forged Knives, Swords, Blades

Based on the Albrecht Hand and a Half Sword produced in the early 15th century, the CAS Hanwei Practical Hand and a Half Sword restructures the original concept for today's re-enactment and stage needs. The Practical version rivals the Albrecht in many ways but was built to ...

If you've ever been disappointed by a replica sword which didn't hold up to a practice swing, you'll be pleased with the Practical Viking Sword from CAS Hanwei. Built with re-enactment and stage applications in mind, it's made for hitting and toned down just a little for safety reasons.

Swords ...

Hanwei Forge produced four different functional versions of the Zatoichi stick sword under the guidance of master smith Paul Chen. This traditional katana of folded steel and rosewood is the best of the four.

Hanwei Forge doesn't directly compare the quality of its swords to antique combat weapons. In many ...

The Henckels Twin Pro S 3-Inch Paring Knife with serrated cutting edge should be teamed up with a good plain-edged paring knife, but there definitely are kitchen tasks where the serrated blade excels. Just don't expect peeling cuts to be smooth and flawless when clawed by this little beast.

Where you ...

This reproduction of the katana wielded by the immortal Scottish clansman Duncan Macleod in the Highlander saga could be one of the best swords ever produced by United Cutlery. Not the usual cheap reproduction, the Duncan MacLeod Katana is a hand-forged tempered katana of high carbon Damascus steel.

In fact, the blade ...

Wusthof makes this Classic 5-Inch Soft Cheese Knife with most of the same strong features as the knives the company builds for tougher jobs. That means more control and more forgiveness from the blade, if you tackle just a little more than you thought you did.

Because soft cheese knives are ...

Boning knives like the Wusthof Classic 4-Inch Boning knife aren't always included in block knife sets and aren't usually the first knife recommended for the beginning chef. The design is much like the filet knife used on fish, but created especially for separating tougher meat from bone. Wusthof's ...

United Cutlery's licensed replica of Duncan MacLeod's katana from the Highlander saga exceeds what you'd expect in a display weapon. Made of hand forged high carbon steel, this comes very close to the quality of entry-level cutting katanas.

Although not as rugged as a sword truly designed for tamashigiri, this replica ...

SOG's Tomcat -- the company's first folding knife -- won Knife of the Year in 1988, with innovations that set the bar for large lockbacks. This updated model called the Tomcat 3.0 Carbon Fiber is a limited edition of 450 knives with the same improved features included in the ...

Wusthof builds the Classic Steak Knife with the same care devoted to its larger prep knives. High quality Solingen steel blades and classically styled handles match many contemporary dining patterns and work efficiently as good steak knives should.

Many of the features of the four knives in the Classic ...

This 8-inch forged bread knife from Victorinox is a perfect size for small loaves, bagels, and rolls, but not quite enough blade for large homemade breads. If you do a lot of sandwich prep, it's a handy tool and more than enough knife.

The serrated edge of this blade isn't ...

The Victorinox Curved Bread Knife with 8-inch forged blade and POM handle is a better size for rolls and bagels than large loaves. This is a slightly new approach to serrated edges and doesn't work the same way new owners may expect.

Instead of sawteeth, the Victorinox curved bread knife incorporates a ...

The Masahiro Empire Wheel Samurai katana goes well past display quality, giving collectors and recreational users a beautiful weapon capable of tamashigiri, or functional cutting practice. The details of this starter level sword from Fully Handmade will impress blade lovers.

Fully Handmade does produce traditional hand-forged blades using the old and ...

The 15-piece Knife Block Set from Anolon gives good value but a strange mix of old-fashioned features and modernistic all-stainless design. The knife assortment includes six of the most used prep knives and a matching set of six all-stainless-steel steak knives, enough for the average kitchen and ...

One of Ryumon Sword's simplest swords, this natural shirasaya hand-forged katana could also be one of the company's best bargains. Though the unfinished katana demands some time and effort from the owner, it has potential as a good first sword.

Made at Longquan Forge in Longquan Village, China, this basic ...

An engraved hand-forged katana priced this low forces me to look for faults. Although I find some, the ITO Katana Samurai Sword 402 still seems like a bargain if you're looking for a katana good enough for light cutting practice.

At two pounds and ten ounces (without the scabbard), this ...

The Shun Elite 9-piece block set is a top-quality selection of professional knives which really are beautifully designed. Stylish black pakkawood handles embellished with a samurai crest add to the set's style, but you'll want more than just good looks if you're buying at the top ...

