F. Dick 1778 4.7-inch Paring Knife

A 4.7-inch blade sits between a paring knife and a small utility knife, and the 1778 version is sized for peeling, trimming and slicing small produce on a board. In Japanese terms it is a petty knife.

The hard kasumi-style blade takes a fine edge that cuts cleanly through tomato skins and citrus peel without tearing. Small knives do a great deal of in-hand work, and a keen edge that lasts means fewer trips to the stones. The plum tree wood handle is warm in the hand and matches the other knives in the series.

The small size also makes it a good knife for cutting at the counter without a board.

It pairs naturally with the 1778 9.4-inch chef’s knife and the 1778 santoku for a three-knife set. For a softer, more forgiving paring knife that can be honed on a steel, the Premier Plus 3.5-inch paring knife is a durable alternative. The comparison table lists the 1778 knives side by side.