Kevin Kent’s top 5 Chef Knives for Home Cooks

This is easily one of our most popular knives for folks looking to dip their toes in the water, without breaking the bank. The Hocho Kobo gets you started with an ultra-light, then knives that feels like a laser out of the box. They're nice and rugged, and the semi-stainless steel is easier to care for than a lot of the really traditional high-carbon steels. I love the clean, modern look of these knives.

Want a stunning knife that cuts like a dream and is easy to take care of? This is for you. This knife is the easiest to sharpen of the bunch and looks awesome, the tradeoff is it will need to be sharpened a bit more often. I love how these knives feel and I think they are great for home use.

I love Nigara knives. They look great if you're gonna be on TV and great when cooking for friends. Yoshizawa-san is a super talented young blacksmith who combines ancient forging techniques with high-tech steels that stay sharp longer than most. This knife is super fun to use when cooking by yourself, but even more fun when someone is watching you cook. We all get dressed to impress on special occasions, why not have a knife for those occasions as well? 

This is my number one gyuto at home. The sharpness this knife is capable of and how incredibly long it stays sharp blows my mind. The first time I used it I was in love. The finger notch at the end of the blade is brilliance, if you put your first or middle finger there and grip the blade, you will be holding a knife like a chef and  know what true perfect balance feels like. I get that it's pricey, but so is a Ferrari. 

Takamura-san makes some of the most insanely sharp knives I've ever used, and his blades are handmade despite looking so flawless. If you want the absolute best bang for your buck, this is the way to go. These knives are also easy to maintain and sharpen, a win-win if you ask me!

This line is easily a favourite among young chefs, home cooks, and Knifewear staff. Fujimoto Nashiji knives are made with high-performance carbon steel, clad in a protective layer of softer stainless steel. This means they cut like crazy, but require a lot less care than a full carbon-steel knife. The best of both worlds! The team of craftspeople who make them are each an expert in a different step of the process, meaning you get a crazy good knives for a very reasonable price. If you want to experience Lexus performance on a Toyota budget, grab yourself a Fujimoto.

Masashi-san is easily one of my favourite blacksmiths. He's a genius, an insanely hard worker, and a great guy. His knives really speak for themselves; they're gorgeous, feel fantastic to handle, and cut like a legendary sword. If we're talking about knives you can show off to friends and family, it doesn't get any better than this.