M20405 Genesis 5-Inch Utility Knife,Black

Good value and sharp!

I have two paring knives (2”-2.5”) and two chef knives (7”-8”), but I longed for something in between. This knife is perfect! It was razor sharp out of the packaging (which is that thick molded plastic, have some sharp scissors handy), it is lightweight, comfortable to hold, and the handle material definitely provides excellent grip when your hands are wet. I’ve been using it daily for about a month and it will still shave off thin slices of copy paper. Never put your knives in the dishwasher. Hand wash them gently, and then thoroughly dry with a towel. The edge guard is a great $3 addition if you don’t have a knife block. **UPDATE** As of 10/04/23 I’ve used this knife daily on fruits and vegetables for seven months. It is still very sharp, but not as sharp as it was out of the box. There are no scratches, chips, dings or corrosion to the blade. The handle is still perfect. I will have it sharpened and continue to highly recommend this knife! **UPDATE** Two years of daily lunch prep for my son and I still haven’t sharpened this knife. It still cuts copy paper very thin without snags. I wash it gently and dry it with a towel and it has no stains, no chips, nothing. The handle has shown no signs of deterioration. It’s pretty much like brand new. Hundreds of fruits and veggies later, I still highly recommend this knife.

I have used Mercer knives for over 8 years now. They hold their edge well, cut very sharp, and the handles are comfortable. I like that they have a full tang which means they are strong. Will likely buy again as gifts etc.

In my opinion, Mercer brand know how to make fine quality German high carbon steel knives. Most of the reviews for this 5" knife had five stars, for good reasons. One of the reviews even said basically...that you could not get a better quality high carbon steel knife for under $100, that comes razor sharp, sharpens razor sharp and holds an edge. I have had this knife for about three weeks. I've used it almost every day. That review is exactly correct. Does everything the review said. Even though this knife has a relatively low price, don't let the price have you think that it is not good quality. It's definitely a very well made German knife. I know because I've worked in a few fine quality restaurants with chefs that graduated The Culinary Institute of America. I've seen many knives, so I know a high quality knife after I have used them. I also know this knife is relatively a low price because I've looked at other high quality knives to buy and the prices were much more money. I am surprised that they can sell the German made Mercer brand knives at these relatively low prices. The fraise that: the Germans make good things, really applies to this knife. The Germans have a great reputation for making high quality world class knives. Don't be fooled. Not all high carbon steel knives are good quality. What also makes a good quality knife is the forging proses, when they melt and make the blade in the factory. I am so impressed with this 5" paring knife that I am now going to buy the Mercer brand meet cleaver. One review for the Mercer brand meat cleaver said basically...that a meat cleaver is supposed to be heavy. It's hard to find a heavy quality meat cleaver. My experience has been the same. The review also said that the mercer meat cleaver is heavy and good construction. If the meet cleaver is anything like the 5' paring knife, then I will be getting a high quality meet cleaver from Mercer brand that is heavy, comes razor sharp, sharpens razor sharp and holds an edge.

All of my other knives are Wusthof Grand Prix or Grand Prix II model knives. I already have a Wusthof Chef Knife, steak knives, and paring knife. I found myself wanting a utility knife but unsure if I would really use it enough to justify the cost of another Wusthof. After reading reviews on many other cooking and cutlery websites, I kept coming back to this model by Mercer. For the price I thought I wouldn't be terribly disappointed if I didn't use the knife regularly. I am very happy I bought this knife. It has a nice, comfortable grip, almost exactly like the Wusthof Grand Prix line, which is both soft and non-slip as advertised. The blade is also very nice, although like all knives you will need to sharpen it before using and then sharpen it regularly to keep it at it's best. I use a Wusthof Precision Edge 4 Stage Knife Sharpener that Amazon sells, it's easier than a traditional sharpening stone and works great on all of my knives, including this. This is a nice strong, forged knife with no flex. I find myself using it the most of all of my knives, even more than the Wusthof chef knife. I rarely use my paring knife now as this can do almost all of the small trimming, cutting, carving, etc. as well as some smaller chopping like tomatoes and onions, for example. This is an extremely nice knife and a great value at the price when you compare it to the Wusthof pieces. I would say the quality is about the exact same as my Wusthof knives. If I have the need for another type of knife or one of mine break I will look for a Mercer knife since they are an excellent quality at a very good price, this has been that impressive. Last tip for anyone new to higher quality knives, wash your knives with soap and hot water immediately after using or finishing eating, and then hand dry them with a towel and put them back in your storage block or blade guard. Never place them in a dishwasher or leave out for hours with food residue on them or sitting in water.

Seems very nice. Or very knice….. I’m very witty. Sharp as a…. Knife? Really sharp. I’ll update as to how it holds it’s edge. I plan on testing it on tin cans and tomatoes like on tv. Then I will baton small logs with it. Maybe skin a gator. Did you know Dean Martin was not much of a drinker? It’s true. Well, I read it’s true. Who knows really. Who cares? Maybe I do? Anyway, I’ve got tin cans to butcher.

Exactly what I expected, a quality Budget friendly knife

Very handy knife for fair price. Great steel, good ergonomics. Stays sharp long, easy to sharpen.

Nice and sharp. Cuts through a tomato effortlessly.

Arrived on time well packed

One of our sabatier knives went missing from the knife block so I chose this as a replacement, having recently bought a Mercer bread knife and been impressed by the sharpness and durability. I was by no means disappointed, this 5” knife goes through squishy fruit like a laser beam - no pressing required. Over time, I will be replacing all our kitchen knives for this brand as the balance is lovely, the grip is comfortable and the blade is excellent quality for the price.