Both the Xinzuo Nakiri and Hezhen Chef’s knives from the F2 Zhen Series are well-made knives. However, both knives from the same F2 series come with a few major flaws. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the review.
Blade Features and Aesthetics
The F2 Zhen series looks impressive. The Xinzuo Nakiri uses Chinese VG10 steel, with a very nice Damascus pattern made more visible through an acid bath treatment.
The Hezhen Chef’s knife features a coreless Damascus pattern with alternating 10Cr15CoMoV and 9Cr18MoV steel. Both knives have a Rockwell hardness rating of around 60-61.
The handle is crafted from North American Desert Ironwood, with Black G10 accents at the front and butt for added style, along with decorative brass dividers.
Handle Flaws
While the materials and craftsmanship of the Xinzuo Nakiri and Hezhen Chef’s F2 Zhen Series knives are high-quality, the significant design flaws are hard to ignore.
The main issue lies in their shared handle design. Both knives feature a diamond-shaped handle that could have been ergonomic, but the sharp, ungrounded corners ruin the experience.
No matter how you grip the knife, the sharp edges dig into your hand, causing discomfort. This is especially noticeable at the front and end of the handle, where the sharpness is so pronounced it could easily pop a balloon. This lack of attention to comfort severely limits the knife’s potential.
Handle Hand Size Chart
If it weren’t for the sharp corners throughout the handle, this diamond-shaped handle design would be comfortable for a wide range of hand sizes, as illustrated in my sizing chart.
The Blade & Blade Profile
The Xinzuo Nakiri blade profile features a slight belly, allowing for a rocking motion, though it’s still better suited for an up-and-down cutting technique.
In contrast, the Hezhen Chef’s knife has a more pronounced belly, with the front part lifted more, making it more suitable for a rocking motion. The thinner front section is great for tip work.
However, both knives come with a questionable design choice: the heel has a flared-out tip. This could potentially lead to people nicking themselves, and I can’t see any benefits beyond aesthetic appeal. If you know any benefits of having a flared-out heel, let me know in the comments.
Xinzuo and Hezhen F2 Zhen Series Flared Out Heel Explained
The flared-out heel on the F2 Zhen Series from Xinzuo and Hezhen becomes much more noticeable when compared to the Shibata Kotetsu Gyuto, especially in side-by-side pictures that reveal the extra 9mm flare.
Additionally, the natural hand positioning with the F2 Zhen Series brings my hand/finger closer to the flared-out pointy heel, triggering a constant mental warning: “Be careful, check the knife’s position, don’t rely on muscle memory to pick it up.” In contrast, the Shibata Kotetsu’s heel creates a wider buffer/gap, allowing my hand to avoid the heel and eliminating this need for alertness.
I want to thank @theredbar-cross8515 for pointing out the heel design on other brands like the Shibata Kotetsu 210mm Gyuto. I wish I had included this detail in my YouTube video review, but I simply didn’t think of it for the reasons mentioned above.
Choil
Looking at the choil, both knives are thin behind the edge, which is nice to see.
However, it surprises me that both spines are not rounded, and remain sharp.
This is unexpected from Xinzuo and Hezhen, especially since they did round both choils.
Balance Point & Weight
Both knives weigh around 175 grams, and the balance point for both is above the heel, providing a well-balanced feel when pinching at that area.
Key Takeaways
The F2 Zhen series from Xinzuo and Hezhen is a well-made line of knives that, unfortunately, suffers from design decisions that compromise overall comfort. While the knives are aesthetically pleasing, I prioritize comfort above all else. Therefore, I cannot recommend the F2 Zhen Series from Xinzuo or Hezhen until they address the issues discussed in this review. The handle shape has great potential if it weren’t for the sharp corners. Having used multiple Xinzuo and Hezhen knives, I find it stunning that the F2 Zhen Series includes so many poor design choices compared to their other releases.
🛒SHOP:
Amazon:
Hezhen Chef’s Knife F2 Zhen Series Coreless
Xinzuo Chef’s Knife F2 Zhen Series Chinese VG10
AliExpress:
Hezhen 110 Layers F2 Zhen Series Set
Xinzuo Chef’s Knife F2 Zhen Series Chinese VG10
Xinzuo Official Amazon Store
Hezhen Official Amazon Store
Notes: After discussing the F2 Zhen Series design with Xinzuo/Hezhen, they will either discontinue or update the series for both brands. The current models on sale may be the last available. If you can get a good deal and are willing to manually sand down the handle and spine sharpness, the knives could be good. However, from a customer’s perspective, the manufacturer should have addressed these issues during the design and testing stages, before releasing the knives to the market.
Disclosures: Xinzuo manufactures both the Xinzuo & Hezhen F2 Zhen Series knives in China, and Xinzuo has supplied them for review purposes. All opinions in this article are my own without outside influence or contracts.
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