gman > wrote in
:

> I'm looking for a good chef's knife? What are some of the better
> modestly priced knife companies out there?

Last winter I decided to spring for a couple of decent knives, and it was
one of the best investments I ever made in my cooking or my kitchen. I
look forward to chopping and slicing now.

That said, there really is no substitute for actually handling a few
knives. The differences between different handle, blade, and tang
configurations was pretty dramatic, and I ended up liking a different
knife than I originally thought I would.

Also, a good knife will last decades. The difference in price between a
$150 knife and a $50 knife will be negligible if you really love and use
the $150 knife.

Some of the knife manufacturer websites will give you a list of local
stores that carry their brands. That'd be a good start.

FWIW, I settled on the Wusthofs - bought a 10" chef, a 7" Santoku, and a
paring knife. They were a little pricey, but worth every penny.