Cangshan N1 Series 1020397 German Steel Forged Peeling/Tourne Knife, 2.75-Inch Blade

Love this brand of knives. This is my third different size. You do have to watch hole in handle but I’ve had no problems with it.

Sometime in my 20's I heard a TV chef advise against getting a fancy block knife set that'll take up counter space, largely unused. He recommended just getting the appropriate knives as you need them, the best you afford/justify at the time.So I have just a few medium-high quality specialty knives, and it's been a very long time since I had a proper paring knife. The last one developed rust spots, so I tossed it and just used steak knives after that, to be honest.This knife makes me happy to an irrational degree, partly just because it's nice to have the proper tool for the job. I feel fancy.But also I would classify it as high quality in comparison to the knives I have from medium-high quality consumer brands with German names, which a lot of us are accustomed to.(I just realized this knife claims German roots, too. It's not a brand I'd heard of, but apparently it's been on the radar of a lot of people who care about knives, and it's also won some proper product design awards.)The design isn't like anything I've had before: A helpfully hefty handle with the "inside" cut out, presumably to reduce weight and help with balance. At first this didn't appeal to me, but it turns out it doesn't bother me. The shape of the blade is also unique in a useful way.Beyond excellent design, and I presume excellent build quality (I don't see how it could break, but won't know about rust for some time) – This thing is crazy sharp. The first thing I tested it on was orange peels, and then on to more normal fare. It's a joy to use.But also be careful, obviously.

I have set of Cangshan’s Thomas Keller Collection of knives that I’ve been using for years now. Unfortunately, the Thomas Keller series has a limited number of different knives, ie just the more popular/common ones. Even though I have a peeling knife from another company that I got about 30 years ago, I felt like I’d like one from Cangshan. So I thought I’d try out this 2.75 inch blade by them. The knife itself cuts wonderfully, but I found I wasn’t thrilled by the all metal hollow/cutout handle. It just felt a bit awkward in my hand compared to my other knives, I’ll tell you what. It’s fine for occasional usage but I’d prefer a more traditional handle for everyday usage. But for those who love this handle style Cangshan makes the TN1 Series.For the record, the knife fit just fine in one of the slots of my Cangshan knife block that is usually used to house steak knives (all my steak knives are in a drawer, so I have plenty of slots for other miscellaneous small knife blades).

If you’re reading this, you already love the look of this knife, so here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of the N1 series peeling/tourney knife for you will hopefully find helpful.ProsSHARP DURABLE BLADE: Made with German steel is known for solid edge retention, corrosion resistance, and easy sharpening.EXCELLENT FOR PRECISION WORK: The bird’s beak blade is perfect for peeling, shaping, trimming, or segmenting small fruits and veggies.FORGED: Full-tang, forged construction gives it excellent balance and durability. You can feel the quality in your hand.ERGONOMIC, YET MINIMALIST HANDLE: Its smooth, seamless design is both modern and hygienic. With no crevices, there are fewer places for bacteria to hide.AWARD WINNING: If you appreciate good design, this knife will absolutely fit your aesthetic.ConsHANDLE CAN BE SLIPPERY: The all-metal handle is less grippy than wood or textured composites and can be slick when wet. Not a huge issue, but worth noting.MORE SKILL TO SHARPEN: The curved blade is sharp but will need maintenance. You may need to level up your sharpening technique to keep the edge right.MORE EXPENSIVE THAN BASIC: It’s pricier due to the design and forged build, and might be overkill if you rarely use this type of knife.For me, this blade is probably overkill—but I love the design and I like the idea of the right tool for the job. Recommend if you too feel the same.

If you are like me, you are probably used to peeling knives that are made with stamped steel blades and hard plastic handles that always seem too short for your hand. Not so with this knife. It is forged out of a single piece of steel with a full-length handle that is comfortable, balanced, and a joy to handle. The blade is hardened steel and thicker than your typical stamped steel peeling knives so it can be capably re-sharpened. Out of the box it has a very sharp blade that cuts through vegetables and fruit like butter. This knife is made from German steel, well-known for its high quality and use in some of the best cooking knives in the world. For its price, however, I would have expected it to come with a high quality sheath to store it in, particularly given how sharp the knife is. Echoing a concern by another reviewer, the knife should have been designed with a thicker thumb rest and a sharper curve that has a rounded edge to better protect (or prevent) your thumb from accidently slipping forward toward the blade.

Love it would buy again

good knife, but no knife cover.. cant take with you with easy to cut fruit for lunch during the day if you cant take to work or leave in your car..