How A Victorinox Cook’s Knife Performs in a Restaurant Kitchen

The Victorinox Cook's Knife Performance

In restaurant kitchens, there is an array of knives seen coming out of the chefs’ knife bags: from Global to Shun to non-branded, hand-forged knives sourced from swordsmiths in Japan. Also to be seen are quite a few Victorinox. You see, these are the knives typically handed out to 1st-year apprentices when they get their work placements. To be honest, I will admit to slightly turning up my nose at these knives in the past. Not because they are used by apprentices, but because I know they cost about 1/3 of the price of the major brands of quality knives. Surely that means that Victorinox isn’t as good?

First Impressions

I was surprised at how lightweight my new Victorinox Rosewood Cook’s knife is. The new wooden handle looks sleek and is a bit different from the usual plastic black versions. The knife fits in my hand very well – it is not too chunky or hard to handle. Dare I say it’s a better grip than my beloved Global?

Performance

I was shocked by the outstanding performance of this Victorinox Cook’s Knife. The blade is thin and flexible and razor-sharp. I barely had to sharpen the knife so far. I find that it is as good as any chef's knife should be, it is really versatile for so many kitchen jobs: from chopping vegetables to deboning a chicken to slicing very thin and elegant pieces of cured salmon, the Victorinox Rosewood knives makes it easy.

Comparison to Other Knives

(image from top left: Victorinox, top right: Wusthof, bottom left: Shun, bottom right: Global) Weight

• Victorinox: 10/10
• Global: 8/10
• Shun: 7/10
• Wusthof: 6/10

The Victorinox was the lightest knife I tried in the kitchen, with Wusthof being the heaviest. Ergonomic Feel

• Victorinox: 10/10
• Global: 8/10
• Wusthof: 8/10
• Shun: 7/10

I just love the wooden handle of the Rosewood Cook’s Knife. It fits my hand perfectly and does not ever slip. Someone with very large hands may prefer a chunkier handle, from Wusthof or Shun (or the custom made options from a swordsmith). Sharpness

• Victorinox: 9/10
• Shun: 9.5/10
• Wusthof: 8/10
• Global: 7/10

Hand-forged knives like Shun have many layers of steel and are honed over and over again to ensure the sharpest and highest quality blade is achieved. Price

• Victorinox: Approx. $80 AUD
• Global: Approx. $100 AUD
• Shun: Approx. $195 AUD
• Wusthof: Available from $150 – 250 AUD

It is clear to see that Swiss-made Victorinox truly packs a punch and holds it’s weight amidst the big players in the knife industry. That is spectacular considering the price tag and makes it excellent value for money. I think these are the reasons why culinary instructors make sure their chefs start their careers with Victorinox. Click here to view our range of Chef and Cooks Knives

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