About this Review: This is my honest opinion of the knife, which I bought with my own money in November 2023.

My take

This Mercer Damascus-style Santoku is a great knife for someone looking for a pretty, well-made knife that won’t require declaring bankruptcy. It’s very pretty, making it a bit of a showpiece and has a thick, durable blade that keeps an extremely sharp edge. I think it’s a great knife for someone looking to add to their knife collection – or upgrade it – without having to break the bank.

About the gear

• Model: Damascus Style
• Knife type Santouku
• Blade Length: 7-inch
• Handle Material: G10
• Handle Shape: Non-traditional

About me

• Experience: I learned to cook from my mom when I was little, and I’ve been a dedicated home cook for about fifteen years now. My dad is a knife aficionado, so I developed an interest in them from a young age. I’ve used a good number of kitchen knives over the years, and I’m still impressed by what a difference a well-made tool makes.

Test conditions

• When I bought it: November 2023
• Days tested: 15
• What I’ve used it on: Various vegetables, raw whole chicken, pork loin, raw chicken breasts, and turkey.
• Foods I’ve found it best for: I’ve found it’s excellent for cutting up a whole raw chicken, and it can slice onions extremely fine.
• Surfaces I’ve used it on: Wooden and bamboo cutting boards.
• Sharpening/Honing routine: I haven’t had to sharpen it yet as I haven’t had it very long, but I have honed it every few times I use it. The edge has stayed razor-sharp and kept its bright sheen.

How it performs

What I was looking for

I’d been on the lookout for a santoku knife for a while, as I hadn’t had much opportunity to try one. I have two different chef’s knives, and I wanted to see how they would compare.

Why I chose this gear

I picked this knife because it was an affordable, beautiful knife that was made by a good brand.

I looked at Mercer’s other santoku knives in the Renaissance and Genesis lines. I also looked at Zwilling’s rocking santoku. I ultimately decided on this knife because of the beautiful Damascus steel and sharp handle profile – which made it a bit more expensive than Mercer’s other knives – but it was still affordable compared to Zwilling’s.

What I love about it

• Durability: While I haven’t had the knife long, I can tell it's durable. It has a full tang, a heavy blade, and an extremely sharp edge. Honing it keeps it razor-sharp, and I haven’t felt any bending, wobbling, or signs of weakness at all when using it.
• Versatility: Santoku knives are highly versatile, being able to do everything a chef’s knife can. I've used it to slice, chop, cut up a chicken, and cut through dough.
• Balance: This knife has very good balance, as it doesn’t feel like it wants to pitch forward despite the thickness of the blade.
• Flexibility: The blade doesn’t flex – but santokus are known for their stiff blades, so that's exactly how it's supposed to be.
• Performance with Hard Vegetables: This knife slices through celery with ease, as well as carrots and potatoes. I did hone it before using it, but the knife didn’t really need it – I’m a bit excessive about my knife care – nor did it need to be resharpened afterward.
• Applications: As expected, it’s excellent for slicing, but it can also dice, mince, and cut up a whole chicken.
• Blade Profile: The Damascus steel is beautiful, giving the metal a wavy appearance. The blade is thick and stiff, making it durable and its weight can help with chopping.
• Blade Length: 7-inch is a standard size for santokus, though I personally like a shorter blade, as I find it easier to handle because I have small hands. But the longer blade allows it to easily handle bigger cuts of meat, a whole chicken, and hard vegetables.
• Blade material: The blade is forged Damascus style with HR 62 German steel. That means that the steel is quite hard and will hold an edge for a long time, but it may be difficult to sharpen when it needs it.
• Quality of materials: The blade is made of German steel and holds a razor edge, and the G10 handle is attractive and has a smooth feel in my hand.
• Features: This line of Mercer knives is made in China, as opposed to the majority of them which are manufactured in Thailand. The blade has a bolster at the front to aid in using a pinch grip, but the rounded spine makes it work well for a point grip, which is what I often use.
• Warranty: The knife comes with a limited lifetime warranty, or a 25-year warranty for professional use. It covers defects or failure that results from standard use. You do need to provide proof of purchase, but they will repair or replace your knife as needed.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Weight: The blade and tang of this knife are made of thick steel, making it feel heavy in my hand. It isn’t so much that I can’t comfortably use it, but I found it took some practice to get used to it. Some people will likely find it too heavy for an everyday knife.
• Protein fabrication: I wouldn’t label this a precision knife, and as it doesn't have a pointed tip, it’s not ideal for deboning. It can remove fat or skin, though fish may be a bit delicate for such a rigid knife.
• Handle Profile: I admit that any handle that isn’t wood isn’t my favorite. I do find the handle attractive and comfortable to hold, but it did get slippery once when my hands were wet.
• Other: The shininess of the blade does it make it prone to water spots, so it’s a good idea to dry it right away, or buff it with a cloth.

Favorite moment with this gear

My favorite moment with this gear was when I tried it on a whole chicken. I often struggle a bit finding the exact place in the joint to slice through, but this knife went through them like butter. The stiff, sharp blade was exactly what I needed for it and I was able to do the job and well and quickly.

Value for the money vs. other options

For a santoku knife, it’s not bad value overall. Certainly for a Damascus steel type knife it’s a steal – Damascus steel is usually extremely expensive. But you can get an equally good knife for cheaper; this is a knife for those who also prioritize aesthetics. Misen’s 8-inch Santoku is forged and well-received. It’s a bit cheaper, but not as pretty. Same with Mercer’s Renaissance 7-inch Santoku that’s also forged with a full tang.

Final verdict

The Mercer Culinary Damascus style 7-inch Santoku Knife is a beautiful knife with a razor-sharp blade that can be had for an affordable price. If you’re someone who prioritizes an eye-catching knife but doesn't want to spend a fortune, then it’s a no-brainer.