The Best Dalstrong Knife Review: Crazy Good Value or Cheap Crap?
By Bobby B. | Updated Nov. 29, 20 | Knife Brands
Relative to many of the other top knife brands, Dalstrong is a rather young company. But it hasn’t taken much time for them to make a big splash in the industry. They quickly became known for beautiful kitchen knives with many of the same high-end materials that the “big boys” use. As you’ll see in our Dalstrong knife review below, they provide a great value for your dollar and are definitely not cheap crap! Yes, Dalstrong knives are good and they’re worth taking a look.
While Dalstrong does provide nice knives for a great price, there are many traditionalists that aren’t jumping on the bandwagon. Many hard-line chefs are sticking with the traditional names of Wusthof, Shun, J.A. Henckels and the like, calling Dalstrong a Japanese wannabe company making knives in China. Despite hesitation by some to adopt a newer player in the market, Dalstrong is definitely doing some things right.
They have great customer service and will do whatever it takes to make customers happy, including satisfaction guarantees. In addition, their marketing is off-the-charts with high tech videos and high-resolution images of their knives in use. Many home chefs and those that have tried Dalstrong knives are pleasantly surprised at the quality knife they can get for a fraction of the cost of those traditional brands listed above.
Dalstrong classifies their knives into six different series, and is adding new ones all the time. We cover each of them in detail below. If you’d like to read those before reading about our favorite Dalstrong knife sets, you can follow these links.
The 5 Best Dalstrong Knife Sets
Knives Included:
Block Material:
Pros:
- Set provides every knife you’ll need in the kitchen
- All your kitchen knives will finally match
- Includes steak knives unlike most other sets
Cons:
- Large set takes up lots of counter space
- Price might be out of budget just due to number of knives included
Review:
Knives Included:
Block Material:
Pros:
- Good overall price for all your essential kitchen knives
- Efficient use of knife block means using less counter space
Cons:
- Per knife price higher than Colossal 18pc set
- Steak knives not included
Review:
Knives Included:
Block Material:
Pros:
- High-quality knives use Japanese high-carbon AUS8 Steel
- Magnetic block shows off beautiful knife blades
- Space for 6 additional knives or other metal objects
- Block is hygienic – no grooves or slots for bacteria to form
Cons:
- Higher quality knives means higher per knife price
- Steak knives not included
Review:
Knives Included:
Block Material:
Pros:
- Uniquely cool-looking knives not found elsewhere
- Basic knives are covered
Cons:
- You pay a little more for “coolness” factor vs. other knives of the same quality
- Only 5 knives are included in this set
Review:
Knives Included:
Block Material:
Pros:
- Very high-quality knives from Dalstrong’s Shogun Series
- Takes up little counter space
- Includes space for additional knives (Fits Shogun 6” Utility Knife and Shogun 7” Santoku)
Cons:
- Higher quality knives means higher per knife price
- Only 2 knives included – will likely still need to buy more knives for a complete set
Review:
Dalstrong Knife Reviews and Series Guide
These are listed in the order from highest quality first to lowest price last.
Dalstrong Shogun Review
Blade Material
Handle Material
G10 Fiberglass Resin Handle
Edge Angle
8 – 12 degrees
Hardness Rating
HRC 62+
The hardness that comes from this process and the steel used is incredibly hard, giving the knife great edge retention properties. To sharpen these knives at the factory, Dalstrong uses the ancient, 3-step Honbazuke method. The handles are made of G10 Garolite, an ultra-durable material impervious to moisture as well as cold & hot temperatures.
You’ll have a hard time trying to beat their price on this series. Most knives on the market with the characteristics outlined above will cost you anywhere from 1-1/2 to 3 times as much as these do. If you want the best Dalstrong has to offer, definitely consider the Shogun Series. They are knives you should be able to use for the rest of your lifetime!
Dalstrong Phantom Review
Blade Material
Handle Material
Laminated Pakkawood Handle
Edge Angle
13 – 15 degrees
Hardness Rating
HRC 58
As you move from the blade to the handle, there is a distinct red spacer near the bolster. The balance on the Phantom Series is great with the ergonomically D-shaped pakkawood handle and weighted cap.
In true Dalstrong fashion, knives in the Phantom Series are perfect for gift giving with their top-notch presentation and accessories. Each knife comes with its own gift box and DragonLock sheath that folds shut to protect the entire blade.
Dalstrong Gladiator Review
Blade Material
Handle Material
Black Pakkawood Handle
Edge Angle
14 – 18 degrees
Hardness Rating
55+ HRC
While the knives are heftier than the ones discussed above, the steel isn’t quite as hard, meaning slightly lower quality, but also lower prices. The Gladiator Series knives by Dalstrong are a great option for most households. They are still of good quality, and are actually more in the style of what Americans are used to, but they are also very affordable.
