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Is the huusk knife legit? Different people seem to be taking varying stands on the topic. But one thing is sure; the huusk has managed to surround itself with controversy.
We undertook this review to dig into the brand and give you an honest and independent opinion. This review integrates the experience of verified buyers with the knife.
So, if you intend to buy the knife, first look at this review before making your decision.
Misrepresented Company Background
The huusk purports to be a Japanese brand. But if you read with keenness, you will notice how the website tiptoes around the company’s origin.
First, take a look at the brand name, HUUSK JAPAN. You would expect something like HUUSK, made in Japan. You would also expect to find a Japanese location somewhere in the product details. Huusk has not made a mention in any of these.
The website cites that the huusk is “inspired by centuries-old Japanese knife-making traditions.” You find no clear indication whatsoever that the Japanese blacksmiths made the knife. An expert can inspire anyone, so the statement does not mean much—another crafty choice of words that is quite misleading and misrepresenting.
Are Huusk knives made in China?
The only conclusion we could come up with is that the Huusk knife is made in China. The Japanese origin is a misrepresentation to lure the buyers into buying the knife.
Is Huusk knife made in Japan?
No huusk knives are made in China. Huusk knives uses the word Japanese knife to lure buyers into thinking it was made in Japan. A shipment trail of the knife will lead you to a Chinese location.
In truth, the huusk is a Lithuanian Company. Could the huusk be made in Japan, shipped to China for warehousing, and then sold to the United States at a 50 % discount? This thought process beats logic.
The only conclusion we could come up with is that the Huusk knife is made in China. The Japanese origin is a misrepresentation to lure the buyers into buying the knife.
Blade
Give it to the manufacturer; the Huusk knife does have a beautiful appearance. The black blade contrasts nicely with the shiny edges and the wooden handle. The top part of the black has black indents designs that are pretty attractive.
What size is a Huusk knife?
Huusk knives feature a 6-inch blade with a thickness of 5cm on the handle, the knife is quite sturdy. The combined length of the blade and handle is 11 inches.
The sloping curve of the knife is also at a 38 degrees angle. Huusk knives weigh 252g, are well balanced, and could pass for a good knife for your regular kitchen activities.
The Huusk knife website does not provide the angle the knife is sharpened but users have had cases of the angles not matching each knife. That is, at first glance. But that’s about it.
Are Huusk knives forged?
On closer inspection, you will realize Huusk knives are not forged, the top part is not forged black but painted black. If you scratch the blade with something sharp, you will discover that the paint scraps off. Quite another misrepresentation there.
Now, let us look at the material of the blade. If you look at most Japanese knives’ descriptions, they don’t just give the name of the steel used. They also delve further and describe the origin of the material and the core hardness.
The huusk website only mentions that the blade material is quality stainless steel. No other material description whatsoever.
You will find an actual mention of the steel used in the packaging box. The Huusk blade is made from 18/10 stainless steel, according to the packaging details. A google lookup will tell you that this steel is usually used to manufacture cookware.
An 18/10 stainless steel metal does not meet the hardness required to keep the edges sharp for long. The steel has a carbon content of 0.1 %, which is way lower than the recommended 0.5% for hardened knives. Thus, the Huusk blade fails in the Viking meat cleaver category as advertised on the Amazon site.
Handle
The huusk handle is made of oak wood and is quite ergonomic. The handles are curve-shaped to fit your hands well. You also get a finger hole that helps keep the hold in place.
You will think that the handle is quite well thought out until you read the seller’s reviews. Several buyers claim that the handle is not well put as it looks in the picture and breaks easily.
What price is a Huusk knife?
The huusk knife goes for around 99.83 dollars at the website exclusive of shipment. But of concern is the ridiculous high ever-present discount. After applying the discount, the price of the knife drops from $99.83 to $29.95.
