Mannkitchen MK9 Chef Knife Review

A chef knife from the best-selling pepper cannon company on the market.

By Timothy Hales | Updated: February 27, 2023

Table of Content
What’s included in the box?
Materials and Construction
Design
Kitchen Usability
Cleaning and Maintenance
Company
Value
Should you buy the Mannkitchen Chef Knife?

What’s included in the Mannkitchen Chef Knife box?

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I opened the shipping package and found this black box, essentially a cover for the actual box. It is very well-designed and eye-catching, with the combination of the logo and knife name in red.

Yes, that is a little man in the middle of their name.

Opening the white box, I found a ton of information about the Mannkitchen MK9. Information covered the knife’s shape, blade, and handle.

The knife itself was well protected in a custom foam bed. The only thing visible was the handle. Removing the custom foam top layer revealed the blade and full knife.

Once I removed the knife from the box, I could see the full design and large blade. Although the sheath was not in the main box with the knife, it was included in the larger packaging.

Materials and Construction

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Blade Material

The MK9 blade is made in the United States using X63-Nitrogen Steel with an HRC score of 63. This particular type of steel has nitrogen added during the alloying process.

This addition results in a tighter grain structure of the metal, allowing for an edge with surgical sharpness and exceptional edge retention. The X63-Nitrogen Steel has properties that help to reduce corrosion on the blade.

Handle Material

The K9 chef knife has a full tang to form the handle. The handle uses G10 scales on each side of the tang. G10 is a resin-based composite material made with glass fiber sheets. This composition ensures that the handle is lightweight yet maintains strength to ensure it doesn’t swell, shrink, crack, or discolor.

Where is the MK9 Chef Knife made?

The Mannkitchen MK9 Chef Knife is made using steel from the United States but is manufactured in China.

How is it made?

I wish there was more information about the manufacturing process published to provide transparency. Sure, specific trade secrets cannot be shared with the public, but providing common processes would allow the buyer to compare this knife to others more easily.

Most of the company’s attention focuses on the design and the effort put into it.

The MK9 is a single piece of steel from tip to handle with a bolster. These features make it obvious that it is not a stamped knife. This makes me believe that it is forged from X63-Nitrogen steel rods and then finished with V10 scales for the handles.

There are a lot of missing steps in that process that one can only speculate on.

The only process they confirm is that each Mannkitchen chef knife is hand finished, giving each one a unique finish.

Design

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Blade Design

The blade of the MK9 is longer and broader than your regular chef knife. The extra width makes transferring cut foods from your cutting board to the plate or pan easier. It also gives more clearance for your knuckles when you are cutting food. No more scraping your knuckles on the cutting board.

Mannkitchen advertises that the width extends the knife’s life. That is technically true because removing 2.6 inches of material from the blade will take more than a lifetime of sharpening.

Other than the size of the chef knife, the blade has a convex spine profile where it curves downward toward both ends. This curve helps your wrist be in a more natural position.

The spine is rounded along the edge to reduce friction on your fingers when your grip the knife. You will know this is a big plus if you have ever used a knife where the spine is nearly as sharp as the edge.

The chef knife has a micro bolster which is a term that I don’t see often. Although I am sure there may be some specific design considerations with that name, you may be more familiar with the term half bolster.

The micro bolster stops just under the handle and does not go all the way to the edge.

The type of bolster lets you easily sharpen your knife to the blade’s entire length. It also helps keep the knife balanced and avoid too much weight in the handle.

The Mannkitchen logo is engraved on one side of the blade.  As a left-handed cook, seeing the logo when using it would have been nice.

Handle Design  

All handles are not designed the same way, and the MK9 is one whose handle has a unique design. It is constructed with G10 scales on each side of the steel tang.

G10 is a glass-based epoxy resin laminate that is essentially a fiberglass cloth soaked in epoxy resin and then compressed into the shape using heat and pressure. 

The G10 handle is practically indestructible and provides the perfect material for not slipping out of your hand when wet or oily.

