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30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a knife!, January 17, 2003
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.
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