In brief: SARACEN® knives have an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 on nuzsaracen.cz (27 ratings, including one from a brand collaborator, as of September 26, 2026). In the nine customer reviews quoted below, balance and grip and appearance are mentioned most often (both in five reviews), followed by sharpness and ease of cutting (both in four). Two customers admit the knife caught them off guard at first: Petra because of its shape, Miroslav because of its length.
Article contents
Where the reviews come from
All quotes come from reviews published on nuzsaracen.cz (as of September 26, 2026). We reproduce the text verbatim, including Slovak and missing diacritics. We’ve only added spaces after punctuation and shortened longer reviews; omitted sections are marked with “…” The overview and figures below are based on nine reviews from customers who do not collaborate with the brand. Karel Kováč is also a customer and uses the knife, but he also collaborates with the brand. We therefore include his review separately, marked as a collaboration, and don’t include it in the figures. You can find the full reviews on the individual knife pages.
What customers mention most often
The figures are based on the full reviews; we quote only excerpts in the article. A review usually mentions several topics, so the total exceeds nine. Petra wrote the longest and most detailed review, so we quote her more than once.
Shape: surprising at first
SARACEN doesn’t look like an ordinary chef’s knife. The handle sits above the blade, with a thumb notch near the front, and the blade curves like a saber. Two customers openly say the knife caught them off guard at first. Petra because of its shape, Miroslav because of its length:
“Honestly, the shape caught me off guard a little at first, but after a few days of using it, I wouldn’t switch.”
Petra, customer review on nuzsaracen.cz
“At first glance, I thought it seemed a little longer. But now I use it almost every day. … My wife was hesitant at first, but she’s gotten used to it and wouldn’t be without it.”
Miroslav P., customer review on nuzsaracen.cz
Bruno from Prague recommends the knife “to everyone who wants to try something new and isn’t afraid of change.” This article explains why the SARACEN handle is positioned differently from other knives and how it affects cutting: Why the SARACEN® Knife Has a Different Handle Position.
Balance and grip
Along with appearance, this is the most common topic in reviews. The handle and center of gravity on SARACEN knives are shifted toward the middle of the knife, above the edge, so your hand applies pressure directly over the cutting point. Customers describe it like this:
“The knife fits the hand beautifully … You can feel that its center of gravity is well balanced—the knife practically ‘works by itself.’”
Petra, customer review on nuzsaracen.cz
“It feels great to hold, is well balanced, and cutting is really easy and precise.”
Valerie, customer review on nuzsaracen.cz
“The handle fits the hand perfectly, and the knife is very easy to control.”
Petr from Prague, customer review on nuzsaracen.cz
Petra adds one more detail: thanks to the protrusion, when cutting on a board, she “finally” doesn’t knock her knuckles against it.
Sharpness and edge retention
SARACEN knives with Damascus steel blades have a hardness of 60 ± 2 HRC and edges sharpened to 20°. Harder steel holds its edge longer, and that’s exactly what customers mention:
“I’ve been using this knife for half a year, and it’s worked great so far. The blade stays sharp for a long time. Cutting meat with it is a breeze.”
Pavla from Olomouc, customer review on nuzsaracen.cz
“The sharpness lasts surprisingly long; so far, I haven’t needed to sharpen it.”
Petra, customer review on nuzsaracen.cz
“I appreciate the knife’s excellent grip and sharp blade. A clean cut in one stroke.”
Tomáš from Prague, customer review on nuzsaracen.cz
But the edge will need sharpening eventually. For daily use, the manufacturer recommends sharpening roughly once every few weeks. This article shows you how to do it at home: How to Sharpen a Knife on a Whetstone.
SARACEN as a gift
“At the trade fair in Prague, I was impressed by the Saracen 220 mm knife, but unfortunately it was no longer available there. In the end, I ordered it online as a gift for my dad’s 60th birthday—and it was a bullseye. … Dad took to it immediately and uses it practically every day.”
