classes, all the students want to try the knife and are surprised of the good performance, many of them have ordered their own Komachi knives!

Okay okay so I have to admit that the color was the first thing that caught my eye with this knife. I was shopping at Zabars, one of my favorite stores, and the Komachi collection stood out amongst a field over dark and silver cutlery. I am in between buying serious knives from Global and Shun which aren't something I want to spend all my money on at the moment so I thought this would be a nice filler while I ponder which knife set I truly want.

This knife is apparently set to be a meat cutting one, and even thought I am starting to prefer the santoku design ( with the little eclipse indentations towards the bottom - this one isn't )because of their ability not to have anything you cut stick to the blade, I think it's little funny that this cannot simply be called an all purpose knife. I cut veggies and meat with it, and the sharpness diminished a little bit but not really because I have been cutting something extremely hard, a tomato for example wasn't yielding too quickly but in the end this blade did a decent job of cutting thought the skin.

Overall this is a cheap, lightweight and cute looking knife, the clear handle is very comfortable and the blade is always easy to find since the color is so unusual. I recommend gentle washing in favor of not disturbing the sharp edge, only one side is sharpened and it seems to get dulled a little if not handled gingerly.

- Kasia S.

I got a Pure Komachi Chef's Knife last year and enjoyed it the first couple times I used it. After that, the blade got dull and since you can't sharpen it, it became useless. I'm afraid there is no such thing as a "forever sharp" knife. I couldn't even cut a cherry tomato with the Komachi without having to saw through it.

After seeing it sit unused in my kitchen drawer for a few weeks, I finally decided to contact Kershaw Knives about the lifetime warranty. Unfortunately, Kershaw will not refund your money if you are dissatisfied with the product, so their lifetime warranty is worthless. I shipped the knife to them (at a cost of $9.50 because they requested UPS shipping) with a letter explaining my dissatisfaction and asking for a refund, and they simply replaced it with another one. Oh well, I suppose I can use it as a gift for someone I don't like.

At least I now have a great chef's knife - the MAC TH-80 cuts like a dream, can be easily sharpened should the blade lose its edge, and is a joy to use. There are many knives available in the $40-$60 range that won't break the bank, but will perform much better for much longer. Do yourself a favor and spend a few extra dollars to get a knife that will last for years and years to come.

unfortunately, my idiot brother put it in the dishwasher while he was visiting so I have to buy a new one. only wash it off with some soap and water. otherwise it gets scratched up and ruined. but i am buying this knife again. properly cared for, it is very sharp, great for cutting meat and also sushi rolls, and so cute!

My mom bought me this knife over a year ago. I have owned and used the whole range of knives from uber expensive to super cheap. I have found that I do not like the weight of most higher end knives. It is just very tiresome for me to use them for extended periods. Before I got this knife, my fave's were the stainless ones that you can buy at most flea markets. I think the VA does or used to sell them as fundraisers. I still use those, but this one is my go to knife. I use it for everything.

I bought the sharpener that they sell for the above mentioned ss knives (5.00 at the flea market as well) and I regularly use it to keep this knife sharpened and ready to cut. It has never been so dull that it didn't cut well, I guess I just like the feeling of using a freshly sharpened knife!!

I haven't taken impeccable care of this knife. I have put it through the dishwasher. I have thrown it in the sink with other dirty dishes. I have taken it camping. The finish has warn off some, but mostly around the blade edge, and I am sure that's from me sharpening it so often. It is not peeling, just scratched and worn away from misuse. The way I see it is, it's just a 20.00 knife, easily replaceable if I damage it.

So basically, this knife is very durable, stays sharp, is lightweight, and I love it.

Like other reviewers said, it is NOT A TOY!!!! When I first got it, and it was pink, I thought it would be a joke of a knife. I stuck it in my knife canister on the counter. For some reason, every time I looked at it, I thought it was plastic. Cut myself on it a few times getting to other knives and when I first began using it because it just didn't look sharp. Now I know better.

UPDATE June 19, 2009

The finish on this knife started peeling like paint does when you use a paint remover. It began to flake off into food. So, since I am so attached to it, I tried spraying some Dawn Power Dissolve on it. I sprayed it on, let it soak, then took a copper "sponge" to it. After doing this a few times throughout the day, I now have a stainless blade and pink handle. No more flakes in our food and I still have my wonderful knife!!!

This is the knife I always look for and go to when I need one. Very sharp, I have had it for 1 year now and I haven't had to sharpen it yet.

This knife lived up to my expectations. Not a problem. So happy with it that I got the veggie knife too, although one could use this for everything. About the sharpness; has kept up well. You really shouldn't use this knife, or any you are interested in keeping sharp, on a glass cutting board which may have caused the problem described by another reviewer. And cutting through bones is best with a cleaver. But when used appropriately i have no doubt this knife will perform as well as it has been.

What a fun knife but so functional. This is my favorite knife for tomatoes. I can slice them paper thin or thick and chopping is a breeze. I would recomend this knife to everyone!!

It's sharp and pretty. Don't be fooled. It's not a toy or dull.

I recently received this knife. I love knives. Have some Wusthof, Cutco, other Shun, but I really like this knife. It is lightweight but durable. Feels good in the hand and has a razor sharp edge. I am very pleased with this knife. I want more!