We all know that discounts eat into profits. So, to be practical, a company can’t sustain a 70% discount over a long period. We could only conclude that the actual intended price could be $29.95, not $99.83. Thus, the purported value could be a way of getting quick sales from customers eager to get the deal.
Now, here is a shocker. Did you know that the huusk has a twin in the market?
The Guanqi knife, available at the aliexpress online site, has the exact same features and looks as the huusk. And at 12 dollars, Guanqi goes at almost a third the price of the huusk. The verified buyers who have used both knives could not come up with any difference. Well, except the HUUSK JAPAN logo.
Another interesting thing to note is that the Guanqi knives have clearly stated that they are made in China. The blade is also recommended for regular use in the product description.
The huusk and Guanqi knives stand side by side in all features. The supposition that the huusk is a premium knife and Guanqi regular leaves many questions.
Are huusk knives any good?
We would have to consider what you are looking for in a knife to answer that question. If you want a regular multipurpose blade, the huusk will fulfill those requirements.
But come to think of it. You have the exact knife in a Guanqi at a third of the price. So, why do you have to pay more? Thus, acquiring the huusk at 29 dollars, even for the regular tasks, is quite a rip-off.
Wait a minute. The huusk blade is offered to the market as a premium chef knife. So, to answer the question, Huusk knives are not any good as premium chef knives. First of all, the Huusk blade cannot withstand heavy kitchen work. Not without the need for constant sharpening. And who wants to work in a busy kitchen with a sharpener at hand?
Second, an 1810 stainless steel does not meet the classification of premium metal. You also have to look at the purported lie about the country of origin. That misrepresentation scraps off any remaining credentials that one can give the knife.
Can you sharpen Huusk knife?
Yes, you can sharpen a Huusk knife with any regular sharpening tools, a whetstone will be the best option. 1810 stainless steel used to make Huusk knives does not have the properties of good knife steel, you will have to sharpen the knife frequently.
Huusk knives legit alternatives.
Are you still keen on buying a premium Chef Knife?
Any of the following blades would be a great choice. I must warn you that you might need to adjust the price upwards depending on the knife.
But before we discuss the knives, let’s look at the features of a multifunctional knife.
- The blade
The material of the blade should be durable with sustainable hardness. If you are looking for high carbon steel, ensure that the steel has a carbon content of at least 0.5 %.
Also, it is good to check the design of the blade. Does the blade design allow you to use the knife to perform different tasks? A chef’s knife should be able to handle most tasks that you do in a busy kitchen daily. Another thing you want to look at is the length. A length of 7 inches is ideal for the average user.
- Handle
The knife should have a comfortable handle made from a material that is heat resistant. Full tang blades offer a better working balance. The tangs also ensure that the handle does not break easily.
- Edges
Check the material for edge retention and ease of sharpening. You will also need to check if the knife is single beveled or double beveled. If single beveled, ensure that your knife choice is ideal for your use.
Now, here are our four picks for legit alternatives to huusk.
Gyuto Knife
If you have heard of Japanese Chef knives, the chances are that you have heard about the Gyuto. The blade is the classic Japanese version of the western Chef’s knife. The tested, ultimate Chef’s knife has been on the market since the early 20th century.
Let us look at the features that make the Gyuto such an outstanding knife.
The blade material and design
The Gyuto knife has the standard Chef’s design. The blade has a straight spine at the top and a very slightly curved bottom that culminates in a sharp tip.
Gyuto knives give you choices between stainless steel and high carbon steel materials. Like other Japanese traditional knives, the Gyuto is hand-forged. A variety of the Gyuto knives have lengths between 7 to 12 inches.
A point to note is that if the high carbon material is extra durable. But you have to put some work into maintenance to protect the knife from rust.
Handle
With the Gyuto knife, you can choose between the wa-gyuto handle and the western handles. The handles are ergonomic and well balanced with the rest of the blade. The common handle material is resin-like micarta and pakka wood.
