Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
This is a classic French chef's knife, with a broad blade and a curved cutting edge for rocking through a chopping task. The 8-inch blade suits most cooks, though those with small hands might prefer a 6-inch knife, and those with bigger hands might choose a 10-inch one. Classic three-rivet handles distinguish Pro S from Henckels's other quality lines, TwinStar, Five Star, and Four Star. Pro S handles are heavier and its knives less weight-forward. The steel used in the Pro S line is identical to that of the Five and Four Star lines. High-tech welding of knives this size and larger combines three steel types into what appears to be a single piece, so a knife's parts have distinct characteristics: a hard edge; a strong, stain-resistant bolster; and a stain- and corrosion-resistant tang. Traditionalists insist on single-piece forging for strength, but Henckels says the invisible welds are actually stronger than the steel. While this chef's knife is dishwasher-safe, hand washing is recommended. --Fred Brack From the Manufacturer  | The J.A. Henckels Twin Professional S (or Pro S) knife series features trustworthy quality and classic three-rivet styling--it's a line of knives admired by both professional chefs and home cooks of all skill levels. The Twin Pro S line contains knives for all tasks, including the following open stock knife types: parer, bread, peeling, sandwich, utility, carving, steak, chef's, Granton edge slicer, santoku, and others. Twin Pro S knives are also available in a range of block sets and gift sets, to be sure that your cutlery needs are covered. | | A Reliable Standard in Knife Construction Twin Pro S knives are precision forged from a single piece of exclusive-formula, high-carbon, no-stain steel under the all-new Sigmaforge standard. As a result, Twin Pro S knives have improved quality consistency, lasting sharpness, and perfect geometry. Sigmaforge one-piece construction also provides high precision and improved stability of the blade and steel structure, thus improving cutting-edge retention for lasting sharpness. In addition, Twin Pro S knives use J.A. Henckels' Friodur ice hardening for corrosion resistance, a process that also contributes to cutting-edge retention.  An Ergonomic Handle for Easier Use  | J.A. Henckels's Twin Pro S knives boast a comfortable, ergonomic three-rivet handle design that won't wear against the hand and helps to provide control when doing any cutting task. These durable Novodur handles are perfectly bonded to the full tang on each knife for stability and durability. The impeccably balanced super bolster provides weight and adds balance for safer and more professional cutting. | | Features - Sigmaforge one-piece precision-forged construction: Provides perfect geometry, high precision, and improved stability of the blade and steel structure, thus improving cutting-edge retention for lasting sharpness.
- Laser-controlled edge: Is sharper and stays sharper longer. Has a more consistent blade angle.
- Friodur ice hardening: Maximum no-stain properties and more blade strength. Improved resistance to corrosion and pitting.
- Super bolster: Provides weight, insures safety, and adds balance.
- Full visible tang construction: Provides proper balance and greater strength.
- High-carbon no-stain steel, an exclusive J.A. Henckels formula: Nonstaining, nonrusting.
- Precision honed: Is sharper and stays sharper longer.
- Triple-riveted Novodur handles: Durable, strong, and smooth, these comfortable handles are perfectly balanced.
- Dishwasher-safe: Easy care (though hand washing is recommended by J.A. Henckels).
- Full warranty: J.A. Henckels stands behind all its knives.
Product Description
J A Henckels Profession S Series 8" Chefs Knife 31021-203 - Henckels Professional 'S' knives feature the finest Henckels' blades, along with a two-piece handle held in place with three stainless steel rivets, for a sturdy, traditional look and feel. These knives are made in Solingen, Germany, and are forged, not stamped. Blade density is improved using the Henckels' FRIODUR ice-hardening process, which provides a sharper initial edge for easier maintenance over time. Larger knives are crafted using Henckels' exclusive Sinternal Component Technology, which fuses blade, bolster and tang into a single, seamless piece for precision, easy handling, and balance. Part of the Professional 'S' series, this knife is made of high-carbon stainless steel and precision-honed, with a laser-controlled edge, a balanced super-bolster, and a full tang that extends all the way through the handle. Made in Germany, Lifetime Warranty.
| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 Perfiect edge and perfect balance July 22, 2000
Dave Lenweaver, FoodWeb.com (Syracuse, NY)
25 out of 25 found this review helpful
I recently purchased this knife and am overjoyed with the performance. If you don't have a well balanced professional knife you can't imagine how nice it is to work with one. I went to the local restaurant supply stores and handled several brands and sizes to see what felt best. The Henckels Pro S 8" was the best. The 10" seemed top heavy but I'm sure someone else may feel different. The blade holds an incredible edge as well. I steel the blade before each use to keep the edge in the best cutting condition.
A High Quality Kitchen Workhorse May 4, 2000
Zedster (Tucson, AZ United States)
25 out of 27 found this review helpful
The 8" chef knife is an absolute joy to use in the kitchen. It actually makes prep work enjoyable. Chopping, slicing, dicing, etc. are now effortless. It's razor sharp and stays honed that way for quite sometime under heavy use. I am very good at maintaing its edge by hand, and its high quality carbon steel blade lends itself perfectly to this task compared to stainless steel blades. If you purchase a quality knife such as this, it is imperative that you maintain its edge preferably via manual sharpining or with an electric sharpener.
All the knife you'll ever need. August 16, 2001
Michael J Edelman (Huntington Woods, MI USA)
21 out of 23 found this review helpful
You can spend a lot more on a knife, but you won't buy any better performance where it counts, in the kitchen. Made of sharpenable stainless with a synthetic handle that will never loosen or break apart, this knife has a nice heft and a good edge and should last most home chefs a lifetime. Give it a few strokes with the steel every time you use it and the edge will last for years without needing to see a sharpening stone. If your cutlery drawer is full of various inexpensive supermarket blades, "miracle" knives and the like, throw them all out and buy one decent blade like this, and you may be amazed how versatile a simple, quality knife can be.
 An Excellent Knife, But There Are Limitations December 2, 2000
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
First, I'm a big guy - long arms, big hands, and I tend to favor tools that are somewhat oversized. This knife clearly fits the bill. The blade height, the handle length and the overall heft contribute to a really secure feeling. I find the Pro S handle easy to work with and more comfortable than the Gran Prix and Four Star handles.These things said, I don't think the blades come wih a particularly good factory edge on them - I've found that even cheap stamped knives like Victorinox are better in this regard. I also find that, despite being high-carbon stainless, these knives are harder for most users to sharpen. They're slow to take an edge, in my opinion, and they hold it less time than a comparably priced knife from, say, Wusthof-Trident. You'll want to have a good steel and a good stone to keep the edge on this knife - steel it before every use, and store the knife on a magnetic rail, not in a drawer or on a block. While it's a lifetime-capable tool, you will not be able to treat this knife like a Ginsu and get high performance for very long.
a very very good BIG knife January 6, 2001
Kar Dell (North East United States)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
This is the knife I find myself reaching for most often while working in my kitchen. Why? 1) it feels right in the hand, it is well ballanced and the grip fits my admitedly beefy hands quite well. 2)The excellent ballance makes it feel like a smaller knife in my hand, that is to say I have no touble using it even for semi-precission tasks. This makes it very versitile and I don't find myself switching knives for every task. 3) I find that a few passes across the diamond steel brings the blade up to razor sharp. Once honed on the diamond steel I can prepare meals for hours with only the occasional pass across the diamond steel to maintain the edge.
All this said, I will say that the high carbon content of the Henckels knife makes the blade quite hard and if you let the edge go entirely, you will need to find a professional to return the knife to razor sharpness as doing it yourself is very difficult.
A side note: I do not use a "regular steel" with any or my knives. They are not really intended to "sharpen" a knife but rather to straighten the edge. The diamond steel will give thes knife back its edge and does so quickly and rather gently at that.
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