Steak Knives?

[WhichDawg]

I'm looking for some decent steak knives and the last thread about this is several years old (TY Poncho65) I'm wondering what you all recommend and have. I want dedicated steak knives but I don't want to spend hundreds for a set. Maybe a small set under 100 would be good but I don't want cheap Chinese that will rust or disintegrate within a year. Full tang would be nice but under 100 might be asking too much. I will compromise because I'm not looking for "fancy" or beautiful just practical and reasonable. 

Serrations or non-serrations/straight edge is an important question because they're a lot of opinions on this. Serration sharpness seem to last longer but harder to sharpen when they do get dull and most of us cut our meat and food on plates that dull edges bad so should I get non-serrations so I can sharpen when needed? Victorinox has some nice looking serrated ones that are very reasonable but no full tang with plastic handles but how long will they stay sharp with typical/average use?

Any suggestions and comments will be appreciated thank you  

[nate j]

If you’re not worried about looking fancy, and just want something functional that won’t break the bank, you won’t go at all wrong with Victorinox.

I have something of a variety, and will post a pic later with more detailed thoughts.

[SteveC]

I'm looking for some decent steak knives and the last thread about this is several years old (TY Poncho65) I'm wondering what you all recommend and have. I want dedicated steak knives but I don't want to spend hundreds for a set. Maybe a small set under 100 would be good but I don't want cheap Chinese that will rust or disintegrate within a year. Full tang would be nice but under 100 might be asking too much. I will compromise because I'm not looking for "fancy" or beautiful just practical and reasonable. 

Serrations or non-serrations/straight edge is an important question because they're a lot of opinions on this. Serration sharpness seem to last longer but harder to sharpen when they do get dull and most of us cut our meat and food on plates that dull edges bad so should I get non-serrations so I can sharpen when needed? Victorinox has some nice looking serrated ones that are very reasonable but no full tang with plastic handles but how long will they stay sharp with typical/average use?

Any suggestions and comments will be appreciated thank you

Like I mentioned to Poncho in his thread, our family has had a set of Case Miracle edge Steak knives that have served us well for over 25 years. They were my parents and now mine and they are as good as new, still hold a great edge and cut steak perfectly.

Easy to sharpen on a steel or ceramic rod. I think I've only sharpened then twice in many many years.

Look on ebay for a set like this. These are a bit over $100 but well worth it as they look to be in great shape.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/326541985708?_skw=vintage+case+steak+knives&itmmeta=01KBXCP07Q5ZS90QM26G373R6R&hash=item4c076b47ac:g:fpYAAeSwEcloBRkK&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAABAFkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1cTRJ22PTC5Tbt2op%2F5Yhq6qgDm4XDAZBF4Y5MZB6s3bivWWoXOSkf7ms00Z7%2Ft3NRQ%2Fg1q7xg3SLBeM0ZNh%2B8BQ116uboI6XqI26OSAZ%2FDnJ3bgHHZLKY80EENaJlCiYJZ3aquDu9XjYn8QzYZByr%2BKkBkhmb9pzV3R2hfy2IgsvOxMeG6G2sC3AorySM%2B87BrnZjbmsg6dyROdfWTBnlqPNoP%2BKOwCALBOiv5FpkucMHmmpdA4x83frQNxW5icCcazGXfp8jD4pjlH52XtzhigdisCQ1e3AEZ3slvKV4v9EmCOTElysWDdFGBp0tjJ2Y%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4SE2KzfZg

[nate j]

When it comes to Victorinox steak knives, there are four basic questions you must ask yourself, though it’s important to note that not all possible combinations are actually available.  Also, some of these knives are listed by Victorinox as utility knives, picnic knives, paring knives, etc. rather than steak knives.

1. PE or SE? - Some people are strongly opposed to serrated steak knives.  Personally, it doesn’t make much difference to me, and the serrated are lower maintenance.
2. Fixed or folding? - Folding versions feature a liner lock.  Unless portability is critical for you, fixed will be easier to keep clean and sanitary.
3. Pointed tip or rounded tip? - Since forks have come into common usage and it is no longer considered proper table manners to stab food with one’s knife to bring into one’s mouth, there isn’t really any utility to the pointed tip.  In contrast, there is some functionality to the rounded tip, as it works much better for spreading butter on bread or rolls than the pointed tip (and avoids the need for a separate butter knife).  Some may say the rounded tip is safer, but if accidental stabbings with steak knives are a major issue, I am not aware of it.
4. What handle material? - Are you happy with the basic and inexpensive plastic, or do you want something more premium (and more costly)? - YMMV, but I typically do not host fancy dinner parties, and the plastic handles are perfectly functional.