Edges
The Gyuto edges are razor sharp and remain for a long without the need for sharpening. Most brands have an edge inclination of 16 degrees. The Gyuto is also double-beveled and quite versatile.
Price
You will get a good Gyuto knife in a price range of $70 and $130. The price variance is primarily because of the length of the blade.
The Wusthof Chef’s Knife
Germany-made Wusthof Chef’s knife stands in a class of its own when it comes to efficiency. The all-purpose blade comes in handy in the preparation of any meal. Below is the summary of the knife’s features
Check Wusthof Chef’s Knife Price and pictures
The blade
The 8-inch blade is designed in the usual Chef’s knife shape, complete with a sharp point. The blade is forged from high carbon stainless steel and hardened to 58 degrees HRC.
Handle
Wusthof features an ergonomic handle made from a synthetic material and resistant to fading. The blade has a full tang that holds the handle in place by using three rivets. The full tang also ensures that the 8.5 lbs Wusthof knife is well balanced to keep you from fatigue as you perform your tasks.
Edges
The 20 degrees inclination edges are made using the precision edge technology that keeps the edges sharper for a longer time.
Price
You will get the premium Chefs knife at 170 dollars at both the Wusthof site and Amazon.
The Yoshihiro Santoku Chef knife
The Yoshihiro is Japanese top-notch that is worth the mention. The multipurpose knife is the perfect companion for chopping, slicing, and dicing tasks. You can use it to prepare both meat and vegetable dishes.
So, what makes Yoshihiro so outstanding?
Blade
The blade of the Yoshihiro knife is made of three layers of VG -10 Japanese stainless steel, known for its durability and strength. The 60 HRC degrees tampered steel gives exceptional sharpness and high edge retention. Yoshihiro blade is ideal for your vegetables and meat preparations and precision cuts.
Handles
The Yoshihiro knifes blades are made from quality mahogany wood. The handles have an ergonomic grip that is also nonslip and heat resistant. Thus, you can use the knife even in wet and oily conditions without the fear of losing your grip.
Edges
The Yoshihiro knife is double-edged, making it ideal for all users. The edges incline at an angle of 11 degrees on either side. Thus, the knife is razor sharp. The Yoshihiro Santoku knife is ideal for all chefs, entry-level or experienced. The ease of use also makes the cutter suitable for non-professional home users.
Price
The Yoshihiro Santoku is quite a high-end blade with an average price of $ 150. But its premium features and durability is every bit worth the price.
The Kyoku Chef Knife
The Kyoku Knife is another excellent choice of a multipurpose Japanese Chef’s knife. You can use the blade for almost all kitchen tasks using any cutting style. So, what makes the Kyoku knife stand out?
The blade
The luxurious Kyoku features an 8-inch blade made of superior VG 10 Japanese steel. The steel has a cutting core of 58-60 HRC. This hardness level is perfect for the sharpness needed in a multifunctional knife. The steel also contains cobalt, enhancing the hardness and ease of sharpening.
Handle
Kyoku knife boasts a G10 handle that has a high resistance to heat. The handle has a comfortable, smooth feel in your hands but is non-grip and wet resistant. The handle and blade meet with an ergonomic bolster that makes cutting safer and easier.
Edges
Kyoku knife has 13-15 degrees edges that are ideal for precision cuts. The edges are also double beveled and friendly for all users.
Price
You will get the Kyoku knife at an average price of 97 dollars, exclusive of shipment.
Conclusion
There you have it. The huusk knife is a scam. You sure will get a knife delivered to you when you buy one. But it will not meet your expectations.
The huusk line will meet the least requirements of a regular kitchen knife but is far from premium. When it comes to pricing, the huusk is grossly overpriced, even for a regular blade. You can get cheaper alternatives in the market.
Moreover, the knife leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to full disclosure of the knife. The information we gave is just what we scratched on the surface. Could there be other misrepresentations that we could not unearth?
Our verdict is, do not buy the huusk knife as a premium cleaver knife. Look for other legit alternatives.