This three-knife set from Chicago Cutlery's Fusion series updates a classic forged knife pattern with a sleek, modern look. These three prep knives could be a practical first step in setting up a kitchen. Although the look is modern, details are definitely old school.

With a 7-3/4-inch chef's knife backed ...

This forged boning knife from Victorinox has some definite advantages over lighter, stamped steel versions. The boning knife is a tricky thing to get right -- the blade needs flexibility and a narrow style like a fillet knife, but also needs enough strength for twisting turning in tough ...

The CIA's Masters Collection Hyde Park 7-Piece Block set was designed by the master chefs on the faculty of the Culinary Institute of America. This non-profit culinary training college has sixty years of experience and gains some financial support by field-testing professional cutlery on-site in training kitchens and the ...

The 17 items in this Forged Knife Block Set from Victorinox (maker of the famous Swiss Army Knife in its many forms) do cover most needs in the kitchen as well as during dining service. Eight fine steak knives make the major difference between this set and the efficient ...

Much of the work that produced this 8-piece Knife Block Forged set from Victorinox actually happened in Solingen, the cutlery capitol of Germany. Forged from German high carbon stainless steel, the knives undergo final shaping and polishing in Switzerland.

The fundamentals of these knives match the quality of ...

Wusthof's Classic Ikon 8-Piece Block Set combines five fundamental kitchen prep knives with a sharpening steel, a stout pair of kitchen shears, and a hardwood storage block containing several extra slots. Though it's certainly not budget-priced, you do get beautiful and reliable knives with features much improved ...

In the Classic Ikon 2-Piece Asian Cook's Set, Wusthof pairs two knives which have a good chance of being nearly everyone's favorite blades. The paring knife -- often the first knife a chef picks up in the kitchen -- and the matching santoku bring Asian improvements to an already good ...

Chef Rachael Ray partnered with Furi Cutlery to create this basic six-knife set built to Chef Ray's own standards. High carbon chrome-vanadium stainless steel blades combine with unique antibacterial handles to offer chefs a versatile assortment with professional advantages.

Gusto-grip handles don't use the same construction methods as other ...

Hanzo Steel refers to this good cutting blade as the Ninja Survival Master Katana. Not as refined as more expensive versions, the fully functional Hanzo Steel Ninja Katana includes some interesting survival perks more costly swords do not.

Forged and tempered to survive cutting practice, this sword really is good enough ...

The nine men's sizes of this high-quality Wushu Straight Sword should offer a perfect fit for any student of the art. Forged at the famous Dragon Well of Lungchuan Village, China, the handmade straight sword meets the competition standards set by the International Wushu Federation and comes with ...

This set of three useful knives offers a good look at the quality and workmanship of Messermeister, an established German cutlery company which only began marketing in the U.S. in 1984. If you're familiar with Henckels and Wusthof, you'll recognize the style of Solingen, Germany, but there are ...

This fine competition-quality straight sword from Dragon Well Forge of Lungchuan, China, shows the same refinements as the men's version but in a size range tailored to a woman's smaller frame. Nine sizes provide the right fit for most kung fu students, while the appearance of the sword makes it ...

The Wusthof Classic 3 Piece Starter Cutlery Set equips the beginning chef with three essential prep knives which will literally last a lifetime. This selection also makes a great upgrade for those who started out with less.

All three knives from Wusthof's Classic series feature forged solid steel bolsters and ...

With quality similar to that of the designer's custom blades, this double-edged Tanto Yoroidoshi Dagger is actually a production version based on the work of Wally Hayes, a swordsmith from Ontario, Canada.

Manufactured for Ryumon Swords at the famous Longquan Village in mainland China, the Hayes Yoroidoshi Dagger was hand-forged by a ...

The Wusthof Ikon Blackwood Paring Knife shows definite improvements compared to Wusthof's older styles, but one thing that hasn't changed is the steel.

This full tang knife with forged bolsters at the blade base and the butt of the handle makes an already strong design even stronger. Perfectly fitted handle slabs ...

From Handmade Sword's mid-level series, the #132 Japanese Tanto meets practical standards and in most ways follows the classical pattern of this old samurai backup blade.

This model of Handmade's hand-forged full tang tantos features a double-edged blade of 1060 carbon steel with better edge-holding ability and a sleeker appearance than ...

