Warther Cutlery 9" French Knife

This was a gift for my girlfriend. She likes to cook pretty fancy so this suits her. It's definitely large and sharp and attractive. We follow all the directions (wood cutting board, no dishwasher, dry handle quickly) and I hope it lasts a lifetime.It does make the rest of the cutlery look shameful. I hope Warther is around for awhile so I can grow our collection :)

Your browser does not support HTML5 video.  Update: it’s 11 p.m. on Wednesday near midnight. Yeah, I love this knife. I can forgive the handle and out of the box sharpness. Something about the length and the way it handles is just exceptionally comforting and controlled. I really don’t see either the complaints as flaws and really appreciated this purchase over time.Original:The knife is comfortable, first and foremost. It doesn't need the fancy ergonomics of other knives to be so. I appreciate the old school look and those unique imprints on the blade.However, one drawback was the out-of-the box sharpness. I wasn't a fan of the sharpness when I first got it. It couldn't push cut on paper and it left a lot to be desired. It was doubly frustrating to find that the packaging said the knife would be very sharp, but, in comparison to other knives in this price range, it left a lot to be desired, particularly with how it was packed. Its box was fine but the knife itself was wedged in a styrofoam block. It was a generally unflattering initial presentation.Those were really the only drawbacks, though.I'm used to using 8 inch chef knives, but I found that the 9 inch was pretty similar in behavior. The knife rocked easily, slid easily through onion and carrot for chops and dices. It was a really great turnaround when came to it being a practical and easy to use knife in the kitchen.On the blade: the blade is a solid piece of a steel, called S35VN steel, and it has a Rockwell hardness between 58 and 60. Some light research will show that this steel does well at holding an edge.The initial impressions out of the box were rough, and I had some hesitations about the knife. However, once I started using it, it felt natural, which is a great feeling for a knife. Everything behaved like it was supposed to behave, and I couldn't have asked for a better performance.