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Mercer Culinary M21078 Genesis 8-Inch Short Bolster Chef's Knife,Black

  • Based on 1,713 reviews
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Availability: In Stock.
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Arrives Tuesday, Aug 25
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Style: Short Bolster Chef's Knife 8-inch


Features

  • QUALITY CONSTRUCTION: Knife is precision-forged with high-carbon German steel for better durability, and taper-ground edge allows for increased efficiency when cutting along with incredible long-lasting sharpness
  • SUPERIOR DESIGN: The finest handle in forged cutlery; built to last ergonomic handle offers comfort and a non-slip grip, even with wet hands
  • BEST USE: The perfect knife for chopping, mincing, and cutting. Ideal for dicing onions, mincing shallots, chopping herbs, crushing garlic, and shredding cabbage
  • EASY CARE: To maximize the performance and longevity of your knife, carefully wash cutlery by hand with warm water and mild soap; rinse and dry completely with a soft towel. Do not place in dishwasher or submerge for long periods of time
  • MERCER CULINARY GENESIS SERIES: Never stop experimenting in the kitchen; this Genesis knife is essential in every kitchen, perfect for professional use or the home cooking enthusiast

Description

Mercer Culinary Genesis 8-Inch Forged Short Bolster Forged Chef's Knife

Blade Material: High Carbon Steel


Brand: Mercer Culinary


Color: Black


Handle Material: Santoprene


Blade Edge: Plain


Brand Name: Mercer Culinary


Manufacturer: Mercer Culinary


UPC: 765301907525


Number of Items: 1


Global Trade Identification Number: 25


Included Components: Chef's Knife


Item Type Name: Mercer Culinary M21078 Genesis 8" Forged Chef Knife with Short Bolster


Model Number: M21078


Manufacturer Part Number: M21078


Unit Count: 1 Count


Blade Material Type: High Carbon Steel


Handle Material: Santoprene


Material Type: Stainless Steel


BladeLength: 8 inches


Item Length: 12 inches


Size: 8"


Color: Black


Blade Color: Silver


Blade Edge: Plain


Construction Type: Forged


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Tuesday, Aug 25

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

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Top Amazon Reviews


  • Super sharp… Be careful! 😊
Style: Short Bolster Chef's Knife 8-inch
Great knife!! My son bought me one for Christmas along with a magnetic knife stand, and I ended up buying another one that’s a different size. Cut extremely well, but do be careful that you don’t slice your hands, which my husband did the first time he used it. They’re extremely sharp! They do need to be washed and dried immediately after use so they don’t rust. Will be buying more to use as regular steak knives, and they’re holding up really well! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2026 by debbie nielson

  • Fine knife and a BEST BUY! Try it you’ll love it.
Style: Short Bolster Chef's Knife 8-inch
Probably the best knife available anywhere near this price. Same steel as German knives costing twice as much. Workmanship and finish is surprising for the money, very well done. Weight is a matter of personal preference, this knife is right between my $200 Miyabi and my Messermeister. I think it’s perfect. The handle is very comfortable even in my old hands and easy to maintain grip & control when wet. It comes new plenty sharp and is easy to sharpen without a bolster in the way. A steel or ceramic hone and frequent leather strop with 1 micron diamond paste maintains a super fine edge. Really, why pay more? Try one, you won’t be disappointed. Made in Taiwan not China ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2021 by Larry P. Ellis

  • Would buy again
Style: Short Bolster Chef's Knife 8-inch
Excellent knife, easy to handle. I purchased the cover separately which I find very useful.
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2026 by Irish

  • Good for the price
Style: Short Bolster Chef's Knife 8-inch
For such a low price, it's a decent knife. I wouldn't use this as my main chef's knife. The balance feels off to me, and it's a bit difficult to cut through tough things like carrots and onions. I don't think it holds an edge as well as my more expensive one either. However, it works fine as a second knife for when I have help in the kitchen. It cuts through most foods without any trouble and holds an edge fairly well. If you're looking for an inexpensive chef's knife, this one works. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2024 by Amazon Customer

