The Leatherman line can be a bit confusing, so let’s offer up a brief overview:

Tools fall into one of four categories: extra-large, full-sized, pocket-sized, and keychain-sized. The most popular of the extra large tools is the Surge, while the Wave and the Charge live firmly in the full-sized category. The pocket sized tools include a few different Juice models, while the Keychain tools include the Micra and the Squirt.

We’ve reviewed many of those other knives elsewhere, but here we’re going to focus on the Charge. The Charge is more full-featured than the Wave, but is also more expensive.

Among the Charge models, the TTi has the most tools. It is an upgrade over the extremely popular Charge XTi and is also superior to the newly-introduced AL and ALX.

Okay, with that out of the way, let’s take a look at the Charge XTi:

It features a large blade, serrated knife, ruler, saw, file, bottle and can opener, cutting hook, scissors, two bit drivers, screw driver, two pairs of pliers, as well as a wire stripper, cutter and crimper.

That blade has a clip point and is made of Scandinavian S30V stainless steel, a top-of-the-line steel you don’t often find on these types of tools.

The bit drivers fit the included six-piece drill and screw bit set.

The handles on the XTi are titanium, also an upgrade over just about any other tool in its class. It also features a quick-release lanyard ring.

Also included is a leather sheath, a gift tin, and pocket clip.

Decide if you want the extra features and superior materials that the XTi offers. If it’s not worth an extra forty bucks to you, you might want to check out the Leatherman New Wave instead.

More Info on this Leatherman Charge TTi Multi-Tool:

• Click here to find this tool at Amazon.com

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Leatherman Charge TTi Multi-Tool w/ Leather Sheath New! US $90.99 Auction Ends: Thursday Nov-20-2008 9:34:28 PST Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

Leatherman Charge TTi Multi-Tool w/ Leather Sheath New! US $76.00 (11 Bids) Auction Ends: Thursday Nov-20-2008 9:34:30 PST Bid on this Item   | Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

Leatherman Charge TTi Multi-Tool w/ Nylon Sheath New! US $90.99 Auction Ends: Thursday Nov-20-2008 9:34:31 PST Bid on this Item   | Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

We’ve reviewed some pretty impressive paring knives recently. Check out the Shun Paring knife for a gorgeous, if somewhat expensive, top-of-the-line model. Or read up on the Forschner Black Fibrox Paring Knife for a decent budget model.

But, if you want a great balance between performance and price, the MAC is tough to beat.

The Superior series features extremely hard, extremely sharp high-end Japanese stainless steel. The steel is a blend of carbon, molybdenum and vanadium which allows it to hold that very sharp edge over time. That hole near the tip is for hanging.

The blade is available in a traditional paring knife shape, or in a Japanese Santoku style

The handles are triple-riveted resin-infused hardwood that will hold up well over the long haul. They’re comfortable in the hand, though they’re not contoured much. If you’re looking for a more ergonomic model, you might want to consider the Shun.

Overall, the knives are very lightweight, which will help ease fatigue during those long peeling and paring sessions.

The paring knife, of course, is a kitchen essential, so do be sure to get a good one. The MAC makes an excellent choice.

More Info on this Mac Superior Paring Knife:

Click here to find this knife on Amazon.com

The Chef’s Choice lineup of electric sharpeners can be a bit tricky to navigate. We’ve written about the Chef’s Choice M120 and the M130 previously, so now we’ll tackle the 110.

First, let’s get something out of the way… Chef’s Choice stands out among electric sharpener manufacturers by making high-quality sharpeners that won’t dull your knives and won’t remove too much metal from the edge. Electric sharpeners have gotten a bad rap because there are many inferior models out there that you should avoid.

The Chef’s Choice 110, though, is an excellent choice if you want to keep your knives sharp without taking on the uncertainty of manual sharpening.

The 110 has a slightly less powerful motor than the M120 or M130, and the warranty is one year shorter. As a result, you may want to pay the extra forty bucks or so to upgrade to the 120.

The 110 has the same pre-sharpening stage that the M120 has. This is an aggressive stage meant only for knives that need an overhaul, so use it sparingly. You’ll find yourself using the second two stages much more frequently.

More Info on this Chef’s Choice M110 Electric Sharpener:

• Click here to find this sharpener at Amazon.com

Find this Chef’s Choice Sharpener on eBay:

While most other knife makers are watching and mimicking each other, Global stands by its unique design.

They were the first to introduce razor-sharp, light-weight Chef’s knives to Western kitchens nearly twenty years ago. In doing so, they’ve gained something of a cult following.

Couple that with design features you won’t find on many other knives and you’ve got a love-it-or-hate-it affair.

At OnlyKnives, we love it — we named Global’s 5-piece knife set one of favorite knife sets recently. If you’ve been using traditional Henckels or Wusthof knives, you’re in for a real treat with these Globals.

The Santoku has got all the features that define a Global knife. It is very lightweight and the handle features no bolster for “balance”. Instead, the handle is filled with sand that moves around as you cut, giving you a balance that adjusts itself on the fly.

