Review on Superior Sasaki Takumi Japanese AUS-10 8-Inch Chef Knife: Premium Stainless Steel Blade with Locking Sheath, Enhanced Performance in Black by Justin Stinson

I appreciate a good paring knife and this one is excellent. It's heavy, feels good in the hand and has a good balance. It is very sharp and perfectly cuts vegetables and even meat. Notches on the sides prevent slices of vegetables from sticking to the knife. Very satisfied for me as this excellent tool improves my cooking pleasure. The knife has a full odor - the entire length from the butt to the tip. The handles are triple riveted and made of fiberglass, although they look and feel like ebony. The shape of the handle and pad make it a joy to hold and use. The blade is made of Damascus steel. This creates a nice wood grain on the side of the knife. I don't know many of the technical details of the steel for the blade but it works great and looks very nice. The kit includes a hard plastic sheath to protect the blade. It has a button lock to keep the knife in place. I think it's a very nice touch. The knife comes in a beautiful and gift-worthy packaging. The box has a scabbard lid and a magnetic closure with a form-fitting insert to hold the knife and scabbard. There is a nice booklet and a microfiber cloth. The brochure had a few inside pages turned upside down, but I don't blame that little oversight. If you are considering this knife as a gift, the packaging and presentation is the most appropriate. So far I am delighted with this paring knife. This is a beautiful knife to use on special occasions. But it's so functional and easy to use that I plan to use it as my main paring knife. I like using good tools that are well made, work well, are fun and look good. This knife meets all of these requirements, which is why I give it 5 stars. I am very happy. Updated: 10/10/19. I still like my knife, but there was a spot on the blade next to the bead that was rusty and pitted. Nowhere else. I suspect a clearly hidden (previously new) defect in the metal. For this reason I am deducting 1 star and increasing my rating to 4 stars. Maybe I'm just unlucky, maybe not.