Quick take
- Verdict: The Matsato is a sharp, sturdy, great-looking chef knife that punches well above its $29.95 price. The finger-hole grip gives real extra control, the curved blade is a pleasure for rocking cuts and meat work, and the 60-day guarantee makes it a low-risk upgrade over a dull block-set knife.
- Best for: Home cooks still struggling with a dull, flimsy knife from a block set
- Price: $29.95 from the official store
Our verdict
The Matsato is a sharp, sturdy, great-looking chef knife that punches well above its $29.95 price. The finger-hole grip gives real extra control, the curved blade is a pleasure for rocking cuts and meat work, and the 60-day guarantee makes it a low-risk upgrade over a dull block-set knife. It isn't a true hand-forged Japanese gyuto, and it needs hand-washing — but for everyday home cooking and gifting, it's one of the best-value knives you can buy right now.
The short version
The Matsato is a single, do-most-things kitchen knife with a look you notice immediately: a curved stainless-steel blade with a dark hammered finish along the spine, a polished cutting edge, a laser-cut hole for your index finger, and a riveted beech-wood handle. The finger hole is the point — it locks your grip forward on the blade so you get more control when you're rocking through herbs, breaking down a chicken, or slicing a roast. Matsato says the steel is ice-hardened (cooled below -148°F) to hold its edge longer. One knife is $29.95, multi-packs drop to about $20 each, and there's a 60-day money-back guarantee. It isn't a $150 Japanese gyuto — but for everyday prep at this price it's a sharp, sturdy, genuinely fun knife to use.
Pros
- Laser-cut finger hole gives a pinch-grip-style lock on the blade for noticeably more control on precise cuts
- Curved, full-belly blade rocks well for herbs, onions and garlic, and has the heft for meat and poultry
- Riveted beech-wood handle is comfortable and grippy, and the hammered finish looks great hanging on a rack
- Brand says the steel is ice-hardened (cooled below -148°F) to improve wear resistance and edge retention
- $29.95 for one, with multi-pack pricing that falls to about $20 per knife — easy to gift
- 60-day money-back guarantee, plus an optional magnetic gift box at checkout
Cons
- The curved, boning-style profile is less ideal for long, straight push-cuts than a classic French chef's knife
- Wooden handle and carbon-look finish mean hand-wash and dry only — no dishwasher
- Standard shipping adds about $10 per order
How it works
Hook your index finger
Slide your index finger through the laser-cut hole and wrap the rest of your hand around the beech handle — your grip is now locked forward over the blade.
Rock, slice or chop
Use the curved belly to rock through herbs and onions, or draw the blade back through meat and roasts. The weight does most of the work.
Wash, dry, hone
Hand-wash with warm soapy water, dry immediately, and give it a few passes on a honing rod every week or two to keep the edge keen.
Who it's for
- Home cooks still struggling with a dull, flimsy knife from a block set
- Anyone who wants more control and confidence when cutting meat, poultry or roasts
- BBQ, grilling and camping cooks who want one rugged, do-most-things blade
- Gift-givers looking for a striking kitchen present around $20-$30
What makes the Matsato knife different?
Most budget chef knives are thin, stamped blades with slick plastic handles — they dull fast and twist in your hand. The Matsato goes the other way: a thick, curved stainless blade with a hammered (tsuchime-style) finish along the spine, a bright ground edge, and a heavy riveted beech-wood handle. The signature feature is the laser-cut hole in the blade just ahead of the handle. Hook your index finger through it and your grip is pinned forward over the steel, which gives you the kind of control a trained cook gets from a pinch grip — without needing to learn one.
Matsato says the blade steel is ice-hardened, cooled below -148°F to form harder martensite, which it claims improves wear resistance and helps the edge stay sharp longer. That's a real heat-treatment technique (cryogenic treatment), though we'd treat the specific durability gains as the brand's claim. What you can verify out of the box is that it arrives properly sharp and feels balanced and solid in the hand — the most common thing buyers say about it.
Is the Matsato a real Japanese knife?
Be clear-eyed here. Matsato markets a traditional Japanese design and says its knives are inspired by centuries-old Japanese knife-making techniques. The shape, though, is closer to a forged butcher or boning knife than to a classic gyuto or santoku, and it's sold at a price that no hand-forged Japanese knife could match. Think of it as a Japanese-inspired, hammered-finish utility chef knife — and judge it on what it does in your kitchen, not on the heritage story.
On that measure it does well. It's sharper and sturdier than the stamped knives in most starter block sets, the finger hole genuinely improves control, and the curved blade is excellent for rocking cuts and meat work. If you want a laser-thin knife for paper-thin sashimi or long straight push-cuts, a dedicated gyuto is the better tool — and it'll cost you four to five times as much.
Is the Matsato knife worth $29.95?
For everyday home cooking, yes. A decent forged chef knife from a big-box brand runs $40-$80, and premium Japanese knives start well above $100. At $29.95 for one — or roughly $20 each in a four-pack — the Matsato is priced like a budget knife but looks and handles like something nicer, and the 60-day money-back guarantee takes the risk out of trying it.
Buy it if your current knife is dull or flimsy, you cook a lot of meat and veg, or you want a good-looking gift. Skip it if you're a knife enthusiast who wants a specific Japanese steel and profile, or if you insist on dishwasher-safe knives. Keep it hand-washed and honed, and it's one of the better-value upgrades you can make to a home kitchen.
Our verdict · 9.0/10
Try the Matsato for yourself
Available now for $29.95. Ships to your door.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Matsato knife cost?
One Matsato chef knife is $29.95 on the official site. Multi-packs lower the per-knife price: two for $49.94, three for $65.94, or four for $79.92 (about $20 each). Standard shipping is around $9.95.
Is the Matsato knife dishwasher safe?
No. Like any knife with a wooden handle, hand-wash it with warm soapy water and dry it straight away. Dishwashers dull edges and can crack or swell wooden handles.
What is the hole in the Matsato blade for?
It's a finger hole. Hooking your index finger through it locks your grip forward over the blade, giving you more control and stability on precise cuts — especially when breaking down meat or rocking through herbs.
What is the handle made of?
The official product page describes a high-quality beech-wood handle with metal rivets, chosen for a firm, comfortable grip.
Does Matsato have a guarantee?
Yes. Matsato offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you can use the knife in your own kitchen and return it if it isn't for you. Check the returns policy on the official site for the exact process.
Is it a good gift?
It's one of the easier kitchen gifts at this price — it looks striking out of the box, and checkout offers an optional premium magnetic gift box for about $3.
When you buy through links on this page, TopCrate may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Steel treatment, sales figures and design-heritage claims are as stated by Matsato. Prices accurate as of publish time.
