Damascus Kitchen Knife Review: Allwin Houseware’s 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

By Luna Regina | Updated
Our recommendations are made independently through research and testing following our review procedure. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links at no additional costs to you.

Some home cooks are happy with any old knife that does its job. Others, however, want a little extra visual flair. This second group is the target market for the modern trend of “Damascus” knives. We take a look at one of them in this review.

Allwin Houseware sells a series of budget kitchen tools online and through shops like Sears. Their reputation appears rather hit-and-miss overall. That’s not automatically a damning indictment, but it’s worth bearing in mind as you peruse their products.

Allwin Houseware Kitchen Knife Features

Professional Damascus Chefs Knife
View On Amazon
  • Relatively inexpensive

  • Pretty Damascus blade

  • Durable Pakkawood handle

  • Hard blade (HRC62)

  • Fine edge (8 - 12 degrees)

  • Prone to chipping

  • No warranty

Materials

“Damascus steel” has become popular in high-end cutlery circles these days. Its beautiful swirling patterns give your blades a special flair. Claims that it is an ancient formula far superior to other modern steels, however, are more myth than truth. Modern “Damascus” steel is mostly high-carbon stainless steel with pretty patterns, and has limited relation with the historical metal.

Simply put, “Damascus” knives may be pretty, but they are not inherently better or worse than others.

Allwin Houseware’s blade boasts of 66 folded forged layers plus a harder core layer to maintain its edge. It’s heat treated to a Rockwell Hardness rating of 62— the highest rating most kitchen knives are willing to go to. This means it should maintain a sharp edge for a long time. The trade-off is that it is easier to chip than a softer blade, and will take more work to sharpen.

Never use such a hard blade to chop through bone or frozen material. It’s not made for those purposes.

The handle of the Allwin Houseware’s knife is made of Pakkawood. This is compressed wood impregnated with epoxy, making it highly resistant to water and oils. The Pakkawood grip should last much longer than an ordinary wooden handle.

Design

This knife is advertised as Japanese, but this refers to the source of the steel. The blade follows the familiar German design. The rounded blade shape allows for a nice, natural rocking motion.

Its edge is finer than most German kitchen knives, though. That’s great for precision cuts, but this also makes it a bit more fragile. Most chefs have no need for such a fine edge, and it mostly serves to shorten the knife’s lifespan. This blade must be handled with care to prevent it from chipping.

Reviews for this knife are a roller coaster of good and bad. That’s not unexpected for a knife that boasts of so much at a price point like this one. And unlike the pricier manufacturers, Allwin does not appear to offer a warranty.

Related post: Cutco 1728 7-5/8″ Petite Chef Knife

Use and Care

All knives should be washed by hand and quickly dried— never put them in the dishwasher. This blade should theoretically keep its edge for months worth of regular use. When the time comes to sharpen, a set of whetstones/oil stones should do the trick.

Check Latest Price On Amazon
Luna Regina
Luna Regina
Luna Regina is an accomplished writer and author who dedicates her career to empowering home cooks and making cooking effortless for everyone. She is the founder of HealthyKitchen101.com and HealthyRecipes101.com, where she works with her team to develop easy, nutritious recipes and help aspiring cooks choose the right kitchen appliances.
latest
Latest Posts
Best Santoku Knives 2021
Best Santoku Knives in 2023
As part of a premium knife set, a santoku knife has lots of perks to offer. It can make smooth and sweet cuts, which is
Cutco 1728 7-5/8" Petite Chef Knife
Cutco Knife Review
The Cutco Petite Chef’s Knife may be “petite” compared to the original 9-1/4″ French Chef, but it’s not exactly a small knife. At 7-5/8″, it’s
Almazan Kitchen Knife Review
Almazan Kitchen Knife Review
This unusual piece of cutlery is meant to be used on tough foods like meats and squash. It is heavy, and can be used as
Best Magnetic Knife Holders 2021
Best Magnetic Knife Holders in 2023
Having your favorite knives mounted systematically on the wall helps them maintain their sharpness. Unlike storage tools like in-drawer knife blocks or countertop knife blocks,