My boyfriend who is a passionate home cook and I took a knife skills class years ago in Calgary canada. I remember trying out dozens of different knives with different styles of blades, handles, weights etc. The winner was this Miyabi Birchwood SG2 8-inch Chef's Knife. Wasn't able to pick up at the time unfortunately but never forgotten. Years later our friends gave this to us as a Christmas gift and we couldn't be happier. Beautiful to look at and hold!! Nice comfortable weight and the sharpest blade ever! Will be our forever knife!