[WhichDawg]

good points and comments all, thank you 

I don't mind plastic as long as it's not cheap will soon become brittle plastic and fall apart/break. Victorinox makes some good plastics and I trust them.

As you can tell I am leaning towards Vic but I really wanted to know others experience with them and others 

[buggs]

I have two sets of steak knives (4 pieces per set).  Both are Henckels.

My older set was purchased for me by my mother when I moved out of the house 30+ years ago and they still work just fine and have never been sharpened.  They have a slightly serrated edge so probably the reason they still cut well.

I purchased a newer set of Henckels Twin Signature steak knives maybe 10 years ago.  They came very sharp and work really well.   No serrations on them but cut through meat like butter.  I haven't sharpened them yet as they haven't needed it.  They appear to be on sale https://www.zwilling.com/ca/zwilling-twin-signature-4-piece-knife-set-black-30718-000/30718-000-0.html?cgid=our-brands_zwilling_cutlery_twin-signature

My kitchen knives are older Henckels Professional S and have served me for over 20 years.  Lots of newer stuff I would like to own, but these just continue to perform. 

[WhichDawg]

Most of my kitchen knives are Henckels, chefs knife utility knife paring knife and long serrated bread knife. I got them in the 90’s and really like them but have to sharpen them periodically (except the serrated bread knife). funny story on how I got them:

I worked at convention halls for over 16 years until I retired and I used to do the Homecenter show which had a Henckel booth, they were next to my booth I was working on and when the show was over and the booths were being taken apart and packed up I went over to the Henckels booth and asked if they would sell me any knives (many booths sold or gave away products so they didn’t have to pay shipping back or naughty clients sold stuff then claimed it stolen or lost to insurance to get full MSRP and make more money…not all did this but some did) and I think it was the owner of the company Mr Henckels himself told me “NO WE DON’T SELL” I said fine and thank you and walked away. He said it in a very angry and rude way and I assumed everyone was asking him and it annoyed him, whatever I thought I was just asking and went back to work and thought no more about it.

The next day when I went back to work all around my booth there was a ton of garbage and boxes and broken crates scattered all over several booths including mine and I noticed knives mixed in the garbage! brand new Henckels all over! Apparently he had pissed off the teamsters and they smashed his crates to pieces in anger with forklifts … I looked for him but he was gone (he packed everything up the previous night and left) and I knew all the stuff/knives would just be thrown away so I “helped clean up”

His rudeness left such a sour taste in my mouth and even today I don’t want to buy any Henckels (not that I did the first time) so…to me good knives bad company 

[WhichDawg]

Update: I bought 8 Swiss Classic Victorinox steak knives, 2 plain straight edge 6 serrated and the day before I got them my Ginsu knife broke!     apparently the gods were telling me something 

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Not fancy probably not full tang but they cut nice! we simple peasants like em 

the 2 straight edge knives are actually paring knives but we won't tell the wife 

[PitCarver]

We seldom use dedicated steak knives around here.  We have a nice set of full tang serrated knives that my father had bought many years ago, but  the wife and I will always go for a paring knife.

[Reinier]

Update: I bought 8 Swiss Classic Victorinox steak knives, 2 plain straight edge 6 serrated and the day before I got them my Ginsu knife broke!     apparently the gods were telling me something 

  [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ]  

Not fancy probably not full tang but they cut nice! we simple peasants like em 

the 2 straight edge knives are actually paring knives but we won't tell the wife 

Good choice. I like them. Cheap, sharp and dishwasher safe

[nate j]

Update: I bought 8 Swiss Classic Victorinox steak knives, 2 plain straight edge 6 serrated and the day before I got them my Ginsu knife broke!     apparently the gods were telling me something 

  [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ]  

Not fancy probably not full tang but they cut nice! we simple peasants like em 

the 2 straight edge knives are actually paring knives but we won't tell the wife 

I don’t believe you will be disappointed.  Mine have given years of trouble-free service.

In addition to all the more common applications, my pointed PE versions are my tools of choice for pumpkin carving every Halloween.