the right knife for me

Budget? Access to various stores/internet preferences? I notice you're in Ireland so many of the sources I recommend might be problematic for import costs.

 

Tell us a bit more, particularly about budget.

You may want to consider japanesechefsknife.com if they have a product that you like - I just got two knives from there and their international shipping from Japan is $7, which is pretty great (I'm in Canada), and I didn't have to worry about duty either because of the way they shipped. I can't even get domestic shipping for that price. I've read around here that making returns with them can be difficult, so that might knock them down the podium a little, but worth a look.

Lighter and thinner -- just about any Japanese gyuto. It would really help a lot if you could nail down your budget. I don't want to discuss ten knives if only three of them would be suitable.

I don't recommend Shun or Glolbal chef's knives, each for its own reasons. Most of what I don't like about Shun chef's is their horrible, exaggerated German profile. Also, they run thick at the heel; are chippy especially when they're new, and their advertising is pure BS. Lastly, I don't like any "san-mai" knives because they feel numb to my hand; but hasten to add that's a minority view -- about 30% notice the difference, and about 70% of those are bothered by it, while the remainder don't care.

A consequence of their Cromova 18 alloy, Globals deform easily -- and need as much steeling as any European knife. You can get them adequately but not extremely sharp. They're thick. A lot of people don't like their handle. I actually like Global chef's for their profile and agility; but their poor edge taking and holding properties, and need for maintenance mean there there are many better knives for the same price so I don't recommend them.

At around the same price (more or less) as those two, I usually recommend either the MAC Pro or Masamoto VG. The Kagayaki CarboNext is a very good knife, and an excellent value as well -- but is notorious for arriving with a horrible edge. If so, you should either be a very good sharpener going in, or have access to someone who can completely profile a knife.

The Masamoto VG and CarboNext are both available from JCK a seller who's expert at keeping taxes and duty down. I believe the MAC is available from UK sources. Why not google them and do a little research and get back to us with some more thoughts?

BDL
Edited by boar_d_laze - 2/11/12 at 6:38pm