The handle is dimpled stainless steel, somewhat of a rarity in mainstream kitchen knives.

The blade is made of a high-carbon, molybdenum/vanadium alloy that allows it to be thin and razor sharp out of the box. It features a granton-edge — those little dimples in the blade help keep food from sticking to it.

The blade profile is a slim taper — often incorrectly referred to as a “hollow ground”. This also is a contrast to a traditional “double bevel” or “V-edge”.

The Santoku, of course, is a great all-purpose knife that meets many home chefs’ needs. It should not be a replacement for a Chef’s knife, but does a great job complementing that type of knife.

More Info on this Global Santoku Knife:

• Click here to find this Knife at Amazon.com

Find This Knife on eBay:

Global G-48338 3 Piece Asian Santoku Knife Set NewInBox US $134.95 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Nov-20-2008 8:31:25 PST Bid on this Item   | Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

GLOBAL SANTOKU 7-IN KNIFE G-46- BRAND NEW IN BOX US $69.95 Auction Ends: Friday Nov-21-2008 9:49:45 PST Bid on this Item   | Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

Global 3 Pc. Oriental Santoku Knife Set #G-48338 US $143.00 Auction Ends: Tuesday Dec-02-2008 5:37:29 PST Bid on this Item   | Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

From one of the world’s front runners in knife technology comes the Idun blade, a hunting knife that’s both artistic and advanced.

Fallkniven is one of our favorite hunting knife makers. It’s a family-owned firm, many of whom are hunters themselves. They use that knowledge to continually refine their blade designs. They’ve always used top-notch materials as well, which is a big plus in our book.

The Idun knife is extremely strong, measuring 64 HRC on the Rockwell scale, and laminated with Damascus powder VG10 steel, arguably the first blade of its kind to be fashioned in such a manner.

Its full-tang construction features a sweeping blade design, which makes it an ideal hunting knife. Fallkniven’s hunting knives are usually a little larger and harsher, but the Idun’s roundness makes it safer for skinning than others.

The handle is wrapped with premium leather, stacked to give you maximum grip as well as comfort. The finger guard and rear bolster are made from polished nickel silver, adding a gleaming touch to this already impressive blade. Comes with a deluxe leather sheath.

More Info on this Fallkniven Idun Hunting Knife:

• Click here to find this Knife at Amazon.com

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Fallkniven NL5 Idun Hunting Knife-Northern Light Series US $219.00 Auction Ends: Saturday Nov-22-2008 10:54:02 PST Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

FALLKNIVEN IDUN KNIFE 8 1/2 " NEW WITH SHEATH !!!!! US $218.95 Auction Ends: Saturday Nov-22-2008 17:18:19 PST Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

*Fallkniven Idun w/ Sheath Model NL5 *New in Box* US $223.88 Auction Ends: Monday Nov-24-2008 2:09:25 PST Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

If you’re going to spend decent money on a knife, make sure it’s one that you’ll use frequently, feels comfortable in your hand and is made of premium materials.

This Shun Classic Paring knife has got all that and more.

For starters, it’s a paring knife — one of just a handful of “essential” knives for any kitchen.

The blade’s core is made of premium Japanese VG-10 steel. This allows it to be made sharper than just about any other kitchen knife you’ll encounter. Around the VG-10 are layers of stainless steel to protect the edge.

The blade also features a gorgeous damascus-style pattern on it. That’ll make you want to display it in your kitchen.

The handle is made of pakkawood, a resin-infused hardwood that will resist wear and tear. Its profile is a teardrop-shape, meaning it will settle comfortably in your hand.

While technically it’s “stainless”, you won’t want to soak this knife or put it in the dishwasher. If that extra care is too much of a bother for you, you may want to look elsewhere.

This knife is pricey, no doubt, but for all that it offers, it’s certainly one of the best paring knives out there.

More Info on this Shun Knife:

• Click here to find this Knife at Amazon.com

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Shun Classic: Ken Onion Paring Knife 3" DM516 Knives US $124.95 Auction Ends: Wednesday Dec-10-2008 18:41:05 PST Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

Shun Classic 2-1/2 Inch Bird's Beak Paring Knife US $84.99 Auction Ends: Wednesday Dec-17-2008 9:33:54 PST Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

Shun Classic 4 Inch Paring Knife New US $68.99 Auction Ends: Wednesday Dec-17-2008 9:38:11 PST Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

There are many different ways to store your knives, but none top this one for conversation value.

They call this one “The Ex” for obvious reasons. Though you’re free to rename it “The Boss”, “The Mother-In-Law” or anyone else you want to take a stab at.

The Ex is a five piece knife set with unique holder. It’s meant to evoke a “voodoo” doll, though in my tests it had no such effect!

The knives themselves are almost an afterthought. And, of course, you may elect to buy this piece for the holder only and end up storing your own knives in it.

The set includes an eight-inch Chef’s knife, a three-inch parer, a five-inch utility, an eight-inch bread knife and an eight-inch carving knife.

