Buying a knife is not really any different than buying clothes, it's usually a good idea to try some out before buying to get the best fit. Just because one knife is more expensive than another doesn't mean it's better for you. Each person has a unique set of preferences when it comes to knives, so head down to the cutlery store if possible and try them on before buying.
Things to keep an eye on
There are a few things that you should pay attention to or ask the salesperson.
- You will typically need to make a choice with the blade; would you rather have a razor-sharp blade that needs more care or one that's simply very sharp but requires much less upkeep.
- Feel the handle, what do you think it would feel like if it were wet? It is too small for your hands / too big? What if you used the knife in different positions, would it be comfortable in them all?
- How's the weight and balance of the knife? Is it heavy? Would you get tired if you had extensive cutting to do? Is it too light? Does it feel off-balance?
- Is the spine square or rounded? If you must do a lot of chopping you might want to think about getting a rounded spice as a square one could rub your off-hand a bit raw.
- Does the tang run all the way through the handle? Typically only lower quality knifes don't have a full tang, although I can't say that's the case 100% of the time.
These are all things you should pay attention to when buying your knives, especially the chef's knife. If you have small hands you may find the typical chef's knife a bit too much, if this is the case you should look at a santoku instead. But don't think the santoku is for people with small hands only, they are very popular alternatives to the standard chef's knife.
In the end, the knife you choose will be your very own personal choice, don't let friends, colleagues or salespeople talk you into anything that feels uncomfortable or odd to you. We all have unique fingerprints and we all have unique tastes in knives.