Knives are any cook’s or chef’s most prized possessions. These utensils may look basic, but do the lion’s share of the work in the kitchen.
So, it only makes sense for a chef to opt for the highest quality knives in their kitchen, and one example of good knives is Cangshan Knives.
The good thing is, the brand offers a wide range and different types of knives, each designed for a specific set of skills.
However, a home cook may not be familiar with them all, but a professional knows the importance of having a complete set of knives to get the job done.
Knife-making is not an easy process, especially now that we have a lot of cutting-edge technology.
Some of the principles are centuries old and continue to dictate how knives are produced and work to this day.
In this Cangshan Knives review, we’ll explore what this brand is all about and look at some of the best-selling knives it offers.
Cangshan Brand: Why Cangshan Knives?
Pronounced as Kang-Sha, the Cangshan Cutlery Company takes its name from the Cangshan mountain, situated in Southern China.
The founder, Henry, was born in China and moved to the USA before starting this company.
In China, he had founded a cutlery company that grew tremendously in just 11 years.
When he moved to the USA, he started this new company that had a different vision.
He founded the company in 2015 and its based production in Yangjiang, a city in Guangdong province, the region that is known for producing knives and other cutlery for over 1500 years.
The company sources materials from many different countries from Europe and Asia, producing top-notch designs that have innovation and culture at their heart.
The knives include Western as well as Japanese-style knives used in restaurants worldwide.
In simple words, Cangshan is known for its high-end knives.
Collections
Ever since its inception, Cangshan has produced many different lines of knives.
These lines usually contain different types of knives made of similar materials, for instance, Swedish steel. You can recognize these collections from their handles.
For example, the Z Series features a quintessentially different handle designed by the company to improve grip.
Similarly, the TS Series knives feature a standard black handle with three rivets.
Many of these lines come in knife block sets or knife roll sets.
These sets include all essential knives, while some include all of the knives from the same line.
Achievements
Cangshan is a relatively new name in the industry but is quickly climbing ranks.
In a short span of time, the cutlery company has gained the attention of the big wigs of the culinary world.
Cangshan is making its way into five-star restaurants all around the world.
They have managed to win several accolades, including the RedDot awards.
One of their lines, the A-Series, was also the winner of The Gourmet Retailers Editors’ Pick.
Most recently, the company collaborated with Michelin Star Chef Thomas Keller.
The Thomas Keller Collection of Cangshan went on to win the RedDot 2019 Award.
Cangshan Knives Review
In this section, we’ll cover the five most important types of knives you will use in any kitchen, be it at home or in a restaurant.If you have these five knives in the kitchen, you’re good for almost any cuisine or dish for that matter. Let’s dive deep into the features, advantages, and shortcomings, if any, of each of these knives from Cangshan.
Comparison Chart
Cangshan TV2 Series 1022766 Swedish Sandvik 14C28N Steel Forged 3.5-Inch Paring Knife and Wood Sheath Set
Cangshan TN1 Series 1021745 Swedish Sandvik 14C28N Steel Forged 8-Inch Bread Knife and Wood Sheath Set
Cangshan TN1 Series 1021639 Swedish Sandvik 14C28N Steel Forged 7-Inch Fillet Knife and Leather Sheath Set
1. Cangshan Z Series Chef Knife
The Cangshan Z Series 62731 X-7 is a chef’s knife, so it is your general-purpose knife that you can use for a variety of cutting and slicing in the kitchen.
One of their most popular series, the Z Series knives comes in a variety of sizes and often as bundles, too.
One thing is common in all, though, their high quality.
Review
The Cangshan Z Series 62731 X-7 Knife is an eight-inch long product that has the following features:
Sheath
The knife comes with a beautiful dark walnut colored, wooden sheath, which has a saya style that helps keep the knife protected when not in use or while in transport.
Blade
The blade is one of the most important features of a good knife, and this is where this knife is a winner.
The blade is made of a forged 67-layer X-7 Damascus steel, which is known for its durability and quality.
This custom Cangshan steel comes at HRC 60 +/- 2 on the Rockwell Hardness scale.
