****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I have 3 Zelite knives. To be clear, these are not "Japanese knives", they are Chinese knives made with Japanese blades. I also have a Chinese knife made with a German blade, but that's another story (though it's also an excellent knife). I have seen comments about this brand and others sold on Amazon that these are "fake" or "copies of" Japanese knives, which is really in the eye of the beholder. Here's how I see it: The part of the knife that you use and maintain, i.e. the blade and its cutting edge, are Japanese and of a very high level of performance. Goods of Chinese manufacture are often characterized as "cheap" or "mass-produced" and in many (most?) cases that's true. But let's also remember that Asian cultures have been blacksmithing for at least 3,000 years. 2,000-2,500 year-old Chinese swords have been found intact by archaeologists that were still so sharp that they drew blood upon discovery. So the notion that Chinese manufacture of cutlery is arbitrarily a low-grade enterprise is a false premise. I've had my 8" Chef's knife for two years, this one for a year. All of them clean, sharpen and hold an edge as well as the $200+ Japanese knives I also have in my block (Shun). For less than $70, this knife compares favorably to others that cost $150 or more and that's not an exaggeration. Same with the Chef's and slicing blades I have - I'd say value is on the order of 30-40¢ to the dollar compared with premium Japanese products that utilize Damascus (layered) forging. I can probably afford to spend more, but I honestly don't feel as if I have to. The thing that I actually like better about the Zelites is their heft: between the solid tang and weighted handle, plus the fuller size and shape of the handle, these knives actually feel better in hand than do Shun. Leverage of this slicer and especially my 8" chef is perfect; I've seen a complaint from one buyer about the knife being handle-heavy so I think that may be a subjective preference. I have small hands for a guy, so I find the feel to be just right (if you're a knife nerd, the balance point is where the handle material meets the bolster, which isn't all much out of balance for the length of these blades.) I am especially pleased at how well my straight blades sharpen with just a few swipes on my ceramic rod - they're easy to keep EXTREMELY sharp if you have skills with sharpening rods or steels. This one, the serrated edge, has required NO maintenance since I bought it, just cleaning. Every one has their preferences; I use it primarily on mushrooms, tomates and smaller loaves of bread. These knives perform remarkably well - I'm not a pro but a an experienced enthusiast - and these blades work well enough for pros and are more than adequate for amateur cooks. In fact, for people who don't have good knife skills, these might be TOO sharp.