The blades are stainless steel and most customers are pleasantly surprised that they’re pretty sharp out of the box.

You’re not paying for top-quality knives here, as you might expect, but the shock value of the holder alone is probably worth the price.

Available in black, red, white, pink and chrome.

More Info on this Ex Voodoo Knife Set Holder:

• Click here to find this knife set and holder on Amazon.com

The 119 Special is Buck’s best-selling hunting knife, and for good reason. It’s a strong, no-frills knife that has everything you need in a hunting knife and nothing else. And it’s less than fifty bucks.

The blade measures six inches and is made of 420HC stainless steel. It features a clip point blade.

The handle is Phenolic, a synthetic molded resin that is quite strong and provides a non-slip grip.

The butt and finger guard are made of polished aluminum and add an attractive look to this knife.

The knife weighs in at 7.5 ounces, measures 10.5 inches overall and is hand-made in the USA

Also included is a genuine black leather sheath as well as Buck’s lifetime warranty.

More Info on this Buck 119 Fixed Blade Knife:

• Click here to find this Knife at Amazon.com

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Buck knife #119 w/ leather sheath / hunting knife US $36.00 (14 Bids) Auction Ends: Thursday Nov-20-2008 8:00:21 PST Bid on this Item   | Watch this Item

Buck fixed blade hunting knife Model 119 Special "New" US $45.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Nov-20-2008 16:15:04 PST Bid on this Item   | Watch this Item

Vintage 119 Buck Knife With Sheath NR! (L@@K!!!!!!!!!) US $17.37 (7 Bids) Auction Ends: Thursday Nov-20-2008 17:35:00 PST Bid on this Item   | Watch this Item

Forschner makes the best value knives you can find. And this paring knife is no exception.

For five bucks, you get a screaming sharp blade, a comfortable non-slip fibrox grip and an edge that can easily be resharpened.

So, if you’re looking for value, don’t hesitate — you won’t find any paring knife better than this.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for the best paring knife around, this is probably not it. For that, look to the mighty Shun Classic paring knife. It’s made from a high-end steel, has a tear-shaped pakkwood handle and looks gorgeous. But it’s also $50 — not unreasonable at all, but a small fortune compared to the Forschner.

Forschners, you may know, were named Cook’s Illustrated’s best value a few years in a row. It’s not surprising. These knives could be three times the price and they’d still sell like hotcakes.

More Info on this R.H. Forschner Paring Knife:

• Click here to find this Knife at Amazon.com

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FORSCHNER BLACK PLAIN EDGE PARING KNIFE US $3.95 Auction Ends: Friday Nov-21-2008 4:52:27 PST Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

FORSCHNER RED SERRATED PARING KNIFE US $3.95 Auction Ends: Friday Nov-21-2008 5:01:18 PST Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

RH FORSCHNER VICTORINOX 4" PARING KNIFE NEW # 40521 US $4.99 Auction Ends: Friday Nov-21-2008 9:16:08 PST Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

It slices, it dices, it can cut a rusty nail and then a tomato. You’ve heard that one before, but what’s the real story?

First off, let’s get this one out of the way: you can’t get fourteen great knives for thirty-five bucks. Sure, they might be sharp out of the box, but how will they last?

Ginsu knives have such a great marketing history and there are plenty people out there that are impressed by their initial sharpness. So it’s easy to get caught up in the hype and think that these are an amazing deal.

But the truth is that these are cheap knives. The blades are made of 420 steel, typically used only in low-quality knives. 420 is a step below 440A steel, a material we typically do not recommend.

Of course, a high-quality heat-treatment can make up for inferior materials. But that costs money and you’d see it reflected in the price. And it’s unlikely that anyone who is going to do a decent heat treatment is going to waste it on 420.

One other thing about this knife set… it includes knives you don’t need. You’re better off getting a smaller set of high-quality knives than this large set of inferior knives.

If you’re looking for budget knives, we highly recommend the Forschner 3 piece set. That’s a set of three essential knives that are an amazing value. You’ll be very pleased with these, and they will last a long time. You can always add to that set over time if you must have a larger set.

Of, f you want a larger set to start out, save up and get the Forschner 8 piece set. But don’t waste your money on the Ginsus.

More Info on this Ginsu Cutlery Knife Set:

• Click here to find this Knife at Amazon.com

Find Ginsu Knife Sets on eBay:

Ginsu Knife 14 Piece Bakelite Traditional Block Set NIB US $41.75 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Nov-20-2008 18:01:54 PST Bid on this Item   | Watch this Item

GINSU 36 PC KNIFE, CUTLERY AND UTENSIL SET WITH BLOCK US $29.95 Auction Ends: Thursday Nov-20-2008 22:42:04 PST Bid on this Item   | Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

Ginsu 14-Piece Bakelite Knife & Block Set BRAND NEW US $39.99 Auction Ends: Friday Nov-21-2008 5:21:47 PST Bid on this Item   | Buy this Item   | Watch this Item