What it means is that the steel qualifies as extremely hard.
The immaculate hardness is also achieved through the six-stage heat treatment process that Cangshan steel blades go through.
The company has spent a long time, over two years, to perfect the right temperature to heat the blades during manufacturing.
Handle
The highlight of the Z-Series, especially this particular model, is the handle.
The company has pioneered a highly ergonomic shape that offers a strong yet comfortable grip.
For example, the sleek lines and shape of the handle are only elevated by the mosaic rivet.
This handle design is awaiting patent approval, so you can guess Cangshan really has something going there.
For a chef’s knife, it couldn’t be any better, given that they use it so frequently.
You can cut, slice, dice, and chop whatever you like, thanks to the amazing grip this knife offers.
Convenience
The razor-sharp blade creates a nice balance with the ergonomic curves of the handle.
As a result, there is no strain in your hands, even after hours of repeated use on the kitchen counter.
The knife’s weight is just 1.3 pounds, which is just right for a chef’s knife.
Maintenance
Cleaning this knife after use should be a breeze. You can simply wash it with mild dish soap, and rinse.
There’s little maintenance for it, as you would not need to sharpen it for at least a year.
Since it’s expensive, it would be best to have it sharpened by a professional.
It’s produced in Cangshan’s manufacturing facility in China, but most of the materials are sourced from other countries.
Certification and Warranty
This product has been approved by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).
You’re good for life with this Z-Series knife as it has a lifetime warranty. Even though it’s super sharp and hard, it should not be used for chopping bones.
In simple words, if you want to add life to your product, you must use it for the purpose it is designed for.
PROS
- Beautiful aesthetics
- Comfortable grip
- High-quality steel blade
- Wooden sheath
- Lifetime warranty
CONS
- Cannot replace meat cleaver
2. Cangshan TV2 Series Paring Knife
The Cangshan TV2 Series 1022766 14C28N Knife is a paring knife that is perfect for peeling, slicing, as well as removing seeds from fruits and vegetables.
Its uses don’t end there, as you can use this high-quality paring knife for deveining shellfish, too.
Review
Here are the features of this knife:
Length and Sheath
This TV2 Series paring knife is 8.5 inches long, with a 3.5-inch blade, and a well-balanced five-inch handle.
The length is good enough to offer you a more extended reach.
The knife comes with a half-open magnetic sheath made of carbonized solid ashwood.
It’s the perfect armor for the paring knife you would use almost daily in the kitchen.
Blade
The blade on this knife is made of Swedish Sandvik 14C28N steel.
The full tang forged alloy steel offers unrivaled sharpness that will ultimately reduce the time you spend in the kitchen, peeling things.
The 3.5-inch long blade has a hardness of HRC 59 +/- 2 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale.
Even though it’s not meant for heavy-duty cutting or slicing, the steel used is still quite brittle.
The company also claims it is five times sharper than the average blade of paring knives.
As a result, it will stay sharper for longer.
This steel blade has also gone through the six-stage heat treatment.
The blade can take a sharp 16-degree edge like nobody’s business.
The Initial Cutting Performance (ICP) rating is 151, which easily makes it incredibly sharp.
Handle
The handle goes well with the size, weight, and sharpness of the knife.
The ergonomic shape offers an excellent grip that will keep the knife comfortable in your hand.
For those working in restaurant kitchens spending hours on prep, this is highly important.
The material of the handle is high-quality, just like the steel of the blade.
The angled bolster is just enough for a firm pinch grip, although it offers racket grip way better.
Regardless of how you hold the knife in your hand, it will give you a nice and comfortable grip.
As for the weight, this small paring knife weighs just 8.8 ounces, making it very easy to handle.
Maintenance
If you want to know how long this knife will stay sharp, one way to go about it is by looking at the Total Card Cut (TCC) score.
This knife scores 850 TCC, which is way higher than an excellent score of 500.
So, it’s safe to say that you would not need to sharpen it for months or even more than a year.
You can wash it normally with soap and water.
