Reddit reviews Mac Knife Superior Bread Knife, 10-1/2-Inch
We found 6 Reddit comments about Mac Knife Superior Bread Knife, 10-1/2-Inch. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
2mm Blade, rust-resistant, exceptionally sharp, made out of high carbon and keeps the edge for a long timeLightweightPakka wood handleHand wash is recommended Not dishwasher safeMade In Japan
An Amazon registry (I would skip the Kohls cutlery offerings) will limit you somewhat, but there are certainly decent options available. I think your selection of two chef knives, a bread knife, and a paring knife is a good choice. For the most part I'm going to suggest fairly costly knives because, frankly, this isn't /r/culinary.
Chef knives first. Everything I have to say about 8"/210mm knives I would apply to 10"/240mm knives unless I make note.
If you want a hefty Western chef knife, I find Messermeister to be best in show. They take an edge better than other stainless German knives I've owned and they keep it longer. I find the grind and profile to be slightly more modern and workable in the Elite models opposed to the highly popular Wusthof Classic and sundry Henckels lines. The fit and finish on them is on par with Wusthof, which is to say impeccable. Messermeister makes three different handles for its Elite lines and offers the blades in a thinner Stealth version, which I like. Since Messermeister's Amazon offerings are a bit wonky I would highly suggest you look around the site for the style you like. You might even find some other kitchen gadgets you like. If you are interested in a French profile, look at K-Sabatier. A carbon K-Sab is a lot of fun. And though the stainless knives they produce aren't really as magical as their carbons, they're still fine knives.
There are many good Japanese companies and makers to consider. These knives will all be lighter and somewhat thinner than almost any Western knife. If you want something functional and somewhat reasonably priced, Suisin, Mac, and Tojiro have some good options. In the next price bracket up, a Kikuichi, a Yoshihiro, a Takayuki, or a Misono fits the bill, though Misono knives have become incredibly inflated in price. If you have a rich Uncle Ed, slip a Takeda into your list. I would definitely consider other knives at these general price ranges, but they're not available on Amazon.
A few budget suggestions:
To find out who really loves you:
Rich Uncle Ed special:
Unfortunately I didn't spot many knives on Amazon that I have confidence in and feature a Japanese handle. That's a shame because they're a treat.
Unlike my essay on chef knives, I have only one bread knife suggestion, the Mac Superior 270mm bread knife. It's the best Amazon has to offer and one of the best bread knives you can buy. Tojiro makes a clone that sells for less elsewhere if no one gives you one.
Paring knives are a little different. Edge retention and grind are much less important than geometry. I have this Henckels Pro 3" and I like it; the height of the blade is very comfortable. It has no flex, though, so don't expect to use it optimally for boning tasks. I am almost as happy with any Victorinox paring knife. I would suggest you try as many as possible in brick and mortar outlets to figure out what you like.
And finally, storage. A wall mounted magnetic strip is popular. Those made of wood have less chance of scratching or damaging a knife, so they're somewhat preferable, but as long as you pop the knife off tip first you won't damage it. I've used this strip from Winco for the past year at work with no ill effect. A knife block actually is a good storage option if you can find one to fit your collection. The biggest risk is catching the tip when the knife is inserted into the block, but that's not much of a concern if the user is careful. I use a Victorinox block that was a gift at home for most of my house knives. This block is great, I've been told. A drawer insert is another good low space option. I like my Knife Dock for the stuff I want to keep safe. It lets me slip in as many knives as I have space for the handles. This insert from Wusthof is also popular.
Definitely consider the Mac Superior Bread Knife.
In addition to being a good bit cheaper than the Misono, it's a fucking laser with bread, I cant recommend it enough. Never met a cook that didnt like it. I have to keep it hidden in my roll almost all the time or it it'll disappear for my whole shift.
My all time favorite bread knife is the Mac Superior Bread Knife
This is the best bread knife you can get in the sub $100 range. The scalloped serrations will be perfect for a pastry chef who must delicately cut softer pastries.
Edit: Your other two options are the Mac Professional Bread Knife. Same blade as before, but with a higher end fit and finish. The budget option is the Tojiro Bread Slicer. This is a "knock off" of the Mac Superior. It has the best bang for your buck, but the fit and finish is lacking.
I have owned the Tojiro and Mac Superior, and own a couple knives in the Mac Professional line, so I am familiar with it's construction.
They do, and they're decent enough. Any non-crap kitchen knife is BIFL though. For the price it costs today I'd recomment this instead.
This: http://www.chefknivestogo.com/takamura2.html
and this: http://www.chefknivestogo.com/kosldbu17.html
...or if he makes bread on a regular basis, switch one of those out for this: https://www.amazon.com/Mac-Knife-Superior-Bread-2-Inch/dp/B000MYZSYM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498721441&sr=8-1&keywords=mac+bread+knife
...or (again, if he's into baking big loaves of bread) just get him a Gude or a Herder Grandmoulin and be done with it,
The first two are awesome for the price, they both have exceptional fit and finish for the price, and they both perform at a high level. Neither is reactive like carbon, and personally, in a home kitchen, dealing with carbon is a time waster I prefer not to deal with. The petty is wicked thin/sharp and the 170mm Bunka looks more expensive than it is, and is just plain fun to cut with and the one I now reach for instead of the 240mm gyuto that cost twice as much.
Those are the two I gift on a regular basis, I think your Dad will be stoked with either or both.
Here you go: Mac Knife Superior Bread Knife