I didn't think I'd ever again buy a German or French made kitchen knife: too heavy, too thick compared to Japanese knives. The reviews suggested that this knife was well made with a thinner blade and it was half the price of the next closest Japanese knife. Worth a try. Very nice knife. Light, sharp, good in the hand, and easy to clean. Initial very sharp edge has stayed sharp a long time where the French blade it replaced would have had to have been sharpened at least twice. Worth the money.