Certification and Warranty
This knife is NSF certified and has a limited lifetime warranty from the company.
Should there ever be a manufacturing fault in the product, you can claim the warranty.
PROS
- Excellent edge
- Comfortable handle
- Reasonable price
- Well-balanced and lightweight
- Lifetime warranty
CONS
- Not great for Japanese pinch-grip style
3. Cangshan TN1 Series Bread Knife
The Cangshan TN1 Series 1021745 is one of the bread knives, designed for smooth cutting of all kinds of bread.
It is perfect for restaurants and bakeries that need something high-quality that doesn’t shred bread while slicing it.
Additionally, this particular model won the RedDot Award in 2016, thanks to its all-metal construction and flawless performance in the kitchen.
Review
Here are the things to expect from this knife:
Design and Construction
This knife from Cangshan is 15.7 inches long and made entirely from steel.
The sheath for the knife is made of carbonized ashwood and is magnetic.
Its design allows it to cover the blade snugly, even though it’s half-open while providing the necessary protection when you’re carrying it.
Blade
The blade is made of forged Swedish Sandvik 14C28N steel that is stronger and harder than the German steel X50Cr15MoV.
With a rating of HRC 59 +/- 2 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale, the blade will last for a long time.
As is common with all Cangshan knives, this bread-knife has also gone through six stages of heat treatment.
This way, the blade shows the best possible qualities of steel.
The deep serrations of the knife effortlessly slide into the bread, making clean cuts and creating no mess.
Also, the ICP rating for this particular model is 151, which is higher than 110 (considered highly sharp).
That said, even though this kind of bread doesn’t do a lot of heavy-duty cutting and slicing, it still has extremely sharp serrated edges to glide through bread.
Handle
The 5.5-inch handle of this TN1 Series bread knife is beautiful.
The matt finish of the steel provides a great harmony of design, while the well-balanced handle makes operation smooth and easy.
The hollow design of the handle gives it the right balance, both in terms of operation and aesthetics.
Chefs and bakers can use it for hours without feeling any kind of fatigue in their hands.
Maintenance
Since this is a bread knife, it would not get as dirty as the knives you use to cut vegetables and meat.
You can simply rinse it with warm water at the end of the day to keep it clean and ready for the next day’s operation.
Additionally, the weight of the TN1 series bread knife is 1.3 pounds.
Score, Certification, and Warranty
The TCC score of the knife is an impressive 850, which means it would not wear out so easily, like low-quality bread knives that lose their sharpness over time.
You have a limited lifetime warranty for this bread knife model, just like most of the Cangshan knives.
Also, this one is NSF certified and completely safe.
PROS
- Brilliant design
- Long-lasting and durable blade
- Smooth slicing of bread
- Well-balanced handle
- Lifetime warranty
CONS
- Expensive
4. Cangshan TN1 Series Fillet Knife
The Cansghan TN1 Series 1021639 model is a fillet knife that delivers the finesse of filleting needed by world-class chefs.
The design, materials, and performance are all on point, making it a must-have for any professional kitchen.
Review
This fillet knife from Cangshan is 12.5 inches long and is all metal. The sleek hollowed-out metal handle seamlessly blends with the fillet blade.
Sheath
To make things further luxurious, the knife has a genuine leather belt loop sheath, which also features a security metal-lock button.
Blade
When it comes to filet knives, sharpness is everything. The blade on this TN1 Series knife is made of Swedish Sandvik 14C28N steel.
As explained earlier, this type of steel is five times more durable than its German counterpart.
The blade also has an HRC 60 +/- 2 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale, as it goes through intrinsic six-stage heat treatment.
Handle
This knife is from the TN1 Series of Cangshan, which has won the RedDot award in 2016 for its innovative handle designs.
Many of the handle designs are pending patent approval as they are revolutionizing comfort in using knives in professional settings.
The metallic hollow handle of this model provides just the right balance in your hand.
It will feel as light as a feather while also giving you a tight grip.
As you know, how you hold the knife is very crucial in filleting, so the handle offers you a firm grip in whichever angle or way you want to hold it.
