Sakai Takayuki Grand Chef Chef's Knife, 210mm / 8.25"

I really like these knives because the blade quality is just superb. You get a standard chef knife size and shape made of very hard (HRC around 60) high-end Uddeholm Swedish steel, and the edge is precision ground and finished so it's crazy sharp. The handle is just the right size for the blade and the fit and finish are excellent, making this a fantastic value for someone looking for a quality Japanese made knife with high quality steel. 

This is a super-sharp and high quality knife that will be sure to offer years of pleasure in the kitchen.

All Grand Chef series knives are made from high quality Bohler N685 stainless steel. This is a martensitic chromium stainless steel with added molybdenum and vanadium, which results in high hardness and good wear resistance, with excellent corrosion resistance -- an ideal steel for durable and sharp kitchen knives! Grand Chef blades are hard and tough with long lasting edges. HRC approx. 59-60 for sharpness and ease of maintenance and sharpening.

I'd recommend the fine ceramic hone (see below) for regular/daily maintenance of the edge. As with any knife, use the hone regularly and you'll keep the edge in good shape for a LONG time before you need to think about doing any serious "re-sharpening" or real grinding and refinishing of the edge.

NOTE: This knife is sharpened mostly on the right side, which means it's not really suitable for left-handed use.