Cutting through a block of hard Parmesan cheese might be one of the more dangerous jobs in the kitchen, if you have the wrong knife. This one is right -- the Wusthof Classic 2-3/4-inch Parmesan Cheese knife, designed for dividing hard cheeses into smaller pieces safely.

This unique blade was built ...

This 44-inch hand-forged katana from Masahiro has great potential as a functional cutter, but you won't know until you test it whether it lives up to reasonable expectations. Manufactured in China by one of several difficult-to-trace companies, the Masahiro brand intended to fill the needs of martial artists looking ...

One of the finest salmon slicing knives Wusthof makes, the Classic Hollow-Ground Salmon Slicer with 12-inch-long blade was made specifically for slicing thin sheets of smoked salmon, also known as lox. The paper-thin cuts provide all the flavor of this expensive fish with less waste.

When slicing salmon by hand, the ...

Surprisingly well made, the Dragon Black Tanto #340 actually is the entry level tanto at Handmade Swords. Hand forged from 1045 high carbon steel and constructed with traditional materials, this tanto's hamon is polished on rather than clay-tempered. Aside from that, this beautiful knife is a combat-quality work of ...

The nakiri bocho, a common knife in Japanese kitchens, usually has a rectangular cleaver style blade with a rounded cutting edge on the forward corner of the blade. Wusthof's Classic Nakiri Vegetable Knife follows the same general pattern but with the strong forged bolster style of Wusthof's Classic knives. Claims ...

With the six-inch Shun/KAI Chef's Knife, expect the slick performance of a santoku but the familiar style of the standard chef's knife. Not just for light slicing, this high quality prep knife from Shun's Classic series has the strength for other work as well.

Forged with 33 layers of high ...

At the end of the fishing day when you're tired, it's time to clean the fish. If you'd rather not struggle with poor tools, a good fillet knife like the Wusthof 4622 Classic 7-inch fillet knife makes the last chore of the day go quickly.

Forged from high carbon stainless ...

Cuisinart's 14-Piece Knife Block Set includes a wide range of useful prep knives and should cover the needs of the average kitchen well. The block does not offer room for expansion and does not provide storage for the bonus santoku.

If you're not looking for a massive knife block ...

Since I saw this boot knife from Kershaw discussed in a recent issue of Blade Magazine I had to take a look. Apparently, runners and hikers in southern California are carrying the Kershaw Military Boot Knife as defense against mountain lion attacks. Honestly, even though this is a decent ...

This two-piece knife set from J.A. Henckels' Twin Pro S series was chosen with the baker in mind. These serrated blades were designed for slicing the full range of textures encountered in baked bread and sandwich prep.

The Twin Pro S five-inch utility knife is a favorite among sandwich makers, ...

The white polyacetal handle slabs of these fine steak knives from Mundial are their most striking feature, but there's excellent quality in the stainless steel construction as well. Mundial's 5100 series knives are forged from a solid bar of high carbon stainless steel using the same processes as for ...

This beautiful katana in the style of the weapon favored by the blind master Zatoichi -- the main character in a long series of popular Japanese films -- actually is not shirasaya. The sword cane of Japan was called shikomizue. Shirasaya referred to a plain wooden scabbard meant for storing ...

This gift selection from J.A. Henckels offers three useful knives of excellent quality but with an old-fashioned build -- plus a practical sharpening steel and a handsome hardwood storage block with plenty of slots for expansion. As a starter ...

Three useful prep knives and a matching sharpening steel make up this set of starter cutlery from J.A. Henckels of Solingen, Germany. Modern manufacturing processes at Henckels build in quality you won't suspect on first sight.

The smallest knife in the set -- the Four Star Paring Knife -- is ...

Designed by French chef Olivier Anquier and manufactured by Mundial of Brazil, this 12-piece block set looks good enough to display in the dining room. The hardwood handles and strong bolsters make the knives equally practical, built to use as well as admire.

Begun by an emigrant from Germany, Mundial's Brazilian ...

Although this modern version of the war hammer -- a weapon which brought down many armored knights on the battlefields of medieval Europe -- isn't pretty, this is still an impressive and combat-ready instrument of destruction. Cold Steel's practical defense weapons often look like farm tools, but they were ...

From one of Mundial's highest quality product lines, this four-piece steak knife set combines the design concepts of French chef Olivier Anquier with the Old World German craftsmanship of this famous Brazilian company. Add renewable Brazilian tropical hardwood to the good ideas in this steak set.

Chrome molybdenum stainfree high ...