Korin Fruit Knife

image from rakuten (check out the item description, lol)

I have an unhealthy obsession with knives. This coupled with a general ignorance about their various styles and materials doesn't really help me in the kitchen. After reading forum comments on the uber-popular Shun knives (thinking about replacing my cheap, dull Cuisinart paring knife), I found myself on the Korin website. I educated myself by skimming the linked articles on the Learn tab, found out that their 15% off sale was going on until July 31, and drooled over the fairly affordable $40-60 offerings until I came across this fruit knife. It's easily 1/10 of the price of the next cheapest knife up. I'll wager a guess that this is because it is probably not lovingly handmade by an expert craftsman, and because the blade is mere stainless steel. It won't hold an edge as long as a blade with more carbon, so it needs more frequent sharpening, but it also won't rust. I also like that it has a more traditional Japanese look, with the simple cylindrical wooden handle. This would make a great picnic/ outdoors knife, with its convenient sheath, and would probably rival similarly priced plastic handled paring knives.

Made in: Japan

Handmade? Not sure.

$4.35

Schrade Barlow and Opinel Knife

The barlow is a classic American pocket knife style. The handle on this austere model is made of plastic, but you can find a slew of more expensive non-plastic options and made in USA ones elsewhere online. I stumbled upon this item while browsing the Lehman's online catalog, which only stocks old-fashioned non-electric merchandise. According to their about page, they sell to "missionaries and doctors working in developing countries; homesteaders and environmentalists living in remote areas; people with unreliable electricity living on islands and mountains; second home owners, hunters, fishers and cabin dwellers; the 'chronically nostalgic,' and even Hollywood set designers looking for historically accurate period pieces."

Made in: China

Handmade? No

$5

photo from canoe

A step up from the barlow in price and rusticity is the French Opinel knife. The Kitchn names the #6 as a choice pick for picnics. The carbon blade keeps a sharper edge, but needs to be wiped dry immediately after use. The stainless steel blade grows duller faster, but requires no special maintenance.

Made in: France

Handmade? No

$14