J.A. Henckels Twin Pro S 6-Inch High Carbon Stainless-Steel Chef's Knife Top Quality

Boy, almost feel like Scrooge writing this review among all the glowing comments from others. The two stars is based upon my perceived value when comparing the Henckels 6 inch to other similar knives I own.

i grew up around knives, own literally hundreds, and understand the necessary steps in blade maintenance. A few months ago decided to upgrade the kitchen cutlery, and since have bought two sets and added individual knives from; Mundial, Sabatier (the French made), Hen & Rooster, Calphalon (Katanta), Anolon, and Farberware. Boy I could probably slice, dice, cut and carve a Rhino if I could drag into the house.

Added the 6 inch Henckels (and a 8 inch Wusthof slicer) to get t feel of German cutlery.

Was surprised of the quality and finish or the lack there of to be more accurate. First impression the handles did not line up with the bolster with noticeable gaps and high places on one side and low on the other. The spine was rough with obvious milling marks that on other blades are usually polished somewhat smooth. The edge was one I haven't seen in years at least since I quit buying cheaply made pocket knives.

Let me explain. Most blades have a consistent edge from bolster to tip which makes honing and future sharpening easier and more consistent. The Henckels started with a "normal" edge at the bolster that expanded and cut further into the blade the closer to the tip spanning a good 1/4 of an inch into the blade at the tip. A lot of steel left on the floor that should have been on the knife. Maybe Henckels intention is have the material being sliced slide easier from the tip but it creates unneeded maintenance problems. In defense the blade was sharp, sharper than some knives less sharp than others and a little less sharp than the edge I maintain on cutlery.

In feel and use the knife was somewhat lackluster. Comparing to other 6 inch chefs the blade was flat for lack of a better term, which made chopping and slicing more labor intensive and less natural. Feel was also a little blade heavy and I found my self picking up other knives and leaving the Henckels in the block.

The blade did not have a good ring and the density of the metal did not appear much or any different from the several other brands I own. I must admit I am not a professional food preparer and maybe German cutlery might hold up slightly better in that environment, but in my home environment I could not justify the cost versus benefit ratio. Steel is steel ice hardened or not and the Rockwell rating is not any higher which means edge retention, wear and sharpness should typically be in line with most other brands.

In conclusion if you are a professional or want to impress the neighbors or guests (who could probably care less) this knife will do the job and with proper care do it for years. But if you are like me and simply want to prepare some good food in your kitchen look at other brands and use the cost difference on major appliances or maybe even a trip to a Caribbean Island.Get more detail about J.A. Henckels Twin Pro S 6-Inch High Carbon Stainless-Steel Chef's Knife.