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Blades
Most knife blades are manufactured in one of two ways: stamped or forged. Stamped blades are made by running a single large sheet of steel through a machine that punches out multiple blades, which are then ground and honed into a finished product. Forged blades are made in the more traditional way of super heating steel and then hammering it into shape. Forging is a more expensive process, and many people believe it produces a higher-quality knife.

The sharpness of a knife blade depends on the amount of carbon in the steel. The higher the steel's carbon content, the sharper the edge.

Another type of blade is known as the "never needs sharpening" blade. These knives are very handy and virtually maintenance free. Their main advantage, of course, is that they can be used over and over for many different purposes without any sharpening required. These knives do have a couple of drawbacks, however. Their cuts tend to be a little rougher than traditional straight-edge knives, which many cooks find unacceptable. Also, these knives will eventually lose their sharpness over a long period of time and, when that happens, the only option is to replace them.

Handles
Knife handles can be made from wood, plastic, steel or just about any hard material. Comfort and durability are the most important factors in a knife handle, and each type of construction material has its own advantages and disadvantages in these areas.

Wood is a popular choice for knife handles because it is strong and easily shaped into a comfortable grip, but wood can warp or crack over time and can harbor bacteria.

Plastic handles are also very common because they are strong, easy to clean and sanitize, and are inexpensive to manufacture. Plastic can become brittle with time, and it can also melt if left too close to a source of high heat (such as a stove burner).

Steel handles are also a popular choice for kitchen knives because they are easy to clean and almost indestructible. These types of handles can become slippery, so some also include small pieces of soft rubber to allow for a better grip.

Balance
A knife's blade and handle work together to achieve a feeling of balance. Balance is probably the single most important factor in a knife because it relates directly to how comfortable the knife is to use, and good comfort means higher safety.

The portion of a knife's blade that extends down into the handle is called the tang. Quality knives will have a large tang, sometimes extending the full length of the handle, which helps balance the knife by adding extra weight to the grip area.

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