Shopping for knives can be overwhelming—there are countless brands, confusing specs like the type of steel, handle materials, and whether a blade is forged or stamped. Thankfully, I’ve done my homework so you won’t get lost in a sea of information.
Over the years, I’ve collected way too many kitchen appliances, knives, utensils, and gadgets. Some of which never see the light of day. Sure, I love my garlic press and my food processor but the one tool that, in my opinion, is absolutely essential in every kitchen is a quality 8-inch chef knife. If you’re looking for an all-around kitchen knife that is beloved by Michelin star chefs and home cooks alike, look no further than Dalstrong.
What We’ll Cover
In this Dalstrong knives review, we’ll give some company background, along with my recommendations, and alternatives. We’ll cover:
- My chef knife recommendations
- Other great Dalstrong knives
- Dalstrong features
- Alternative brands
- Brand comparison
- Conclusion
The Knives
Dalstrong offers its customers a wide array of knives. They have 11 different knife series with varying options in steel type, handle type, and knife hardness. For today, I’ll focus on my top three favorites (plus a special bonus knife) that Dalstrong has to offer based on what you may be looking for as a home cook.
For the Beginner – 8” Chef Knife Gladiator Series
The Gladiator series is a great choice for any aspiring home chef. Everything in this collection is reasonably priced and is an excellent quality knife. The 8” Chef’s Knife is my choice because it offers a great balance of size, durability, and flexibility, as well as a low price point.
- Blade: High carbon German ThyssenKrupp steel
- Handle: G10 Garolite
- Rockwell Hardness: 56+
- Great for: All around, veggies, meat, and everything else
- Price: Check now
For the Intermediate – 8″ Chef Knife Valhalla Series
If you want to step up your chef game a little, try the 8” Chef knife from Dalstrong’s Valhalla Series. This collection is great for someone who wants a little more precision and durability from their knife.
- Blade: 5-layer stainless steel
- Handle: Blue resin and stabilized wood
- Rockwell Hardness: 60+
- Great for: Slicing, dicing, mincing, vegetables, and meat. Dishwasher safe.
- Price: Check now
For the Pro – 8” Tanto Style Chef Knife Shogun Series
For an elevated cooking experience, I recommend the Shogun Series. Each knife is precision-forged from a single piece of ultra-premium Japanese high-carbon AUS-10V steel. These knives are each a work of art, crafted with Damascus steel that lends the blades a distinctive wave pattern. Only the highest quality materials are used. Worthy of even a professional chef.
- Blade: 67 layered Damascus steel with AUS-10V Japanese super steel core
- Handle: G10 Garolite
- Rockwell Hardness: 62+
- Great for: Tough cuts, chunky veggies, and everything in between
- Price: Check now
For Fun – “The Crixus” – 8″ Hybrid Cleaver & Chef Knife Shogun Series
If you’re a knife lover like I am, then you won’t be able to stop yourself from drooling over this knife. It’s beautiful and powerful, a hybrid between a cleaver and a classic Chef knife. With this tool in your arsenal, you know you can tackle just about anything.
- Blade: 67 layered Damascus steel with AUS-10V Japanese super steel core
- Handle: G10 Garolite
- Rockwell Hardness: 62+
- Great for: Cutting through skin, bone, and sinew as well as fruits and veggies. Perfect for the BBQ lover.
- Price: Check now
Already Have a Chef Knife?
If you’ve already got a trusty Chef knife, then take a look at these great alternatives:
Paring Knife – 3.5” Paring Knife Shogun Series
This little knife is precise, small, and perfect for light kitchen work. These are my favorite knives for prepping vegetables, skinning ginger, mincing garlic, and even handling meat and seafood. Like the rest of the Shogun series of knives, this little knife has an AUS-10V Japanese super steel core beneath 67 layers of Damascus steel. It is as beautiful as it is efficient and is priced affordably.
- Blade: 67 layered Damascus steel with AUS-10V Japanese super steel core
- Handle: G10 Garolite
- Rockwell Hardness: 62+
- Great for: Peeling, slicing, mincing, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat.
- Price: Check now
Bread Knife – 10.25” Bread Knife Shogun Series
This extra-long serrated knife is perfect for larger items like bread loaves, melons, or roasts. Slicing requires minimal sawing because of both the 10.25” length and the scalpel-like blade. The blade is hand-polished with a beautiful mirror finish and a distinctive visual pattern. Perfectly balanced.
- Blade: 67 layered Damascus steel with AUS-10V Japanese super steel core
- Handle: G10 Garolite
- Rockwell Hardness: 62+
- Great for: Wide loaves, soft bread, tall melons, thick, hard crusts.
- Price: Check now
Fillet Knife – 7” Fillet Knife Gladiator Series
With a 1.5mm thickness, this knife is incredibly flexible and will make easy work of any seafood or poultry task. Includes a durable sheath for travel to the boat or dock.
