Nice Slice: Twelve Brisket Slicing Knives that are a Cut Above

As with just about anything else these days there are quite a few ‘Best Brisket Knife’ or ‘Best Brisket Slicer’ articles on the Internet. They can be lengthy and riddled with a lot of rather irrelevant pros and cons. Here is our version which cuts right to the chase in regard to the best knife for slicing brisket!

Introduction: The Best Knife for Slicing Brisket?

When it comes to picking out the best Brisket Knife for you there are as many opinions out there as there are great options. As far as we are concerned nothing featured here sucks and nothing here is under 10″ in length which we feel is the minimum appropriate size for any BBQ enthusiast turning out brisket. We don’t see this as a #1, #2, #3 type article. This is no clear winner. It is all about what you want to spend and what you want to accomplish.

Keep the following points in mind when making your selection:

• Think about what you plan to cook. You want the knife to be longer than the width of your final product to allow for nice clean slicing.
• Not being dishwasher safe should not be looked at as a ‘con’. You should never wash any of your nice knives in the dishwasher so please don’t do that with any of these.
• The primary difference between many quality knives is stamped construction vs. forged construction. When it comes to brisket knives many models made of higher end steel such as the Wusthof are still made of stamped or laser cut construction so in this category it is best to focus on steel quality not strictly construction technique.
• The best way to buy a knife is in-person as feel should be the primary focus when evaluating similar quality items, however, this is not always possible.

The Contenders: Our Favorite Brisket Knives!

The Best 10″ Knives for Slicing Brisket

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star Hollow Edge Slicing Knife

The Zwilling Four Star Hollow Edge Slicing Knife is an excellent brisket slicing knife and a great addition to an existing Zwilling Four Star set if consistency is a priority. This knife is part of Zwilling’s higher end series of forged German steel knives. It has a Rockwell Hardness rating of 57 and 15° edge angle. At ten inches long it is on the shorter end of the spectrum but is up for most tasks. Made in Germany.

Messermeister Meridian Elite Kullenschliff Slicer

The Meridian Elite Round Tip Kullenschliff Slicer is a is another excellent meat slicing knife and part of Messermeister’s Meridian Elite line of forged German steel knives. It has a Rockwell Hardness rating of 57/58 and 15° edge angle. These Meridian knives fly under the radar but are often considered a better choice than the standard Williams Sonoma German offerings. Again, at ten inches long it is on the shorter end of the spectrum but is up for most slicing tasks. Made in Germany

MAC Knife Professional Hollow Edge Slicer

The MAC Professional Series Slicer with Dimples is an extremely impressive slicer that comes in slightly longer at 10 1/2″ and is made of Japanese steel with a Rockwell Hardness of 57/61. MAC Professional Series knives are regarded by many to be some of the best culinary knives available. They consistently rank extremely high in general Best Chef’s Knife evaluations. Made in Japan.

The Best 12″ Knives for Slicing Brisket

Dexter Russell 13463 & 13473 Sani-Safe Roast Slicers

The Dexter Russell Sani-Safe Scalloped Slicer and Dexter Russell Sani-Safe Duo-Edge Slicer are high-quality affordable brisket slicers made of Dexter Russell’s proprietary DEXSTEEL. It is important to understand that these knives are not the same as Dexter’s Basics line made of 400 series stainless steel. We list both models of the DEXSTEEL knives. The Duo-Edge model has the more traditional hollowed edge design. However, it is the S140-12SC Scalloped Slicer that comes highly recommended by Aaron Franklin in his book Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto. At twelve inches in length these knives are both super versatile. Made in the USA.

Victorinox Fibrox Pro Slicing Knife with Granton Blade

The Victorinox Fibrox Pro Granton Edge Slicing Knife is a the most widely recommended brisket knife on the Internet based on the feedback of BBQ forum and group participants. This twelve inch knife is Swiss Made and and an excellent choice for weekend warriors and serious slicers.

Messermeister Four Seasons Kullenschliff Slicer

The Messermeister Four Seasons Kullenschliff Slicer flies under the radar as a brisket slicing choice as it is more likely to be found in food service catalogs than your local Williams Sonoma. These are high quality stamped knives made of German stainless steel with a Rockwell Hardness of 56 and are easy on the wallet. These knives are made in Portugal and used in many professional kitchens so they should do a fine job in yours!

Glestain 12″ Meat Slicer

The Glestain Beef Slicer is offered in both 12″ and 14″ sizes and is one impressive knife. These are Japanese knives that are actually marketed in Japan as cake slicing knives but have found traction in the USA as excellent tools for slicing briskets and other large cuts of meat. They have a one-sided scallop design that is unique to Glestain. The other side of the knife is flat. These have a Rockwell Hardness of 58/59 and are absolutely stunning! Made in Japan.

Shun Classic Brisket Slicer

The Shun Classic Brisket Knife is a gorgeous brisket slicer that comes complete with a wooden saya (sheath) for easy and safe transportation. Shun knives are regarded as some of the best tools out there and this knife is no exception with a blade made of AUS8A steel and a 16 degree edge. Made in Japan.

The Best 14″ Knives for Slicing Brisket

Mercer Millennia Granton-Edge Slicer Knife

The Mercer Millenia Granton-Edge Slicer Knife is a quality stamped steel knife with a whopping fourteen inch blade suitable for slicing brisket or just about any cut of meat you can throw at it. This is a good affordable option that is used in countless commercial kitchens.  

Wusthof Hollow Edge Brisket Slicer

The Wusthof Hollow Edge Brisket Slicer is a monster of a slicer made of laser cut German steel with a Rockwell Hardness of 56. This knife is very highly recommended within Internet groups and forums for anyone requiring a knife of this size. Think about where you plan to store this one! Made in Germany.

Glestain 14″ Meat Slicer

The Glestain Beef Slicer is is offered in both 12″ and 14″ sizes and is one impressive knife. These are Japanese knives that are actually marketed in Japan as cake slicing knives but have found traction in the USA as excellent tools for slicing briskets and other large cuts of meat. They have a one-sided scallop design that is unique to Glestain. These have a Rockwell Hardness of 58/59 and are absolutely stunning! Made in Japan.

Moe Cason Cutlery Brisket Knife

Looking for a statement piece? Worried about a Zombie Apocalypse? This Moe Cason Cutlery Brisket Knife by Route83 Knives is the ticket. This one comes with two different handle options and is completely handmade. If you are a Brisket Badass then you might want to check this one out! Handmade in the USA.

Conclusion: It’s Your Brisket Slicer!

There is not a single bad knife in this bunch and any of them could go to work overtime at home and in a commercial setting. As always, we don’t publish it unless we would be proud to own it. If you want the most versatility while still being able to easily store your knife then twelve inches is probably the sweet spot. After that it all comes down to personal preference, German vs. Japanese, feel, style, etc. If pressed for a decision we would take the Glestain. It has a unique character and is an excellent quality brisket knife if budget is not a deciding factor. We’d take the Victorinox Fibrox Pro if it is.

Planning to maintain your knives at home? The Chef’sChoice 4643 ProntoPro is universally regarded as the best manual home sharpener that can sharpen both German and Japanese style blades!