Zwilling Pro -8" Chef's Knife

So, I purchased this at a discount. Around $100.00 USD. I had recently purchased a US made knife from a reputable manufacturer for a bit more and though I usually try to purchase US made products when I can, this knife was nothing but problems. The edge would roll and chip and I was constantly having to take it to the stone to repair it. I contacted the US company (I have purchased many of their hunting knives in the past) to try to a replacement. I sent them pictures and they said the knife had been abused. I guess dicing carrots is abusive because that was about as tough as it got for that knife. Oh well. On to this knife. I looked at the build quality out of the box, looked top notch. Solid, sharp and great weight. I love the tapered bolster for pinch grip and the handle overall is comfortable. I prepped some vegs for a stew (including carrots) and no rolling, so it must been able to put up with the abuse. Seriously, it's a very high quality chef's knife that is a good value for the money. Quality steel, comfortable, and sturdy.

Perfect! I purchased a knife set about 6 years ago and loved it. This is the exact same knife that was in the set that my sister destroyed. Looked like a Serrated knife in some spots. So happy I found this.

I come from a family of chefs, but after a 20-year hiatus from serious cooking, I wasn’t sure how quickly I’d find my rhythm again. Turns out, it only took about four chops. I picked up this Zwilling Pro 8” Chef’s Knife, and it all came rushing back—like muscle memory waking up from a long nap. Let me say this clearly: I know a good knife when I feel one. And this one? She’s the one knife to rule them all. This blade glides. It’s incredibly sharp out of the box, cleanly slicing through raw chicken like it was soft butter. The curved bolster encourages a proper pinch grip—something I didn’t even know I missed until I felt how natural it was again. And the full tang, triple-riveted handle gives it a rock-solid balance and control. That said, the handle was a little heavier than I expected. Not bad—just different. I’m used to a more neutral or slightly blade-heavy balance (possibly Japanese), so the rocking motion felt a little off at first. But I can already tell I’ll adjust to it quickly. The handle is comfortable, solid in hand, and feels like something built to last a lifetime. To be honest, I don’t even remember what brand I used to use. But I can say with total confidence: this knife is fantastic. It’s the kind of tool that makes you want to cook more. And after two decades away from real prep work, that says a lot. If you’re on the fence—just get it. This one belongs in your kitchen.

This is my fifth Zwilling Pro knife and I have had to adjust my technique to each of them: 10" chef, 5" boning, 7" fillet, 4" paring, and now this 8" chef knife. The balance is heavily to the handle end of the knife. The blade has a profound curve that makes it good for rocking cuts, but also makes the knife seem like it has a blade shorter than 8". It took a while to adjust to the design. I have to start my slices closer to the handle or I run out of blade when slicing even small diameter things like scallions. In contrast, the 10" chef knife felt like a long machete when I first picked it up a few years ago, but I got used to it and it too is an excellent chef knife. I use the 10" model at a relative's house, and the 8" model at mine. I prefer the 8" model for its versatility. I have big hands, yet I prefer the shorter knife. (My wife, who has small hands, prefers a shorter and lighter 6" chef knife.) This is a great series of knives. Very high quality and easy to sharpen with a modern electric sharpener like a Trizor sharpener. There is no bolster to get in the way.

Maybe my expectations were too high. I have always bought mid level knives. I decided to start building a full set of Zwilling knives and started with the 8" Chef's Knife. The knife is heavy. If you are used to a lighter knife this will take some getting used to. The spine and blade are thick. It feels like a really solid well built knife. My issues come with what is most important for a knife, the edge and cutting ability. It feels sharp out of the box and the tip is extremely sharp. The blade is just okay. My test is being able to slice tomatoes. The tip and the first inch or so are sharp, but the belly of the blade, where I do most cutting does not slice easily into a nice ripe tomato. I compared it to the $20 Norpro Kleve brand Santoku which I have used for years and the Kleve sliced the tomato better. Maybe I got a bad one or maybe the sharpening wasn't done properly at the factory. if the entire blade was as sharp as the first inch, I would be thrilled, but it feels like there are definitely some spots that are sharper than others. Disappointed in my purchase after researching so many knives and settling on what I thought would be the best 8" Chef's knife out there.

Got On Sale!! Insane Price !!! Knife Came Faster Than Thought And In Gorgeous Red 3 Part Box !!! Not Standard Black See Through Hanger Package , Nice SUPRISE !!! Knife Was Just Beautiful!!! It Had A Very Nice Matted Sheen To It , Beautiful Grind Marks All Along The Edges , And VERY VERY VERY SHARP !!!! Did Paper TEST And Couple Of Veggies And Must Have ONION!!! IT Devastated EVERYTHING !!!! With Abandoned!!And Not Alot Of Effort !!! For Such A “HEAVY” Knife It Sat Very Nicely In The Hand , Felt Lighter !!, Feels Great In PINCH GRIP!!! Soo Would Definitely Recommend!!! And I’m Gettting “Traditional” Model Also , Different Blade Profile, Being A KNIFE GEEK , Freak !!! I couldn’t Live With My Self !! So VERY HAPPY WITH PURCHASE!!! BD!!

The knife was bent right in the center of the blade to the edge. I could easily see it was warped by looking down the edge of the blade. The replacement knife they sent me had similar deformation. It’s a shame because I have Henckels knives that are over a decade old and held up well, but my experience with this model has caused me to distrust the brand. Maybe I got unlucky, but do make sure to inspect the blade if you decide to get this one.