  • Mercer Genesis 8-Inch Short Bolster Chef's Knife
Style: Short Bolster Chef's Knife 8-inch
I started doing a lot more cooking during the quarantine. Or maybe instead of cooking, I should say "cutting raw ingredients and heating them in the oven to make them edible". My signature dishes are chicken, steak, and roasted vegetables. You heard me right: vegetables. It turns out they taste pretty good when you roast them and add a little bit of seasoning. Previously, I had a very cheap chef serrated knife that I bought from the grocery store. Food preparation involved a lot of vigorous hacking and sawing. At some point it dawned on me that my knife was super dull and it was dangerous to be using my other hand anywhere in its vicinity. So I put on my consumer hat to find the perfect chef's knife. After some research, I decided to avoid getting a knife with a full bolster or serrated edge because of the potential to interfere with sharpening. I decided that a Japanese style knife would likely be too expensive. For German-style knives, something like a Wusthof would also be out of my price range. The Mercers eventually stood out because they are a respected brand, and have some highly rated offerings at budget price points. Specifically, it was between this knife (the Mercer Genesis) and the Mercer Millennia. I chose the Genesis because of the forged construction and full tang, so it has a more premium look and might be more durable over time. The difference between the Genesis and my old knife has been like night and day. Out of the box, the Genesis was like a freaking light saber; anything I threw in front if it, it cut with barely any effort. I became even more worried about cutting myself than I was before, so I try to be extremely careful whenever I am handling it. The handle is very comfortable, and the weight feels very well balanced. The blade has a high quality look to it, and shows no signs of rust or discoloration so far. Along with the knife, I picked up a cheap honing steel, and have been using it every time I use the knife. After about a month of daily use, the edge is still very usable but not as light saber-like as it was initially. At some point, I'll pick up a set of whetstones and have a go at them. So far I am very pleased with this purchase. If you are looking for your first real chef's knife, I would say to definitely consider Mercer's lineup: - the Genesis if you can justify spending around $40. - the Culinary Renaissance looks to be even a little nicer at around $50. - the Millennia at around $20. - the Culinary Ultimate is currently around $12 if you're really hard up. There are a large number of other highly rated (and very nice looking) alternatives on Amazon under $40 if you are less concerned about brand recognition. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2020 by AR1

  • 90% of a Wusthof for 1/5th of the price.
Style: Short Bolster Chef's Knife 8-inch
As you can see from my picture, I built an entire knife block out of the Mercer Genesis series. I was turned on to Mercer culinary products by my friends who went to culinary school which was attached to my college. I'm not a professional chef, but I'm an avid home cook who occasionally cooks for events and gatherings. I use my knives daily, with my chef's knife, bread knife, and vegetable clever being used constantly. I was given a gift of $200 to build a knife block I used that and got most the knives in my picture and have added a few since. Without comparing this knife to other brands I would say it is the best knife in its category. However, if you're more of an avid cook you might be asking yourself if you should get this or the other top German brands. You cannot go wrong, they are both good choices. However, after borrowing a Wusthof for a month and comparing it with this there are some differences but to me personally it is not enough to warrant $150. The only difference I experienced is that the wusthof held its edge for a longer period of time which is not a surprise given the price difference but it wasn't an astounding difference. As a home cook, I was just able to hone the edge and return it or use my whetstone to maintain an excellent edge. The Mercer knife has better balance and feel to me personally. Aesthetically, I really like the short bolster I think it looks really professional. In my experience, the only weak point on these knives are to be expected because they are high carbon steel. If you leave water or have water spots on them for a very long period that you did not notice they will rust. I used to have my knife block by the sink and small droplets of water got on the bolster. This led to small spot rust on the bolster by the handle which was easy to remedy and not on every knife. Now, every month or so I take all my knives out to give them a look over (you pay good money for good equipment so you should take good care of it). If you want to spend the money and get something that is objectively better you can, but for myself, buying a brand that while not made in America is an American company, is better looking and handles better than the expensive brands with 90% of the edge made with the same exact steel compound it was a no-brainer for me. To test it out I had a friend or two trial both of the knives to see which one they thought was more expensive than they thought the Mercer was the more expensive knife. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2020 by Chris Smith

  • Best Value Ever...This Coming From an Experienced Chef
Style: Short Bolster Chef's Knife 8-inch
I have worked in professional kitchens for over 20 years and have used more kinds of knives than I can remember. Forged, stamped, cheap, expensive, American, German, Japanese, carbon, stainless, etc. I bought this as a go to kitchen kitchen knife to use at work, knowing that it will get abused, dropped, left with wet, acidic foods on it and so on. I have been very impressed with how this knife functions. Steel is on par with more expensive knives, does not stain, holds an edge well, hones easily. I absolutely love how this knife is shaped, especially that it has no bolster. Now I read through some of the negative reviews and it seems that many people have an unrealistic view of what a knife should be capable of. You will need a honing rod and eventually it will need to be put on a whetstone. It is not a cleaver so don't go chopping bones with it. If this knife can handle heavy restaurant use than it can easily handle home use. The negative comments are from people who don't know how use use and care for a knife. Also, I prefer the santoprene handles as they allow a better grip when using gloves when having to deal with slippery blood or fish. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2021 by David

  • Awesome Knife!
Style: Short Bolster Chef's Knife 8-inch
Great everyday knife. Textured handle gives great control, easy to keep sharp. I don't think you can get a better knife at twice the price.
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2026 by SFreed

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