I'm still on my quest for the best of everything, and in that quest, some years ago I discovered the American-made miracle that is Rada Cutlery. Many people swear by Haenckels or other extremely expensive European cutlery and I've owned a variety of knives from those sources as well as lesser knives, even the Amazingly Crappy Ginsu. None of these knives have equalled the quality of inexpensive, American-made Rada knives.
I first encountered Rada cutlery on Mt. Desert Island in Maine. I stopped by a little store called the MDI Workshop just off of Route 3 which sold handicrafts made by handicapped workers in the area. Some of those goods were interesting, but what really caught my eye were the unusual stainless steel kitchen knives they kept behind the counter. The knives came in all shapes and sizes, at surprisingly low prices, and had stainless steel blades and attractive brushed aluminum handles. On examination they were nice and sharp and surprisingly sturdy, so I bought a couple of paring knives and took them home.
Over the next year I used the hell out of those two paring knives and they never failed me. They stayed sharp the whole year and cut perfectly every time - both knives still hold a perfect edge now 10 years later and have never needed to be sharpened. The blades were strong and stiff and the brushed stainless handles felt good to the hand and have remained strong and firmly attached. The durability of the knives beats anything I've ever seen before. Every expensive European knife I've had has had problems. Haenckels are the best, but although their blades hold up well, their handles are fragile, break easily, drop their rivets, and can't handle being put in a dishwasher. I have a very nice French paring knife which has a super edge, but the stainless steel isn't really stainless and developed rust spots after only a few uses. Those two Rada paring knives have been in the dishwasher thousands of times and although the handles have discolored slightly, they're as strong and reliable as ever, and the blades remain perfect.
Article comments
1 - DrPat
Dave, you're missing ASINs. How about 0318T993166, the bid ID for a Rada Quick-Edge Knife sharpener? There's also a Rada Air Pistol, B0007LKJVC.
There's no image for the Rada Paring Knife, B0007YBGEI, but it's an Amazon Kitchenwares item...
2 - Maglase
Hey, this is a hot site today! My father bought two complete sets of Rada steak knives nearly 35 years ago. We're still using them today, and they're still sharp.
Thanks for the lead to the Rada website. I want to put a friend onto these, she already has a booth at the monthly flea market.
3 - Dave Nalle
Actually, Dr. Pat, I included the Rada Cutlery links you note and also links to two books on kitchen cutlery, but there's some sort of error which won't let the links appear. I've posted about this on the BC mailing list.
Oh, and the Rada air pistol is from a different company - an eastern european gun manufacturer as I recall - unrelated.
Dave
4 - Bobby
The best knives in the world are actually Cutco brand knives, for a number of reasons.
5 - Samwitch
I bought my first Cutco knife 40 years ago, then bought a few more 20 years later. The price had become almost prohibitive! I laughed when my sister gave me two little Rada knives six years ago -- thinking they looked like cheap dime store knives. I stuck them in my knife box in their little slipcases, didn't use either for a year or so. My favorite Cutco went missing (in husband's office). I pulled out the Radas in desperation! Much to my surprise, they were sharp as razor blades, easy to handle, washed up beautifully, and laid patiently in wait to be used again. Now my favorites, THEY occasionally go missing in husband's office, for he, a real connoisseur of knives, loves them, too. I think it's time to buy a bunch!
6 - JMG Outlet Store
I have been using Rada Knives for 35 yeas and would never use any other knive. I strongly believe in these knives. My husbands grandmother used to sell them for her church which was the only way you used to be able to buy them. I believe in these knives so completely that I developed a website exclusively for Rada Products at discount prices. I do not know if I am allowed to give the site. I was wondering if you would check out the site and if you feel that it is worthwhile, would you please create a link to the site. Thank you for listening to me.
Jan
JMG Outlet Store
7 - chris
Find a non=profit group that sells the knives as a fundraiser. You will get Rada's best price usually a 20%-30% savings.
8 - Mags
I'm a big fan of Rada knives but I have to say, you can NOT and should NOT wash these in a dishwasher.
After only once in the dishwasher, the aluminum handles not only got light pitting, they turned black and drip the 'oxidation' all over everything as soon as they get wet. It stains, it's nasty and you could end up throwing out some funky gray blothched food if you haven't paid enough attention.
Great knives for the money but you MUST handwash and make sure you don't use dishwashing detergent with bleach in it.
9 - Nick
Cutco makes the World's Best Knives...they're guaranteed FOREVER! The guarantee is on the product not the person who owns it...so you can pass them down in your family and your grandchildren's grandchildren will still have the same coverage for the knives! Plus Cutco has the DD edge and is the only fine cutlery manufacturer to have this edge...unlike serrated edges this edge can be sharpened! Plus Cutco will send a representative out to your house to sharpen your Cutco for free! Can Rada offer you that?
10 - Cree
Seriously though, if you use a Cutco knife for 5 years and it needs to be sharpened (by a rep) and you use a Rada knife for 20 years and it STILL doesn't need to be sharpened, which is the better buy? I could do without having to have a rep come to my house to sharpen a knife I'll tell ya that much!
11 - Gerald
I've owned Cutco for 27 years, the sales person had to convince me to come over because I thought they were perfectly ok. But anyway, I've never heard of Rada, and if they are so good why did they go out of business??
12 - Dave Nalle
Rada has been in business for 60 years and I see no indication that they have gone out of business.
Dave
13 - Eric
RADA is not out of business. I just placed a big order through a friends church fund raiser for Christmas gifts.
14 - NENA
Thank you so much for this article, I have read all the comments and suggestions and my search for my first knives has become easier ...
I am new at cooking...to tell you the truth everything I know now is from watching the food network for a year and reading articles online, I love experimenting with food. Now I want to start cooking right and hopefully attend some basic cooking classes and definetly need new knives (to give you an idea of my "expertise" I have the magic blade set :S and the only ones I use are the serrated steak knives !)...Im 5.2" and have really small hands so some knives feel really heavy and any 7" plus look kind of scary to me...
So I got this week two Wusthof knives the 5" santoku and a 6" Chefs, mainly because thats what everybody says I should have...and Wusthof because I red many good reviews, also because I was really lucky someone at Williams Sonoma made a mistake pricing these knives and I ended up paying $60 for the Santoku Classic Ikon and $50 for the Classic Chefs knife!
Like I said I am not chef, I just cook everyday for me and my husband (poor soul eating all my experiments), but I see I really like cooking and want to learn how to do it right. Im eager to become a great cook!! so I hope you can help me with my questions
What other knives should I get?
I was thinking of a 5" tomato knife that I could use for bread and cheese too and a 4" utility/paring?
I also see they all sell sets of steak knives ... I was thinking on buying the wusthof classic set of 4 ... are these just to use on the table or can these be used as utility knives? do I need all these?
Is there any website that has videos showing how to hold and use every type of knife properly ?
sorry Im just full of questions and are not adding any interesting knowledge...I promise when I become a great cook I will contribute ;)
Thanks!!