Question 1

How long do these stay sharp for?

Accepted Answer

Most importantly you must only ever use knives like this on a wooden or soft plastic (not glass !!) chopping board ,or you will ruin them very quickly. This is not a fault of the knife as this applies to all good quality knives .
This knife is made of very good quality steel  so will last a decent time before it needs sharpening, but this is obviously totally dependent on how often you use it  - it could be one day or one year.
The important point is not how long it will stay sharp , but to realize that good quality knives like this are meant to be sharpened as and when necessary . A ceramic  stone of some description is probably the best option for the inexperienced  , and a couple of light strokes will restore a razor like edge unless it has become extremely blunted,which you shouldn't really allow to happen in the first place . According to Mercier you should sharpen this knife at a 16 degree angle on each side.
If you intend to use good quality chefs knives of any make , you  must learn to sharpen them , as they are simply not designed to stay sharp for ever, but rather they are designed to be regularly sharpened. Those knives that are advertised to stay sharp forever are simply a gimmick , and you won't find one being used by any decent  chef on planet Earth. Sharpening a knife is a basic skill for any chef , and a good quality life is a lifelong investment.  As usual there are about a zillion YouTube videos on the subject.
   Hope this helps you
   ps  I don't want to sound condescending, but if you have never used a really sharp knife like this before , please be careful , as it could cause serious mutilation . You should never need to push a good chef's knife with much force - if you do it needs sharpening.  This is where the saying a sharp knife is a safe knife comes from - you should only ever be using it with a light touch,never forcing it,  meaning it shouldn't suddenly fly off and remove your finger .

Question 2

Is this super sharp? Can anyone whos bought onw inform? Need a decent for chef work. Cheers

Accepted Answer

Well to start you can make any knife sharp. Anyone who cooks should be able to sharpen their knives.  The difference between an expensive knife and a cheaper on is HOW LONG does it stay sharp. The better the knife the longer it will stay sharp. This knife is a good knife for it's price. Enjoy...I like mine.

Question 3

What is the angle of the blade?

Accepted Answer

Don't know about this particular knife,but I have a Mercer Genesis chef's knife which has a 16 degree sharpening angle. I found this out by emailing the company, so I am sure they will be able to tell you the sharpening angle for your particular knife.

Question 4

What is the angle of the blade to sharpen it?

Accepted Answer

15 Degrees I think.

ASIN	B000OOQZMY
Best Sellers Rank	49,588 in Home & Kitchen ( See Top 100 in Home & Kitchen ) 16 in Chef's Knives
Blade Colour	Silver
Blade Edge	Plain
Blade Material Type	High Carbon Steel
BladeLength	8 Inches
Brand Name	Mercer Culinary
Colour	Black
Construction Type	Forged
Country Of Origin	Taiwan
Customer Reviews	4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,033)
Global Trade Identification Number	00765301903251
Handle Material	Santoprene
Included Components	Knife
Is the item dishwasher safe?	No
Item Length	20 Centimetres
Item Type Name	Genesis 8-Inch Forged Chef's Knife
Item Weight	113 g
Manufacturer	Mercer Culinary
Manufacturer Part Number	M20608
Material Type	Wood
Model Number	M20608
Number of Items	1
Size	20 cm
UPC	765301903251 749628455693 749628445441
Unit Count	1.0 count

Mercer Culinary Genesis 8-Inch Forged Chef's Knife, Wood, Black

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