Knifewear's Top 10 Kitchen Knives to Gift for Christmas 2024

Knifewear's Top 10 Kitchen Knives to Gift for Christmas 2024

Few will admit that gift-giving is the competition it actually is—family wargames centered on LED-flickering pines and buttresses of ribbon-wrapped parcels—surrender never an option, everyone desperate to rise above the shredded paper and tinsel to declare themselves Christmas champions. The people in your life all have the need to eat—and you know what changes cooking from a chore to a pastime? Great knives do. Therefore, everyone in your life can use a great knife this year and you will reign as Santa Claus Supreme.

Certain knives make better gifts than others; I have a few rules that I always follow when helping someone choose a knife for someone else:

  1. A gift needs to dazzle and impress. Make sure the knife looks cool and will appeal to the recipient. Wavy damascus, hammered tsuchime, or maybe an inky kurochi finish gets them riled up in the kitchen—just how we eat with our eyes first, a beautiful knife is going to get them stoked and inspired to cook.
  2. Don’t smash your bank account to bits on a gift. Get your pals the best you’re comfortable with—after all, they put up with all of your shenanigans. They’re worth it.
  3. Give a knife that’s easy to care for, especially if it’s their first one. Carbon steel is gonna patina and change colour with use and odds are that’s gonna stress someone out. Focus on stainless steel blades unless you’re buying for a self-declared knife nerd.

So what knives tick all of the above boxes? Luckily for you, like the kitchen elves we are, we cobbled together 2024’s Top Ten Knives to Gift at Christmas!

Tsunehisa VG1 Jusan 拾参 Migaki Brown Pakka Western Santoku 165mm

Tsunehisa VG1 Jusan 拾参 Migaki Brown Pakka Western Santoku 165mm
Regular price $133.00 CAD
Regular price Sale price $133.00 CAD
Sale Sold out

If you are introducing someone to the magical world of Japanese knives, you’re likely looking for something a little more all purpose like a santoku or gyuto. Maybe it’s for your no-nonsense uncle and you want a recognizable handle and clean lines. Can’t go wrong here—add a ceramic honing rod, and a blade guard and he’s completely set up for success.

 
Haruyuki Goma Santoku 180mm

Haruyuki Goma Santoku 180mm
Regular price $185.00 CAD
Regular price Sale price $185.00 CAD
Sale Sold out

Every year, something from the Haruyuki Goma line makes it on my shopping list—they are consistently among our best selling knives during the holidays. Classy layers of steel and dimpled hammering let the person holding it know that they are about to accomplish something impressive at the stove. VG-10 stainless steel is perfect for kitchen knives and is a favourite of many talented knifemakers like Tomoo Matsumura-san in Tsubame-Sanjo or the retired great, Anyru-san of Takefu Knife Village. Haruyuki santokus are a hair longer than most others—an amazing chef’s knife for bigger hands.

 
Masakage Zero Santoku 165mm

Masakage Zero Santoku 165mm
Regular price $497.00 CAD
Regular price Sale price $497.00 CAD
Sale Sold out

I’m tweaking my rules with this recommendation; it is made with carbon steel (carbon steel royalty actually, Aogami Super) but they wrap it in a layer of stainless to cut down on maintenance. Made by Takeshi Saji in Fukui, these are a santoku-shaped Cadillac. You’ll be hard pressed to find a knife that cuts smoother while looking so good. The distinguished ironwood handle, mosaic pin and brass bolster make this knife perfect for the sherry-drinking, cigar smoking folks in your life.

 
Seki Kanetsugu Heptagon-Wood® Nakiri 175mm

Seki Kanetsugu Heptagon-Wood® Nakiri 175mm
Regular price $156.00 CAD
Regular price Sale price $156.00 CAD
Sale Sold out

What’s like a santoku but different? A nakiri—this rectangular blade is perfect for slicing veggies, leaves, and herbs because the entire edge comes in contact with your cutting board—say goodbye to red pepper snowflakes and scallion chains. Seki Kanetsugu is one of a few makers that can draw a short line from their kitchen knives to swordmaking, in 2018 they celebrated 100 years in business. The super thin blade makes short work of most produce and the unique heptagonal handle makes quite the talking point.

 
Masakage Yuki Gyuto 210mm

Masakage Yuki Gyuto 210mm
Regular price $355.00 CAD
Regular price Sale price $355.00 CAD
Sale Sold out

An all purpose knife like a santoku, but a touch longer and a bit pointier. Gyutos are perfect for that person who loves a French-style chef’s knife—the length allows for easier “rock chopping” and doubles as a carving knife in a pinch. Similar to the other Masakage on our list, this knife is a carbon & stainless steel hybrid, meaning it's not too hard to care for if you’re paying attention. Kato-san named this beauty Yuki, after the Japanese word for snow; there’s something about that pillowy Nashiji finish and white magnolia handle that scream Miracle on 34th Street.

 
Haruyuki Shiso Gyuto 240mm

Haruyuki Shiso Gyuto 240mm
Regular price $276.00 CAD
Regular price $345.00 CAD Sale price $276.00 CAD
Sale Sold out

Shopping for someone who’s a little more Darth Vader and a little less Obi Wan but really liked the last knife? Sounds like they’re a Shiso fan. Haruyuki does a wicked job of putting together fantastic knives and keeping the cost down — this knife ticks all of the badass boxes — black, textured finish, big enough for an outrageous squash, and red lightsaber sharp.

 
Seki Kanetsugu Zuiun Sujihiki 240mm

Seki Kanetsugu Zuiun Sujihiki 240mm
Regular price $398.00 CAD
Regular price Sale price $398.00 CAD
Sale Sold out

When someone’s spent hard-earned money on a Christmas turkey, it would be a sin to pull out a retro electric knife and confetti the room in shredded meat. Get a proper carving knife! Dads love knives that look like swords, it’s a fact. Picture yours (or one you know) at the head of the table behind a Norman Rockwell quality bird holding a gleaming slicer from Seki Kanetsugu; the SG2 steel is going to float through the meat and the 62 layers of damascus look incredible doing it.

 
Shizu Hamono Morinoki Bread Knife 240mm

Shizu Hamono Morinoki Bread Knife 240mm
Regular price $60.00 CAD
Regular price Sale price $60.00 CAD
Sale Sold out

Be honest, which of your friends has a sourdough starter with a quirky name? If you can’t name them, it might be you. Just like meats and veggies, good bread deserves a fantastic knife. The perfect stocking stuffer has two types of serration on one blade; itty bitty teeth near the tip for cracking through crunchy crusts, and rounder smoother teeth for getting a smooth slice. I’d grab one for everyone I knew if I were you.

 

Maybe you’re buying someone their 4th, 9th, or 25th knife; if that’s the case, you can likely throw my rules out the window and head down to the shop for something absurd and unique. There’s always one-of-a-kinds and knives with really interesting stories hidden in the corners and highest shelves in the warehouse that only Nolan can reach. Take a photo of their collection or their most used knife and our staff will help pick out the perfect gift, helping solidify your big Christmas win.

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   Chris Lord

Chris Lord

Chris is a relocated Maritimer that can be found slinking in and out the back doors of Ottawa's restaurants, often with his daughter in tow. Chris has been a fixture in the Ottawa food scene for the past 10 years and has recently laid down his apron to learn the ways of Knifewear. Chris loves cooking big pieces of meat over a live fire and spends his summer feeding wood into his BBQ, Lemmy Smoke-mister.

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