The handle is extra large with an overall smooth design. The scales are attached using three rivets. You can feel a slight raise when moving your fingers over the rivets, but it iis barely noticeable.

The size of the handle matches the large blade size. There is added width and girth to create the perfect feel in your hand.

There is not a sharp edge at all on the handle. It is comfortable no matter now long your use it.

Balance

When holding the MK9 in your hand, you will notice it has a little more weight than a typical chef knife. At 12.5 ounces, it is 33% heavier than other chef knives of similar length. 

It may be a bit blade heavy. Meaning that when resting the handle in your hand, the knife will fall out of your hand unless you grip the handle. More weight in the blade is not necessarily a bad thing, as it helps the blade do its job with less effort on your part.

The balance point for this knife is just in front of the micro bolster. The larger blade requires more weight in the handle, creating a decently balanced knife.

Sharpness

The edge of the chef knife is 12.5 degrees on each side, giving it a total edge of 25 degrees.

If you are not familiar with the edge angle, just know that the lower the degree angle, the sharper the knife. It is common for chef knives to be sharpened at a 30-34 degree angle.

The lower the angles, the more susceptible the blade is to damage, so you would not want to chop bones with this knife. This angle is good for softer foods.

So with a total edge angle of 25 degrees, that is a pretty thin edge which means it is incredibly sharp but may get damaged if used outside of its intended purpose.

Kitchen Usability

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Technical details about the knife are good to help in purchase decision-making, but its usability in the kitchen is the all-important factor. I have spent several months using it in my home kitchen, and here is what I have found.

The first thing that I noticed is the extra weight of the MK9 chef knife. 3-4 ounces doesn’t seem like much, but if you use other chef knives then it will throw you off a bit.

The more I have used the knife, the more comfortable I have gotten with the extra weight.

The handle is exceptionally comfortable, which helped me to feel connected to the knife. I never felt that the knife was going to slip from my hand.

I used a standard grip and a pinch grip. When using the pinch grip, I appreciated the rounded spine. I could rest my fingers against it comfortably.

I cut up raw and cooked chicken the most with the MK9. I liked the extra weight that the oversized knife gave me as I sliced through the meat. I found the same results when cutting steak.

It sliced apples, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes without any issues. I found it to be overkill with smaller food like strawberries and cheese. In those cases, I always returned to my 6” Wusthof chef knife or MadeIn pairing knife.

 

Although it worked well for all sorts of foods, I loved most the power it gave me when cutting meats. There was just something about bringing in freshly cooked meat from the grill and then being able to slice it with a “manly” knife.

I cleaned the Mannkitchen chef knife like all of my other knives. I usually use a sponge or rag to wash the blade and immediately dry it. I like to use a c-grip between my thumb and pointer finger. I found that I could not wash or dry the entire blade because of the width. I had to wash and dry one side at a time. Not a huge deal breaker, but it was enough for me to notice and change my routine.

Storage of the knife was a little bit of a challenge. The 2.6” width prevents it from being stored in a knife block unless you have the broader slots normally used for cleavers.

Cleaning and Maintenance

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Is the MÄNNKITCHEN MK9 Chef Knife dishwasher safe?

Yes, you can put the MÄNNKITCHEN MK9 chef knife in the dishwasher, but they don’t recommend it, nor do I. Like any other quality kitchen knife, you should hand wash it. Make sure to use dishwashing soap and rinse the blade with hot tap water after every use, then immediately dry it off. Keeping your MÄNNKITCHEN chef’s knife clean and dry is essential to a long life.

How to keep your MÄNNKITCHEN MK9 Chef Knife sharp?

Although the blade has exceptional edge retention and will stay sharp longer, here are some basic tips to keep your MÄNNKITCHEN knife sharp:

• Hone your knife regularly using a steel
• Sharpen your knife using a whetstone
• Do not cut on plates or countertops
• Use a cutting board made from wood or plastic to protect the edge
• Do not put your knife in the dishwasher
• Wash your knife with warm, soapy water after each use
• Dry your chef’s knife after washing
• Keep your knife blade covered with a sheath or in a knife block when not in use

How to sharpen the MÄNNKITCHEN MK9 Chef Knife?

