Made in USA Kitchen Knives: Lamson and Dexter-Russell

Two Massachusetts cutlery makers, both older than most countries' knife industries, still grind blades in New England. Four knives from them, with the fine print on each.

By the Bonwits editorsUpdated September 30, 20264 picks

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Our top picks

4 picks, each linked to the exact listing

1
Best overallLamson Vintage 8 In Chef's Knife, Walnut Handle, Double Riveted
Check priceAmazon
2
The restaurant workhorse, about $40Dexter-Russell Dexter Russell S145-8PCP 8" Chef's Knife, High Carbon DEXSTEEL Blade
Check priceAmazon
3
The American cleaverDexter-Russell 8110 Traditional Chinese Chef's Knife, 8" x 3-1/4", High-Carbon Steel Blade
Check priceAmazon
4
The forged one, with a qualificationLamson Premier Forged 8" Chef's Knife, Hi-Carbon Stainless Steel Blade, Walnut Handle
Check priceAmazon

The kitchen knives still made in America

The American knife trade grew up along the rivers of western and central Massachusetts, and two of its oldest names are still there. Dexter-Russell traces itself to 1818 in Southbridge. Lamson has made cutlery in western Massachusetts since 1837 and now works from Westfield. Between them they cover the restaurant workhorse and the home chef's knife.

Both also sell knives that are not entirely American, which is why this guide reads the listing rather than the logo. Dexter's forged iCut-PRO line is marked imported. Lamson's forged Premier line uses German steel and forging, then is finished in Massachusetts. Under the FTC standard, an unqualified Made in USA claim means all or virtually all of the product is made here, so we say exactly what each knife is.

Several well-known American knives are missing on purpose. Cutco and Rada are made in the USA, but on Amazon they appear only through resellers, not the makers, so they are not listed. The four here are sold by Amazon.com or by the maker itself.

How we chose

Stated origin. Only knives whose listing or maker states US manufacture, with any qualification quoted.
Steel and edge. A blade that takes and holds an edge, at a hardness and grind suited to its job.
Right line, not just right brand. Both makers sell imported lines. We name the specific line and model.
Sold properly. Sold on Amazon by Amazon.com or the maker, not a reseller.

We read makers’ specifications, warranties, care instructions and the sources listed at the end. We do not accept paid placements. How we choose

The 4 picks, in detail

Best overallNo. 1

Lamson Vintage 8 In Chef's Knife, Walnut Handle, Double Riveted

Our take. An American chef's knife from American steel, finished in Massachusetts, at a fair price.

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Made in: USA (Westfield, Massachusetts), from US steel
Keeps for: Decades; lifetime guarantee and free resharpening
Steel: 420HC-LAM high-carbon stainless (US)
Hardness: 58 HRC
Construction: Laser cut, full tang, double riveted walnut handle
Warranty: Lifetime, plus free resharpening

The Vintage line is Lamson's most American knife. Lamson says the blades are formed from USA high-carbon stainless steel, its proprietary 420HC-LAM, and the listing says they are laser cut, ground, polished and sharpened at the Westfield, Massachusetts, factory, with machine and hand sharpening.

It is a stamped, full-tang blade tempered to 58 on the Rockwell scale, with a walnut handle held by two brass rivets. At about half a pound it is lighter than a forged German chef's knife, which many cooks prefer for long prep sessions. Lamson backs it with a lifetime guarantee against defects and free resharpening under its Sharp for Life program.

Skip it if you want a heavy knife with a bolster to power through squash and chicken joints. The walnut handle is hand wash only.

The catch. Softer steel than Japanese knives, so it needs honing more often; the trade is toughness and easy sharpening.

The restaurant workhorse, about $40No. 2

Dexter-Russell Dexter Russell S145-8PCP 8" Chef's Knife, High Carbon DEXSTEEL Blade

Our take. A fixture of commercial kitchens, made in the USA, for about $40.

Check priceAmazon

Made in: USA (listing)
Keeps for: Years of hard use; the handle is the part that wears
Blade: 8 in, high-carbon stainless DEXSTEEL
Handle: Textured polypropylene, Sani-Safe
Certification: NSF
Seller on Amazon: Amazon.com

Sani-Safe is Dexter-Russell's commercial line, built to NSF sanitation standards with a textured polypropylene handle sealed to the blade. The listing states it plainly: NSF certified and proudly manufactured in the USA.

The 8 inch blade is high-carbon stainless DEXSTEEL, individually ground and honed, with a curved belly for rocking cuts. The handle stays secure in a wet hand, which is why kitchens buy these by the dozen. It is not pretty, and it does not try to be.

Buy it as a first good knife, a second knife for a vacation house or a spare for guests who help with prep. Skip it if the look of the knife on the counter matters to you.

The catch. Plain white plastic handle, and the thin blade is not for bones or frozen food.

The American cleaverNo. 3

Dexter-Russell 8110 Traditional Chinese Chef's Knife, 8" x 3-1/4", High-Carbon Steel Blade

Our take. A thin, broad vegetable cleaver with a hardwood handle, made in the USA.