Whether you’re looking to surprise someone with a great gift or just want to grab some affordable knives that still stand out and some of the best, Dalstrongs Gladiator Series is worth looking into. You won’t beat their price!
Dalstrong Crusader Review
Blade Material
Handle Material
High Chromium Stainless Steel
Edge Angle
14 – 16 degrees
Hardness Rating
58+ HRC
Moving on to the handle, this is where the major difference between these knife collections come into play. Where the Gladiator knives use a pakkawood handle, this Crusader knives are all stainless steel and utilize a very modern look and feel as 100% metal knife, blade and handle.
Dalstrong’s Crusader Series knives are unique, beautiful, and perform very well for the price point at which they’re sold. They knid of remind us of Global Cutlery knives with the all-metal design, but they’re priced lower. Check the availability of the Crusader knives at Amazon using the link below.
Dalstrong Shadow Black Review
Blade Material
Handle Material
Military Grade G10 Handle
Edge Angle
16 – 18 degrees
Hardness Rating
58+ HRC
Similar to the Gladiator Series, the knives in the Shadow Black Series are made of high-carbon German steel and have a full tang. It’s only fitting since the design was said to be inspired by the F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter jet that this series uses military-grade G10 fiber-resin handles. Believe it or not based on the looks, these handles are actually pretty comfortable in your girp.
There’s not much else to say. Most chefs either think these knives are really dope or really silly looking. If you like them, we recommend clicking the link below to see the entire lineup of Dalstrong’s Shadow Black knives at Amazon.
Dalstrong Omega Review
Blade Material
Handle Material
G10 Woven Fiberglass Handle
Edge Angle
8 – 12 degrees
Hardness Rating
63+ HRC
So, what makes the Omega Series a great knife? This is one of the very few top-tier knives that uses an American steel. The BD1N-V in these knives is super-hard, like 63+ on the Rockwell Hardness Scale. This is also a 67-layered Damascus knife, sharpened with the ancient method known as Honbazuke. The blade itself has what Dalstrong calls their “LiquidMetal” pattern.
Heading towards the other end of the knife, the tapered bolster gives these knives a perfect balance point and it’s also full tang, so it’s built to last a lifetime. Other cool features of the Omega Series knives are a PU Leather Dalstrong sheath included with each knife and the ever-popular G10 resin handle material.
Dalstrong Steak Knives
Check out these great Dalstrong steak knife sets…
Dalstrong Knife Review Summary
One thing we haven’t talked about yet is Dalstrong’s customer service. Along with their prices and marketing, customer service is one of their greatest assets! Not only do they offer a 100% Satisfaction or Your Money Back Guarantee on their knives, but they also make sure to quickly answer any and all questions that get posed to them on Amazon. They are polite and knowledgeable and even address many of the issues noted in the ultra-rare negative reviews. It’s this kind of service that makes it worth giving this brand a shot. If you don’t like it, you can return it!
Dalstrong FAQs
Where Are Dalstrong Knives Made?
Dalstrong knives are made in Yangjiang, China. The city of Yangjiang is clearly a hub for knife making with over 1500 different knife factories in this one city alone! Although their knives are made in China, Dalstrong does import steels from all over the world to produce their knives. This includes high quality knife steels from Japan, Germany, and even the United States.
Are Dalstrong Knives Dishwasher Safe?
It is recommended that you hand wash and dry your Dalstrong knives immediately after use to increase their life. This is no different than any other good, quality kitchen knife that is produced using high-carbon steel so as to reduce the chances of corrosion and additional wear.
Are Dalstrong Knives Any Good?
Yes, Dalstrong knives are good for anyone who wants a good deal on beautiful knives. Some traditionalists give Dalstrong a hard time because they are manufactured in China. They are clearly not the oldest, most experienced knife brand in the world and still have some room to improve. However, it’s not fair to judge their knives based solely on where they are produced. Dalstrong uses high-quality materials and sound methods for mass producing good knives at a very affordable price.
Dalstrong Shogun vs Gladiator: Which is better?
What is the Best Series of Dalstrong Knives?
Every series of Dalstrong knives serves a purpose. If you want higher-end Japanese knives, you go with Shogun. If you want to spend less on Japanese knives, you get Phantom. The Gladiator series is the best German-style knife Dalstrong makes. The Crusader knives are unique and just look amazing! Last but not least, Dalstrong Omega knives are super-cool, but more expensive. These are best if you’re looking for a show-piece knife.
The point is, all of them are the best. It really depends on what you’re looking for. The best way to determine which Dalstrong knife series is the best for you is to read through our knife reviews above.
How Do Dalstrong Knives Compare to Zelite Infinity?
Both Dalstrong and Zelite Infinity brand knives fight for the same market share. They both appeal to consumers that want knives made of quality materials at a lower price-point, not concerned with big, fancy brand names. This is such a common question that we’ve dedicated an entire page to comparing and contrasting these two knife brands.
- Check it out here: Zelite vs Dalstrong
