Europe is a hub for high-quality kitchen knife manufacturing. That means there are some great brands to choose from, at lower prices than you’ll find in the rest of the world.
I’ve tried and tested a lot of fantastic chef’s knives. Here are my top picks, for those who are on a budget and those who are just looking for the best.
Best chef’s knives – At a glance
- Best Value | Mercer Culinary Renaissance view price on Amazon
- Best Quality | Wüsthof Classic view price on Amazon
- Super Lightweight | Victorinox Fibrox Pro view price on Amazon
There are plenty of other options too which I’ll list below. So for more detail take a look through the full reviews below.
My #1 Recommended Chef’s Knife
My favorite chef’s knife is the Mercer Culinary Renaissance.It’s a very well-built forged knife using materials usually found in knives triple the price. I personally use it almost every day and it easily competes with brands double and triple the price.
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Best Chef Knives
| Name | Price | Check current price |
| Wüsthof Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife | £80 – £90 | Link to Amazon |
| Mercer Renaissance | £40 – £50 | Link to Amazon |
| Victorinox Fibrox Pro | £30 – £40 | Link to Amazon |
Wüsthof Classic
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Wüsthof Classic 8 Inch Review Table
| Country of manufacture | Germany |
| Steel type | X50CrMoV15 (Very durable German steel) |
| Rockwell hardness | HRC 57 |
| Factory edge | 15 degrees (double bevel) |
| Handle material | POM (thermoplastic) |
| Pros | One of the most durable knives available |
Wüsthof are a knife making giant. They are one of the best-known producers of quality knives in the world and are used by many professional chefs.
They are a German company with a history dating back over 200 years. They specialize in making knives with a classic western design. They are always high quality with a strong focus on durability.
This Wüsthof is probably the most durable knife on this list, and that’s what makes it so popular amongst professional chefs.
I’ve had to include this knife in this article as, although it’s at the higher end of the price scale, it is a knife that many young professional chefs choose. It will last for decades, and ultimately that makes it very good value.
The steel used for this knife is X50CrMoV15. It’s a german steel that is quite often used in quality knives.
The reason for its popularity is its balance between strength and durability. The carbon content is 0.55%, that’s not particularly high, but it’s just good enough to achieve a blade angle of 15 degrees, which is plenty sharp enough.
The 15 in X50CrMoV15 represents the 15% Chromium content. Chromium is the element that prevents knives from rusting, it’s what makes stainless steel. A Chromium content of 15% makes this a high-quality stainless steel so the risk of having rust issues with these knives are very low as long as it’s reasonably well maintained.
The design is very classic of western chef’s knife design. The blade is beautifully curved along the edge allowing for rock chopping. The blade is full-tang into the handle with a full bolster.
The handle is triple-riveted and made from a quality thermoplastic material called POM. That means it too is very durable and resistant to all the temperature and moisture variations you get in a professional, and home kitchen.
In my opinion, this is the best knife on this list and would be my personal recommendation if we were ignoring the price.
Mercer Culinary Renaissance
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Mercer Culinary Renaissance Chef’s Knife Review Table
| Country of manufacture | Taiwan |
| Steel type | X50CrMoV15 (German steel that’s ideal for durability) |
| Rockwell hardness | HRC 56-58 |
| Factory edge | 15 degrees (double bevel) |
| Handle material | POM (thermoplastic) |
| Pros | Durable and low price |
Mercer aren’t a company steeped in history, but the benefit they do have is they produce their knives at a low cost in Taiwan using good quality materials, mixed with good design, to create knives that are up to half the cost of knives using the same materials but produced in Europe.
I’m a fan of Mercer knives and I’ve seen them become slowly more popular because people are genuinely surprised by the quality they offer at such a low price.
The blade uses forged X50CrMoV15 steel with a half bolster, going full tang into the triple riveted handle. It’s a material and design more commonly seen in knife two to three times the price.
The handle is POM, a trusty thermoplastic often used for kitchen knife handles because it’s extremely durable and resistant to most temperature and moisture fluctuations.
It’s a super knife and the fact that it’s the lowest priced item on this list certainly doesn’t make it any less worthy.
Mercer use great materials and classic design for their Renaissance range and I don’t think you could be disappointed with this knife.
Victorinox Fibrox Pro
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Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife Review Table
| Country of manufacture | Switzerland |
| Steel type | X50CrMoV15 (German steel that’s ideal for durability) |
| Rockwell hardness | HRC 56 |
| Factory edge | 15 degrees (double bevel) |
| Handle material | TPE (thermoplastic) |
| Pros | Durable and lightweight |
If you’re on a budget but still looking for quality then Victorinox are an excellent choice.
Victorinox are a Swiss company founded in 1884. They are the original makers of the world-famous Swiss Army Knife, so they know a thing or two about making sharp blades.
Once again the steel used for this knife is X50CrMoV15, which means it’s strong enough to have a reasonably sharp edge with good edge retention and its 15% Chromium content will prevent it from rusting.
This blade is made using stamped steel, which significantly reduces the cost but means it’s more suitable for home cooks than professionals as stamped blades tend to be less durable than forged.
Since the steel is stamped there is no bolster. The handle is made from a thermoplastic elastomer, making it comfortable and very resistant to moisture and temperature fluctuations.
It’s a lightweight knife, as stamped blades often are and there is a nice curve to the blade edge for rock chopping.
Overall it’s a quality knife for the price, manufactured by a historic producer of knives. It uses great base materials but thanks to the lower production cost it’s affordable even for people a tight budget.