I recommend using a knife steel to hone the edge of your MK9 chef knife to ensure it retains its edge for longer. When your knife’s edge begins to dull, you can sharpen it regularly with a whetstone. However, you are not going to need to sharpen it often.

The MK9 blade is made of NITRO-X63 steel with an RHC of 63. This harder blade will retain its sharpness longer, but it takes a little more effort to sharpen it on a whetstone. You can use a 1000 grit stone and work your way up until you get the sharpness you desire. It will take a little bit of time to make progress. Although you can go down to a 500 grit stone, you should do so with caution as it will remove more metal in a shorter period of time.

Company

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In 2017, Cleve Oines lost his job of 15 years. It was a very unfamiliar place to be, and he realized what he truly wanted to do while interviewing for another position. Cleve combined his 15 years of design experience with his love for cooking and created more than just a job. He made something he could believe in, something that he truly loved. He created MÄNNKITCHEN.

MÄNNKITCHEN gives back to help those in need. Specifically, they donate 1% of product costs to charity: water with no financial caps or end dates. charity: water is a nonprofit organization bringing clean and safe water to people worldwide.

What does MÄNNKITCHEN mean?

Are you curious about the name MÄNNKITCHEN? Like seriously, do they only provide products for men? Although many of the products were created to draw men into the kitchen, that is not what the name means. The name MÄNNKITCHEN comes from old Norse. “Männ” is a possessive pronoun, meaning my or mine.  MÄNNKITCHEN = my kitchen.

Does MÄNNKITCHEN sell other products?

Have you ever heard of the MÄNNKITCHEN Pepper Cannon? You know, the kitchen tool that allows you to pepper your steak in 7 cranks instead of 70. Cleve created it and raised over 3 million dollars by 17,212 back over on Indiegogo.

In addition to the MK9 Chef’s Knife and the Pepper Cannon, MÄNNKITCHEN sells a salt cannon, spatulas, garlic press, knife magnet, kitchen scissors, and more.

Where can you buy the MÄNNKITCHEN MK9 Chef Knife?

The MÄNNKITCHEN MK9 Chef Knife is available from the MÄNNKITCHEN website and Amazon. They do not have a brick-and-mortar store where you can go in and make a purchase. Although the prices are the same on both sites, I recommend purchasing from their website, as they offer a coupon (Firsttime10) for your first purchase or by signing up for their email newsletter.

Return Policy

MÄNNKITCHEN products have a 30-day return period. You must return the item in an unused condition within 30 days of purchase. You will receive a full refund of the purchase price. You do have to cover the return shipping cost.

Warranty

The MK9 has a 1 year warranty against defect in material and craftsmanship.

Value

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The Mannkitchen MK9 Chef Knife, at the time of this article, comes in at $200. This price is consistent between its website and Amazon. The website offered discounts like free shipping and 10% off your first order.

Compared to other chef knives like the Wusthof and MadeIn, it is priced a little higher. There are a lot of great options for a budget chef knife under $100, but they lack in quality and features when compared to what the MK9 offers.

The value you receive from this knife matches exactly what you pay for it. The design and quality of this knife are something that will genuinely last you a lifetime.

Should you buy the Mannkitchen Chef Knife ?

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There are more pros than cons for the Mannkitchen MK9 Chef Knife. Here are some good reasons to consider buying this knife.

Pros

• Uses the X63-Nitrogen Steel for the blade, which is made in the USA.
• Rockwell Hardness score of 63, which holds an edge longer.
• Extremely sharp edge with an angle of 25 degrees.
• A rounded & polished spine provides a comfortable grip. 
• Handle is made of indestructible G10 material.
• The wider blade gives more clearance for your knuckles.
• Supports a small company.

Cons

• The chef knife is larger and heavier than most kitchen knives.
• The harder steel requires a little more effort to sharpen.
• The cost is a little high, although the quality and design match the price.

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Revision History

February 27, 2023 – Published.