- Blade: High carbon German ThyssenKrupp steel with 16-18 degrees edge
- Handle: G10 Garolite
- Rockwell Hardness: 56+
- Great for: Filleting, de-boning, trimming, skinning, and butterflying
- Price: Check now
Steak Knives Set – 4-Piece 5″ Steak Knives Set – Gladiator Series
Another addition from the Gladiator Series, these steak knives are made from forged German ThyssenKrupp steel with a Rockwell Hardness of 56+. These knives are simple, sleek, wonderfully sharp, and come with matching sheaths. Available in red or white
- Blade: High carbon German ThyssenKrupp steel
- Handle: G10 Garolite
- Rockwell Hardness: 56+
- Great for: Slicing up steaks
- Price: Check now
The Full Package – 18-Piece Knife Block Set Gladiator Series
For true Dalstrong fans, this 18-piece set is the ultimate piece for their kitchen. The set includes 11 specialty knives, 6 steak knives, and honing steel. A part of the Gladiator Series, these knives have a Rockwell Hardness of 56+, featuring German steel, and come in an acacia wood stand. Buyers have options of red, black, or white handles.
- Blade: High carbon German ThyssenKrupp steel
- Handle: G10 Garolite
- Rockwell Hardness: 56+
- Great for: Multi-use
- Price: Check now
Dalstrong Features
Dalstrong is a Canadian company with manufacturing based in China. While this fact may deter some buyers, Dalstrong prides itself on the care and craftsmanship of its knife-making process and the use of premium materials. The company uses a traditional Japanese process for forging its knives. While some details vary depending on the series, there are a few things that are consistent across all their knives:
- High-quality steel
- Distinctive design
- Forged as opposed to stamped
- Honbazuke sharpening process
- Budget-friendly
- Fantastic Warranty Policy
High-Quality Steel
While the type of steel used for each knife varies across collections, every knife is made with high-quality steel. Dalstrong sources steel from Japan, Germany, America, and Sino Steel.
Distinctive Design
Dalstrong is known for its unique designs for each series. The Shogun Series blends Eastern and Western-style and features the wave pattern typical of Damascus forged knives. The Valhalla Series features resin and wood handles for a more rustic feel. Each series in the Dalstrong collection has a little something for everyone.
Forged vs. Stamped
Forged knives are made from one whole bar of steel, heated, and hammered to attain their final shape. They tend to be sturdy and hold their edge longer but can be more expensive. Stamped knives are cut from a block of steel into their final shape, and are lighter and generally less expensive but maybe less durable than forged knives.
Honbazuke Sharpening Process
The Honbazuke Sharpening process is a traditional Japanese process for polishing knives. It is typically split into 3 steps:
- The blade is coarsely ground by a vertically rotating sharpening stone
- The blade is honed by a horizontally rotating sharpening stone
- Polishing and final touches are made to the edge with a leather stropping block
Fantastic Warranty Policy
Dalstrong’s warranty policy rivals even the quality of their knives. Their Customer Service department offers a 100% satisfaction or money-back guarantee as well as a limited lifetime warranty for any defects in their products. If you’re not happy with your knife, Dalstrong will refund your purchase without any hassle.
Alternatives to Dalstrong
While Dalstrong boasts an impressive blend of quality, variety, and affordability, some buyers may be interested in other brands. Dalstrong is a relatively newer brand and competes with knife ware classics such as German knife brand Wüsthof and Japanese brand Shun. Both have slightly higher price points than Dalstrong. Let’s take a look at what they have to offer:
Shun’s 8” Sora Chef’s Knife
Shun’s Sora line is their base level line. Knives in this collection are more affordably priced than in their Classic line. The 8” Sora Chef’s Knife is a solid contender to the Dalstrong knives listed above.
- Blade: VG10 High carbon stainless steel
- Handle: Textured TPE polymer blend
- Rockwell Hardness: 61
- Great for: Slicing, Cheese & Charcuterie, BBQ, Vegetable & Fruit
- Price: Check now
Wüsthof’s Classic 8” Chef’s Knife
Wüsthof’s Classic 8” Chef’s Knife is a great option for buyers willing to splurge a little more. The brand is known for crafting efficient and elegant knife ware. This knife in particular is simple, yet powerful, able to effortlessly take down piles of vegetables or cuts of meat.
- Blade: Stainless steel
- Handle: Synthetic
- Rockwell Hardness: 58
- Great for: Cabbage, fish, fruit, lettuce, herbs, meat, vegetables
- Price: Check now
Comparison
No knife review would be complete without comparing the same type of knife across brands, we can see that Dalstrong is the most affordable option, with comparable quality. Some of the decisions between knives will also come down to personal preference, for example, Shun offers classical Japanese knives, while Wüsthof provides consumers with a simple German-style knife. Dalstrong offers a blend between typical Eastern and Western styles.
| Dalstrong 8” Chef Knife Gladiator | Shun 8” Sora Chef’s Knife | Wüsthof Classic 8” Chef’s Knife | |
| Blade | High carbon German ThyssenKrupp steel | VG10 High carbon stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Production Method | Forged | Forged | Forged |
| Handle | G10 | Texture TPE polymer blend | Synthetic |
| Rockwell Hardness | 56+ | 61 | 58 |
Related: 5 Easy Methods For How To Sharpen A Knife
Conclusion
All in all, Dalstrong is a strong contender for any home cook looking to level up their kitchen game. The company, while relatively new, offers an impressive line of varied knife ware. While these knives do come from China, they are produced under careful scrutiny, with real craftsmanship. For the price, they’re my pick for a great addition to any cook’s arsenal.
