What is Reddit's opinion of Mercer Culinary M21078 Genesis 8-Inch Short Bolster Chef's Knife?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

ctrl+F Mercer... can't believe no one here has mentioned Mercer yet.

If you like a German style chefs knife like a Henckels, Mercer is pretty much the same quality but much cheaper. They market towards pro kitchens. Amazon

Good knives require maintenance, and none of the brands you've reccomended are really all that good lol. They're great for spending a pretty penny on a knife that's no better than a mercer genesis forged for almost 5x the price. This LPT is talking about grocery store knives that are 29.95 and underperform compared to a dexter.

I’ve been looking at this knife

Mercer Culinary M21078 Genesis 8-Inch Short Bolster Chef's Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DT1XFSQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_3Y5HH7QFC09PRQFQ04XN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Is this what you’re talking about? I reeeeally need a better kitchen knife and just can’t justify the $100 on the Wusthof right now.

A good set of knifes is expensive. I at least recommend one decent chef knife. This one is under $40 and I’ve bought it for several people and they all love it.

Mercer Culinary Genesis Forged Short Bolster Forged Chef's Knife, 8 Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DT1XFSQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LV9fFbRY5ZWH5

If you're looking for a great chef's knife, you don't have to spend over $100. If you want a German-style chef's knife with forged steel, this one from Mercer is just as good as the best Henkels.

Okay, so pragmatically I assume you just want a list of recommendations that are in stock and somewhat match up in your knife block? Let's load you up with a few high-quality Gesshin stainless and then fill out with cheaper Victorinox/Mercer

• Gesshin Stainless chef knife - link ($160) - buy ASAP, it'll go out of stock soon
• Mercer Culinary Genesis - link ($40) - cheaper chef knife you can abuse
• Mercer Culinary paring knife - link ($30) - also can be abused, alternatively any Victorinox paring knife you like
• Search "boning knife" on Amazon and pick literally any one that is under $40
• Gesshin bread knife - link ($52)

Total comes out to just over $300. Pop it all on a mag bar and you've got a solid set plus enough money left over for a nice cutting board and some kitchen towels to wipe the blades during prep.

Seconding Mercer. They make amazing knives. Their 8 inch chef's knife costs $40 and cuts as well as a $200 knife.

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https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DT1XFSQ/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Please, just throw all your other knives in the garbage, including this project you made, and buy this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DT1XFSQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Then they're trash. Throw 'em all in the garbage and replace them with this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DT1XFSQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Look up Mercer

I did a lot of research before buying my knives. I graduated college and moved into my own apartment last year so I didn't have a lot of money to pour into knives. I remember reading that Mercer is the most popular brand among culinary students, as their base knife is high quality while low in price.

The Mercer chef's knife I have is $35 on Amazon. I've used it every day for the past year and haven't had to sharpen it yet, just give a couple runs on a honing steel once in a while. I also have a Shun chef's knife (graduation present) and, while it's impressive, the Mercer is only a step behind it for 1/4 the price.

And if even that's too much, they have a cheaper version for $25. Same blade, just a simpler handle.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DT1XFSQ/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_MNGQAHDHF99NR3FVE3G3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

$35 for this Mercer knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DT1XFSQ?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-ypp-ro-model_ypp_ro_model_k0_1_17&amp&crid=3101ZPGKU1SRV&amp&sprefix=mercer+chef+knife

Cheaper than the comparable Victorinox and honestly I prefer it immensely.

I would recommend against that one. Not as high carbon as traditional German or Japanese steel:

https://www.zknives.com/knives/steels/steelgraph.php?nm=X50CrMoV15%2CX30Cr13&ni=,795&hrn=1&gm=0

This has the better steel:

https://www.amazon.com/Mercer-Culinary-Genesis-Forged-Bolster/dp/B00DT1XFSQ

This is the same but with a nicer handle (wait a week for it to go back to $35 though, they're price gouging right now):

https://www.amazon.com/Mercer-Culinary-M23510-Renaissance-8-Inch/dp/B002R1CGV6

Or the Victorinox is also solid:

https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Fibrox-Chefs-Knife-8-Inch/dp/B008M5U1C2

All 3 of those are the good X50/X55 steel.

I second the Mercer and Victorinox recommendations.

Knives can be a bit of a personal thing. And depending on her build/size of her hands, some knives may be better for her than others, for instance the 12 inch chef's knife suggested (which would be a good suggestion normally) may be a bit big. I'm fairly tall with big hands and I mostly use an 8" blade (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mercer-Culinary-Genesis-Stainless-M20608/dp/B00DT1XFSQ which are very decent knives, but maybe not 'fancy' enough for a gift).

Normally my suggestion would be to take her to a decent shop where she can try a few, make a day of it. But bit more awkward at the moment.

Someone else mentioned Mercer - I'd second that. I use one of these (They do a full bolster variant if you prefer)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mercer-Culinary-Genesis-Stainless-M20608/dp/B00DT1XFSQ?th=1

The Mercer Culinary Millennia range are ok too, and about half the price. That's the range I'd go to for things I use less, like a paring knife/serrated knife.

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Girlfriend got me one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/Taylors-Eye-Witness-Syracuse-Oriental/dp/B07CRRX65X/ which is surprisingly decent - the scalloping on the blade is good for thinly slicing things like potatoes to stop them sticking, that's my main use otherwise I use the Mercer.

Best budget chef's knife: Mercer Genesis 8" forged

Mercer genesis