There are not words to express how excellent this knife is. I have had the knife for over a year and a half. I wanted to give it at least a year before I wrote a review so I could comment on longevity and durability. The knife has gotten quite a lot of use in these 18 months, so I think I have a representative sample.
When you first open up a Zelite knife, you get the chills and your heart flutters like it's Christmas day. The packaging and presentation are superb. Then you get your first glimpse of that beautiful Damascus blade, with its mirror polish. It is immediately apparent that the build quality and precision are first class. There are no gaps, spaces, rough edges, flaws, or blemishes anywhere to be seen.
And then you pick it up. The handle is very smooth, yet has a tactile quality that lets you know it will not slip out of your hand. The shape is perfect for the chef's-preferred pinch grip, although I found the handle could use an extra millimeter or two in length (although, that could simply be due to my condition, being a 6'5" tall male). The handle is comfortable and allows utmost control.
And then there's the edge. Out of the box, it was razor sharp. In fact, one of my first acts as a new Zelite owner was to inadvertently inflict a minor flesh wound on my left index finger. It bled like stink. That's what years of handling dull knives will do for you. And the blade has stayed extremely sharp for the entirety of the last 18 months. I do about 8 passes of the blade on a ceramic honing rod about every 4-5 uses, and it's still as sharp as the day I opened it. There has never been any hint of dulling (as opposed to micro-burring, which is fixed with the honing rod). The steel is extremely strong and has not sustained any chips or cracks.
As an experiment, I decided to compare the Zelite side-by-side with a decent-but-cheap Calphalon utility knife over the past 18 months. I made sure to sharpen up the Calphalon to so similar level as soon as the Zelite arrived. The contrast between the two knives couldn't be more apparent. I've used the cheapo about half as often and have had to hone it twice as frequently. The edge has numerous chips and is starting to dull beyond what the honing rod can do for it. There is no doubt the Zelite is a far superior product.
What about the price? For your standard home cook, it might seem a little bit pricey. But, you have to think about this knife as an investment. It WILL last longer than any of your other knives if properly cared for (see sob story below). For the build quality, the steel, the design, and edge retention, you would expect to pay double or more for a similar product from a name-brand knife company. The Zelite really is an incredible value.
BONUS SOB STORY: About 2 days after I received my Zelite in the mail, my wife dropped it, tip down, into the sink. Let's just say that was one of the more difficult times in our marriage. Since the tip was so wicked sharp and pointy, it did fold over a little, although not as much as I expected. Luckily I had recently purchased a set of sharpening stones and was learning the art of sharpening. With not much effort, I was able to restore the tip to the blade (for the most part). It saved our marriage!
Solid, sharp and a pleasure to use
This is my 7th product from Zelite Infinity and once again this knife does not fall short. It is solidly built and feels robust and great quality in your hand.The 6 Inch blade on this Utility Knife is ideal for everyday tasks around your kitchen when the paring knife is a little too small and the chef knife would be overkill. I use it mostly for slicing up fruit, cutting sandwiches and general fast work with veggies.The blade is made from one of the best cutlery materials on the market and comes with a staggering 61 Rockwell hardness meaning it can be made razor sharp and keep its edge for a very long time.I simply love the handles on these Zelite knives – the classic design that has their unique stamp of excellence in the form of a small multi metal mosaic rivet – it really does look the business. The handle size and rounded shape could not be improved in my opinion – it feels so comfortable.I am really pleased to own all of the Zelite Infinity products and I for one will be first in queue if there are any newer product releases.These products come in a very nice gift box so if you have any up and coming parties, birthdays or whatever, gives these guys a thoughtI rate this product an easy 5 stars
Top reviews from other countries
Larry in Sussex
Is it worth the money ? - DEFINITELY !
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2017Eugen Zerbe
Sehr gute Qualität und der Preis ist gut 👍.
Reviewed in Germany on February 5, 2024
