Rank #4 in Best Kitchen Knives 2026: The Hardness Nobody Publishes
HOSHANHO Japanese Chef Knife 8 inch, 10Cr15CoMoV Steel
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The HOSHANHO chef's knife costs £31.44 and is rated 4.6 stars from 2,471 ratings, in Japanese 10Cr15CoMoV steel with a wooden handle.
It takes fourth because the sample is the largest of any single knife here and the steel grade is named, while its sharpness claim has no baseline and the hard number a buyer needs is missing.
How those 2,471 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.6 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Steel | 10Cr15CoMoV, Japanese high carbon |
|---|---|
| Sharpness claim | Twice the sharpness |
| Blade | 8 inches, full tang, matte finish |
| Hardness | Not published |
| Ratings | 4.6 from 2,471 |
| Category rank | 1st in Santoku Knives |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“Excellent purchase , well balanced sharp blade that cuts with ease .”
Verified purchase“Very good quality for the price paid.Robust ,surprisingly sharp out of the box and fits well in the hand.”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best Kitchen Knives 2026: The Hardness Nobody Publishes.
Rank #1
Amazon Basics 12-Piece Knife Set, 6 Knives and 6 Covers
£16.19
Rank #2
Amazon Basics 14-Piece Knife Set with Block and Shears
£16.79
Rank #3
nuovva Professional 5-Piece Colour Coded Knife Set, Non-Stick
£9.99
Rank #5
MasterClass Edgekeeper Utility Knife 11.5cm with Self-Sharpening Sheath
£7.19
Questions people ask
Twice the sharpness of what?
The listing does not say, which is why the HRC figure matters.
What steel is it?
Japanese 10Cr15CoMoV, the same family as the SHAN ZU knives here.
Is it a santoku?
No: it is an 8-inch chef's knife, despite the category badge.
Is it dishwasher safe?
The listing says yes, though hand washing protects the edge.
Why is it fourth?
Because the evidence is the strongest of the single knives, but the claim is unmeasurable.
How many ratings does it have?
2471 at the time of collection, averaging 4.6 stars, with 81 per cent five-star and 3 per cent one-star.
Comments
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