Breadknife

$27.99 brings you a Victorinox 47547, 10-1/4 inch Bread Knife from Amazon.com. (free shipping)

I consider this the best bread knife I've ever owned. Been using one for more than a year.

You might recognize the name, Victorinox; it's the Swiss company that makes Swiss Army Knives.

David G

I admit that I did like theDexter-Russel 628 Green River 8 inch knife on the katom.com site, but I would personally favor the Victronox that David G. suggested.  Not because they make Swiss Army knives, we're not purchasing an army knife, but because there are 120 favorable reviews and if customer satisfaction is that high there's no reason to experiment with an unknown.  Additionally, the Dexter-Russel sports a walnut handle and that can become a maintenance chore.  The Victronox has a Fibrox synthetic fiber handle that I'd expect to be easier to care for and, as David points out, it's only slightly more expensive.

For giving bread away at Thanksgiving, I bought a bunch of disposable plastic bread knives from a restaurant supply for $1.25 each. Plastic? They worked just fine.

I bought the Victorinox about 2 mos ago. Love it. Great knife, right price. It cuts like a charm through any crust, and cleanly through the crumb. Great feel at the handle, weighted evenly throughout. Best thing was, while in the kitchen store, I was browsing all the $150+ breadknives, and the salesperson, without any prompting, suggested the Victorinox (at $28) as the better knife. No, you won't impress your neighbors by having the most expensive Japanese knife on the block, but it's well worth the purchace.

I bought a Dexter Russell Slicer Knife Scalloped 12 inch on Amazon for $12 plus shipping, based on a recommendation on this site around a year ago.    It has been terrific.   And you can't beat the price.   Even though 12 inches seems long, it is great for slicing through big loaves without smashing them,  and I'm glad I went with that instead of getting a shorter one. 

I received the Messermeister 9 inch bread knife and like it alot.  I have used these knives for a while and some Chicago Cutlery and some Cutco stuff before them.  The German steel is quality and the knife has good weight.  I'd suggest getting the best quality you can afford. (also holds for shoes and office chairs)   It pays for itself in the long run and will result in fewer injuries to you in the long run. If you do get a good quality knife remember to respect it in the beginning. After using poor knives for years when I got a truely sharp knife, I sustained a few cuts because I wasnt use to the sharpness.

I received the Messermeister 9 inch bread knife and like it alot.  I have used these knives for a while and some Chicago Cutlery and some Cutco stuff before them.  The German steel is quality and the knife has good weight.  I'd suggest getting the best quality you can afford. (also holds for shoes and office chairs)   It pays for itself in the long run and will result in fewer injuries to you in the long run. If you do get a good quality knife remember to respect it in the beginning. After using poor knives for years when I got a truely sharp knife, I sustained a few cuts because I wasnt use to the sharpness.

Years ago I bought a number of knives through a church fundraising project.  I went off the deep end purchasing not only for me but gifts for friends also because the knives proved to be excellent for the price.  The blades are high carbon stainless steel and made in the USA.  I bought a bagel knife that has turned out to be the perfect scalloped knife for my breads.  Sharp and does not rip the crumb apart.  Only negative is that the blade is only 6" long.  The bread knife the company manufactures is serrated and tears the bread (naturally I have that one too!).  The bagel knife is great and only $7 - http://www.radamfg.com/Product.asp?SRCH_CATEGORY=Cat12&SRCH_ID=R118

- Sharon

Try this sight: www.betterbreadknives.com  .

I bought one of their knives some time ago and am very pleased. Not only does it do an excellent job on all types of bread but it is beautiful in it's own right.

They are a xmall family operated business so you are dealing directly with the owners/manufactures.

gene

from King Arthur  Unfortunately, they advertise two...only one isl abeled as their favorites...it is the best bread knife i have ever owned.  If you are interested, I will send you the catalogue number.

Pam

but I've used all sorts of fancy knives, and one of the best is that "frozen food" knife that was all over the TV and trade shows about 1980 or so, cross between serrated and wavy on the blade, and works fine for all sorts of things.

I also have a book on knives that says even the regular knife sharpeners that you can buy for $15 or so bucks at Wal Mart or other stores will sharpen knives just fine, having lost my knife sharpener to an early death (my brother died last year) I have to resort to that if DH isn't home (and he isn't nearly as good at it as my brother was) I also have a plastic handled bread knife picked up at the second hand store for a buck 20 years ago, wavy blade, a regular sharp knife turned into a bread knife with a chain saw sharpener due to a large nick in the blade rendering unsuitable for regular slicing, and a serated knife from a knife set I was given as a wedding present. Actually got two of those!

So buy a knife your hand likes, the feel the weight and the length of blade, its always better to pick up a knife in your hand rather than buy online, and also consider where you store the knife, mine are in blocks, I have three differnt ones in different places in the kitchen, a small one at the baking area and the only one to hold the French chefs knife of my mothers which would qualify for sword status if the blade were heavier, it won't fit any drawer I've ever had., its on the side of a cabinet, and rather dangerous for passing legs.