Check priceAmazon

Made in: USA (listing)
Keeps for: Decades, if kept dry
Blade: 8 x 3 1/4 in, high-carbon steel, individually ground
Handle: Hardwood, brass ferrule
Use: Slicing, chopping and scooping; not for bones
Seller on Amazon: Amazon.com

Dexter's Chinese chef's knife is part of its Traditional line. The listing states made in the USA, with an individually ground high-carbon Dexsteel blade, a hardwood handle and a brass ferrule.

It is a slicing and chopping knife, not a bone cleaver. The 8 by 3 1/4 inch blade is light for its size, scoops chopped vegetables off the board and smashes garlic flat.

The listing calls the blade high-carbon steel rather than stainless. Carbon steel should be wiped dry after use and will darken over time. Skip it if you want a knife that can sit wet in the sink.

The catch. Needs prompt drying, and the wooden handle does not belong in the dishwasher.

The forged one, with a qualificationNo. 4

Lamson Premier Forged 8" Chef's Knife, Hi-Carbon Stainless Steel Blade, Walnut Handle

Our take. A heavy forged chef's knife finished in Massachusetts, whose steel and forging begin in Germany.

Check priceAmazon

Made in: Finished in the USA (Westfield, Massachusetts) from German steel
Keeps for: Decades; lifetime warranty
Hardness: 58 HRC, ice-hardened
Construction: Forged, full tang, triple riveted
Handle: Walnut
Warranty: Lifetime

Premier Forged is Lamson's traditional German-style knife: hot-drop forged, full tang, triple riveted, ice-hardened to 58 on the Rockwell scale. Lamson's product page says the blades are forged from 4116 stainless steel from Solingen, Germany, and are polished, sharpened and hand-finished in Massachusetts. The page lists the country of origin as USA.

We include it because it is a good knife from an American maker and because the details are disclosed. But it is not the same claim as the Vintage line, whose steel is American. If an all-American knife is the point, buy the Vintage.

Buy the Premier if you want the weight and bolster of a forged knife and would rather it be finished in Westfield than in Solingen. At about 0.55 pounds it is heavier than the Vintage.

The catch. Nearly twice the price of the Vintage, and less American in its materials.

Compare the picks

Pick	Best for	Made in	Keeps for	Buy
Lamson Vintage 8 In Chef's Knife, Walnut Handle, Double Riveted	Best overall	USA (Westfield, Massachusetts), from US steel	Decades; lifetime guarantee and free resharpening	Check priceAmazon
Dexter-Russell Dexter Russell S145-8PCP 8" Chef's Knife, High Carbon DEXSTEEL Blade	The restaurant workhorse, about $40	USA (listing)	Years of hard use; the handle is the part that wears	Check priceAmazon
Dexter-Russell 8110 Traditional Chinese Chef's Knife, 8" x 3-1/4", High-Carbon Steel Blade	The American cleaver	USA (listing)	Decades, if kept dry	Check priceAmazon
Lamson Premier Forged 8" Chef's Knife, Hi-Carbon Stainless Steel Blade, Walnut Handle	The forged one, with a qualification	Finished in the USA (Westfield, Massachusetts) from German steel	Decades; lifetime warranty	Check priceAmazon

Compared.

Every comparison

Which lines are American

Dexter-Russell makes most of its range in Southbridge, including the Sani-Safe and Traditional lines here, but its forged iCut-PRO line is marked imported. Lamson's Vintage line uses US steel; its Premier Forged line uses German steel and forging, finished in Westfield. Read the listing for the specific model, not the brand.

Why Cutco and Rada are not here

Both are made in the USA: Cutco in Olean, New York, and Rada in Waverly, Iowa. Neither sells on Amazon directly; the listings we found were from resellers, which we do not recommend because warranty and authenticity are harder to guarantee. Buy them from the makers.

Keeping an edge

Hone before each use and sharpen once or twice a year. Wash by hand and dry at once, especially carbon steel and wooden handles. Lamson will resharpen its knives for free; Dexter's are simple to sharpen at home.

Frequently asked questions

Are Lamson knives made in the USA?

Lamson's factory is in Westfield, Massachusetts. Its Vintage line is made from US steel and finished there. Its Premier Forged line uses German 4116 steel and forging and is finished in Westfield, which Lamson lists as US origin.

Are Dexter-Russell knives made in the USA?

Most are, in Southbridge, Massachusetts, including the Sani-Safe and Traditional lines. The forged iCut-PRO line is imported.

Is Cutco made in the USA?

Cutco is made in Olean, New York, but it is sold through its own channels rather than on Amazon by the maker, so it is not listed here.

What is the best American-made chef's knife?

For most home cooks, the Lamson Vintage 8 inch: US steel, finished in Massachusetts, lifetime guarantee and free resharpening, for about $95.

Does "German steel" mean a knife is not American?

It means some of the material and processing happened in Germany. Under the FTC standard, a knife with significant foreign processing should carry a qualified claim, not a plain Made in USA.