Petr B., customer review on nuzsaracen.cz
Karel Kováč also recommends the knife as a gift. He works with the SARACEN brand, so we’re presenting his review separately and not including it in the table totals:
“The knife’s design is something amazing, not something you see every day. An ideal gift for loved ones and friends. I’ll definitely buy again.”
Karel Kováč, review on nuzsaracen.cz (works with the SARACEN brand)
Knives with a Damascus blade come in a cardboard box with a magnetic closure and a polishing cloth. If you want to add a cutting board or stand to your knife, you’ll find ready-made combinations in the SARACEN® Gift Sets collection.
Appearance and Damascus pattern
Five out of nine customers mention how the knife looks. The wavy pattern on the blade comes from 67 layers of steel: etching reveals how the layers alternate.
“It’s also really beautiful – the Damascus steel pattern looks even better in person than in the photos.”
Petra, customer review on nuzsaracen.cz
“…it cuts beautifully with ease and is an elegant addition to the kitchen.”
Magda, customer review on nuzsaracen.cz
“It also looks beautiful, so I love having it as a design piece in the kitchen.”
Valerie, customer review on nuzsaracen.cz
The article How Damascus steel is made explains how the pattern is created.
What you won’t find in reviews, but should know
Reviews are naturally about what people like. Before buying a SARACEN, keep these points in mind too:
- The knife is not dishwasher-safe. The manufacturer recommends hand washing and drying immediately, including the wooden handle.
- Not for bones or frozen foods. The hard steel, around 60 HRC, can chip on impact.
- Scrape chopped ingredients off the cutting board with the spine of the blade; the edge would become dull against the board.
- The shape takes a few days to get used to, as Petra and Miroslav write.
- Price. Knives with a Damascus blade start at CZK 3,790 (SARACEN Original 220 mm), while the stainless steel Basic model costs CZK 2,690.
Which SARACEN to choose
All four models are compared side by side in the article Comparing the SARACEN, PRO, Eclipse, and Basic ranges.
Frequently asked questions
What rating does the SARACEN knife have?
SARACEN® knives have an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 on nuzsaracen.cz (27 ratings, including one from a brand collaborator, as of 26 September 2026). You can find reviews on the individual knives’ product pages.
What do customers praise most often about the SARACEN knife?
Balance and grip, and appearance, both mentioned in five of the nine customer reviews quoted. Close behind are sharpness and edge retention, and easy, smooth cutting, both mentioned in four reviews.
Will I get used to the shape of the SARACEN knife?
Customers who write about it got used to it quickly. Petra says the shape surprised her at first, “but after a few days of use, I wouldn’t switch.” Miroslav initially thought the knife seemed long, but now uses it almost every day.
How long does a SARACEN knife stay sharp?
It depends on how often you cook. After six months of use, Pavla writes that the blade stays sharp for a long time. For daily use, the manufacturer recommends sharpening it about once every few weeks.
Is a SARACEN knife a good gift?
Customer Petr B. bought it as a gift for his dad’s 60th birthday and writes that it was “a bull’s-eye.” Knives with Damascus blades come in a box with a magnetic closure and a polishing cloth, and gift sets are also available.
Is SARACEN suitable for smaller hands?
The lightest is the SARACEN Eclipse, with its lightweight construction (198 g according to the product page) and handle designed for a pinch grip. The manufacturer also recommends the SARACEN PRO 175 mm for smaller hands, but its wider blade makes it the heaviest in the range.
Where can I find all the SARACEN knife reviews?
On individual products at nuzsaracen.cz, in the “Our customers’ experiences” section. This article quotes nine customer reviews, plus one separately from someone who works with the brand.
Two things come up most often in the nine customer reviews: the knife fits well in the hand and looks good. Four customers mention the sharpness, the reason people buy a Damascus knife, and Pavla praises it even after six months of use.