The 5.5-inch handle may seem a bit small for someone with extraordinarily big hands, but you can still manipulate it enough to get the job done.
It goes without saying that the shape and design of the handle give it a beautiful look.
Maintenance
Again, you would not require a lot of maintenance for this fillet knife.
It will stay sharp for a long time, even if you fillet chicken or fish daily in your kitchen.
You can use a whetstone or knife sharpener when you want it to be extra sharp.
Cangshan recommends doing it once or twice a year, at least.
The TCC score is 850 for this knife, too, so you can guess how long-lasting the sharpness really is, but just make sure you keep it in its leather sheath when not in use.
You can also wash it with soapy water and dry it before putting it in the sheath.
PROS
- Extremely sharp
- Comfortable grip
- Easy to use
- Award-winning design
- Lifetime warranty
CONS
- Someone with big hands may take time adjusting to it
5. Cangshan J Series Santoku Knife
The Cangshan J Series 62755 Japan VG-10 is a Santoku Knife designed for all things that your regular chef’s knife can do.
Santoku knives are a long-running part of Japanese culture and cuisine, and Cangshan has managed to maintain its integrity while also innovating the design.
Review
Here are what this knife can offer:
Sheath and Length
This Santoku knife is 12.25 inches long, and a proof of the Cangshan craftsmanship.
This beautiful knife comes with a dark walnut wood magnetic sheath that blends in with the handle of the knife.
Blade
The seven-inch blade of this Santoku knife has the 67-layer Damascus pattern.
Handcrafted from Japan VG-10 steel, the blade offers an unrivaled sharpness Japanese knives are known for, so this is better for thin slicing as compared to a chef’s knife that usually has a thicker blade in comparison with Santoku knives.
As for the hardness of the steel, it comes to HRC 60 +/- 2 on the Rockwell Hardness Scale.
This is hard enough to take a 16-degree edge, just like the chef’s knife from Z Series.
Also, the design and shape of the blade with small indentations, along the length of the blade, look extremely stunning.
Handle
The handle of this knife is also patent pending.
Made from ultra-dense African blackwood, the handle is simple yet extraordinary.
The smoothness of the wood gives just the right balance of comfort and firm grip.
Thus, you would not need to apply a lot of pressure to keep a tight grip on it.
This handle lacks the ergonomic lines and curves found on some of the other knife series of Cangshan.
However, that seems to be the case because of the knife being Japanese.
The handle maintains the look and feels of a traditional Santoku knife you will find in Japanese homes.
It is only 5.25 inches long, but that’s usually what the size is in a Santoku knife.
Due to its small size, you can hold the knife in your hand for hours without getting tired.
Maintenance
This knife can only be hand-washed, so never throw it in a dishwasher.
You can simply wash it with a mild detergent or dish wash.
You must also keep it in the wooden sheath when not in use or when traveling with it.
With a lifetime warranty, this knife will last you quite some time, making sure you get every penny’s worth.
You can use a knife sharpener from time to time, especially when you’re dealing with fish.
Alternatively, you can use a professional to sharpen this high-end knife.
PROS
- Beautiful design
- Multipurpose knife
- Beautiful and well-balanced wood handle
- Extremely durable
- Lifetime warranty
CONS
- A bit smaller than a Chef’s knife
Final Thoughts
These five knives from Cangshan are undoubtedly high-quality and deliver unrivaled performance.
No wonder they have won awards for their innovation in knife making!
We have carefully chosen these knives to give you a comprehensive range for your professional kitchen and detailed Cangshan Knives Review.
The stigma surrounding “Made in China” often deters people from buying expensive things produced in China, but Cangshan does not fall anywhere in those low-cost, cheaply produced cutlery categories.
The company is, after all, based in the USA and ensures high standards in its production.
All knives are NSF certified and have a lifetime guarantee.
You can choose any or all the knives from our list, depending on what you intend to do.
If you ask us, though, we would recommend the Z-series knife since it is a multipurpose product.
As Cangshan knives are expensive, high-end knives, make sure you’re making the right decision according to your needs.
