Any suggestions for a bread knife?

[Marthe48]

I used my grandmother's bread knife until about 20 years ago. It was a fabulous knife and I still have it, but stopped using it. I bought a brand new replacement and used it since then, but takes some determination to slice a piece off the loaf. I've been baking my own bread for several years, and thought maybe a new knife would make it a little easier to cut.

I see a lot of advertising for meat and other knives, but not a bread knife. Any ideas will be welcome. Thank you

[MiHale]

1. Wustof...pricy, but.

https://www.wusthof.com/products/wusthof-classic-9-double-serrated-bread-knife-1040101123

There are others higher priced or lower.

[Otto_Harper]

3. Really? $150 bucks for a bread knife?

Since I don't run a hedge fund, I need to find one priced for humans to buy.

[Otto_Harper]

2. I bought a new bread knife a year or two ago

I went to webstaurantstore.com and just entered bread knife in their search tool. Many varieties and styles to choose from, and, since they are selling into the restaurant trade, their pricing is very reasonable.

I have dealt with them a number of times, and the one thing to be aware of is their shipping charges can run a bit high. But, if y9ou are ordering a bunch of stuff, then it works out very well. I got a really good pizza slicer from them with a replaceable blade, for less than the local stores or supermarkets.

[Kali]

11. love that site

but they do charge pretty high shipping

[dpibel]

4. Mercer Millenia

https://www.amazon.com/Mercer-Culinary-M23210-Millennia-10-Inch/dp/B000PS1HS6

Cook's Illustrated perennial top choice. https://www.americastestkitchen.com/equipment_reviews/2497-the-best-serrated-bread-knives

Cuts my crusty sourdough without the slightest difficulty.

For under $20.

[AndyS]

20. Mercer is a professional line of knives. If you go to any culinary school it is likely

that Mercer will be the knives you find.

The regular work knives are stamped steel blades in plastic handles. Thin blades of high quality alloy and handles impervious to contamination. They also make a 'front of the store' line that is beautiful to look at, well balanced forged steel with a choice of handles.

I learned more than most people want to know about restaurant cutlery about 10 years ago when I bought the set I still use.

[hippywife]

5. What brand is the one

that used to belong to your grandmother? If it worked well all those years, and is still available, that's what I'd try to go with, if possible.

[Marthe48]

6. I don't think it has a mark

Might have worn off. It was always in the kitchen. I remember using it from the mid-1950s.

Maybe I can do a Google Lens search

[hippywife]

7. I'd closely check the blade...

to see if the maker's mark may not have been worn off.

[Marthe48]

16. I can't see any marks

I took a picture, googled that, no luck. Then I did a Google search, no luck.

[hippywife]

17. She probably did what most of us do.

She bought the best knife she could afford that worked well for her without resorting to spending $$$ for brands.

[Marthe48]

18. My parents owned a grocery store

My Dad was a meatcutter, among his other talents. I was wondering today if maybe he got the knife for his mom, my grandmother. Maybe that's why it held up.

[hippywife]

19. Might well be that he got it

from a wholesale supplier, and while of quality manufacture, might not have spent a bunch of money on it.

Companies used to take pride in their work and craftsmanship for everything they made, rather than the bottom line and stockholders being of primary concern.

[Pobeka]

8. I found one in a restaurant store about 10 years ago. About $20 as I recall.

It's just bread, you don't need the end-all hardest ever steel.

All we ever use it for is bread, and it's just as sharp as the day I bought it. this is it:

https://www.amazon.com/Mercer-Culinary-M23210-Millennia-10-Inch/dp/B000PS1HS6

I see it's been recommended in a post above too.

[irisblue]

9. I have the Mercer bread knife dpibel suggested, 5ish years, works well

[Marthe48]

10. I knew I'd get good ideas here

Thank you for checking in

[rsdsharp]

12. Most of my knives are Zwilling. They are German, drop forged knives

and a little expensive, though by no means the most expensive of the major commercial brands. They have a “sister” brand of stamped knives that bear the Henckels brand. These knives are stamped, rather than forged — a less expensive manufacturing process. My bread knife is a Henckels. I think it cost $20-25, admittedly 30 years ago. I’m quite happy with it.

[Cairycat]

13. Rada, made in Iowa, lifetime guarantee, $17

https://radakitchenstore.com/products/6in-bread-knife?variant=38461633296

I don't have this bread knife, but have several Rada paring knives that I really like

[Marthe48]

15. I have several Rada paring knives

and a meat fork. I like them.

[Nittersing]

14. Serious Eats reviewed a few... top pick is now $30.

https://www.seriouseats.com/best-bread-serrated-knives-equipment-review

[Retrograde]

21. Can't help you - I'm still using

my own grandmother's bread knife, which I inherited in 1972. It says "Stainless Steel" on one side of the blade, "Japan" in small letters on the other side, and no other markings. It still works fine, so I see no reason to replace it.

[Old Crank]

22. I got mine from a restaurant supply store

about 10 years ago. I chose one with the ofset handle. I like the feel better than the straight type.
Light with food grade plastic handle. Pretty inexpensive at the time.