Review on Zelite Infinity Alpha-Royal Series 6 Inch Utility Knife: 🔪 Japanese AUS-10 Super Steel, 67-Layer Damascus, Razor Sharp, Exceptional Edge Retention by Melissa Walker

There are no words to describe how great this knife is. I've had the knife for over six months now. I wanted to give it at least a year before writing a review so I can comment on durability and longevity. The knife has been used quite a bit in those 18 months so I think I have a representative sample. When you first open a Zelite knife you feel chills and your heart flutters like it's Christmas. The packaging and presentation are excellent. Then you will see a beautiful mirror-polished Damascus blade for the first time. You can see immediately that the build quality and fit are first class. There are no visible gaps, gaps, rough edges, flaws or imperfections anywhere. The grip is very smooth but has a tactile quality that lets you know it won't slip out of your hand. The shape is perfect for the comfortable pinch grip that chefs prefer, although I did find that the grip could be a millimeter or two longer (although this could be simply because I'm a 6ft 5in male). The grip is comfortable and offers maximum control. And there is also an advantage. Out of the box it was razor sharp. In fact, one of my first actions as a new Zelite owner was accidentally cutting my left index finger. He bled like a stench. Years of handling blunt knives will do that to you. And the blade has remained extremely sharp for the past 18 months. I make about 8 passes with the ceramic blade every 4-5 uses and it's still as sharp as the day I opened it. There was never a hint of dullness (unlike microburrs, which are corrected with a sharpening rod). The steel is extremely strong and has not suffered a single chip or crack. As an experiment I decided to compare Zelite side by side with a decent but cheap Calphalon utility knife over the past 18 months. I made sure to bring Calphalon to the same level as soon as Zelite arrived. The contrast between the two knives couldn't be clearer. I've used cheap about half as often and have had to sharpen twice as often. The edge has numerous chips and starts to dull more than a sharpening steel. There is no doubt that Zelite is much better. What about the price? For your regular home cook, this might seem a bit pricey. But you should think of this knife as an investment. If cared for properly, it will last longer than any of your other knives (see crying story below). For build quality, steel, design, and edge retention, you're willing to pay double or more for a similar product from a reputable knife manufacturer. Zelite really is an incredible value. BONUS HAPPY STORY: About 2 days after I received my Zelite in the mail, my wife dropped the tip of it in the sink. Let's just say it was one of the most difficult times in our marriage. Since the tip was very sharp and pointed, it curled up a bit, although not as much as I expected. Luckily, I recently bought a set of whetstones and learned the art of sharpening. Without much effort I managed to restore (mostly) the blade tip. It saved our marriage!