Cimeter knives may remind you of ancient Arabian legends and beautifully designed illustrations of incredible stories, but the blades are incredibly useful tools for cutting raw meat. Sometimes known as Scimitar knives, these are carefully crafted to slice through the fat and thick pieces of pork, lamb, beef, chicken, and more. We scoured the web and local shops to find the best Cimeter knives in 2023, including our top pick, the Victorinox Fibrox 12-Inch Curved Cimeter Knife. Of course, what works best for you will always depend on your personal preference and comfort level. That is why we crafted this excellent list of our top choices for your consideration. Let’s get started!
Top 6 Cimeter (Scimitar) Knives
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1. Victorinox Fibrox 12-Inch Curved Cimeter Knife – Editor’s Choice
There is no doubt the Victorinox Cimeter knife provides the perfect balance of unique features, price, and user reviews compared to all the alternative blades we tested.
Victorinox Fibrox 12-Inch Curved Cimeter Knife Specifications
About the knife
While it may be a surprise to start our list with a partial tang, stamped blade, this Cimeter knife is perfect for many applications when working with raw meats. It has length, width, and edge durability to ensure you have a smooth, precise cut. While a little on the lighter side in weight, you have excellent control due to the Fibrox Pro handle, and at a price, you cannot deny is perfect for everyone from the beginner to the seasoned pro.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Technically you can place the Victorinox into a dishwasher, but we at Knives Academy recommend against it. This long, sharp blade can easily cause damage if not carefully treated. Try hand washing and drying before safely storing the knife away. Always check the edge before working with raw meat in case it needs a little touch-up.
Pros:
- Excellent sized blade for meat work
- Quality materials for extended durability
- Comfortable handle for added control
Cons:
- Stamped blade instead of forged
- Packaging may not be as attractive as the knife
- Not full tang
2. TUO Cimeter (Scimitar) Butcher Knife – 14 Inch
A longer Cimeter knife with an attractive wooden handle offers a highly sharp edge for working with larger pieces of raw foods.
TUO Cimeter (Scimitar) Butcher Knife – 14 Inch Specifications
About the knife
The presentation is the first thing you’ll notice about TUO’s much longer Cimeter knife. This blade arrives in a lovely gift box and has the markings and Pakkawood handle that showcase a well-crafted alternative to others on our list. A couple of things to keep in mind with this exceptional Cimeter knife are that it is a long blade, making it a bit heavier on balance and use. It also has a smaller handle, so you want some more confidence in your knife work before using this blade. However, you get a full tang, forged, and serrated knife that will make quick work of practically any ingredient.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Not dishwasher safe from the blade material and Pakkawood handle. Stick to hand washing and drying. Be sure to regularly check the serrated edge’s grooves and teeth for any dullness.
Pros:
Pros:
- Excellent length for working with various of meats
- A heavier blade makes for smooth cuts
- Beautiful presentation and gift box
Cons:
- A little off balanced
- Smaller handle requires more confidence
- The serrated edge is harder to sharpen
3. Dalstrong Butcher-Breaking Cimeter (Scimitar) Knife – 10”
An exceptional balance of long, smooth cuts and the ability to easily separate boned ingredients by breaking through the material.
Dalstrong Butcher-Breaking Cimeter (Scimitar) Knife – 10” Specifications
About the knife
True, this is not as long as other Cimeter knives on our list, but the heft of the blade is perfect for working with more significant cuts and bone-in ingredients. This is a highly durable knife with a hardness rating much higher than many others we’ve seen. It is also unique in that the high-quality Japanese steel is imported before being carefully forged to create an attractive cutting option. Just be sure to take your time with the handle at first, as it is slightly smaller and will have polish on it when it arrives in the sheath.
Maintenance and Cleaning
This type of steel should only be hand washed and dried with a microfiber cloth before re-sheathing and storing away from small hands and pets.
Pros:
- Includes a sturdy sheath for safety
- Made with premium steel materials
- Extra heft for working with larger ingredients
Cons:
- Slightly smaller handle
- Not great for dexterous maneuverability
- The handle may be slippery at first due to the polish
4. Yousunlong Cimeter (Scimitar) Knife 10” Butcher’s Blade
A stunning blade with a unique appearance and premium details sure to make for the perfect Cimeter knife gift.
Yousunlong Cimeter (Scimitar) Knife 10” Butcher’s Blade Specifications
About the knife
The details and presentation of this Cimeter knife are exquisite. This is one of those specialty blades you wait to bring out until you have a bit of an audience to add flair to your knife work. However, it is not all about showmanship. You still get high hardness durability and excellent material forging to make this a desirable purchase for your home or as a gift to someone that does frequent butcher work.
Maintenance and Cleaning
The Damascus steel will get damaged in a dishwasher. Use warm water with a touch of dish soap to clean and dry thoroughly before storing away to avoid any rust spots.
Pros:
- High durability and metal hardness
- Ergonomic handle for comfort
- Beautiful design and details
Cons:
- Not much of a bolster
- Only partial tang for a forged blade
- Slightly shorter than other Cimeter blades
5. Imarku 10-Inch Cimeter (Scimitar) Meat Knife
A well-priced average blade perfect for practically any skill level provides an equal balance of most features you would want in a Cimeter knife.
Imarku 10-Inch Cimeter (Scimitar) Meat Knife Specifications
About the knife
This is the Goldilocks option on our list because it is a fair balance of all the features you would want in a quality Cimeter knife at a more than reasonable price point. This allows practically anyone that wants to get into working with raw meats the opportunity to make premium, smooth cuts. You also have an exceptional warranty program in case of defects upon receiving this well-made blade. All in all, a good decision if this is your first time working with a Cimeter knife.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Not safe the dishwasher, and you should check the edge for sharpness before use occasionally. Also, be sure to store it away from small children as this knife is sharp out of the box.
Pros:
- Great balanced of features
- The perfect price point for beginners
- Easily cuts through larger meats
Cons:
- No single outstanding feature
- The end cap is a different material and a little off
- Quite long if you are not used to this type of blade
6. Mercer Culinary BPX, 12-Inch Granton Edge
A well-made standard Cimeter knife that will work as an everyday tool if you frequently have more significant meat ingredients.
Mercer Culinary BPX, 12-Inch Granton Edge Specifications
About the knife
Mercer is a great company because they provide sets of blades that are similar in construction and price point. This Cimeter knife option is another example of getting a staple for your kitchen without having to break the bank. You can explore the world of working with butchered meat without needing the forged precision of high-quality blades. The handle on this option is well made and offers enough maneuverability to work with practically any ingredient.
Maintenance and Cleaning
Even with the stamped quality, you should avoid the dishwasher. Instead, stick to hand washing and drying before safely storing.
Pros:
- Great price point
- Long enough blade for larger ingredients
- Excellent control with the handle
Cons:
- Not a forged blade
- Only partial tang
- Simple design
What is a Cimeter (Scimitar) Knife?
Much like the name suggests, this is a Middle Eastern blade with a curved edge that works perfectly with large meats. It is traditionally used to butcher and remove flesh from bones in a kitchen or out on the trail. These are much longer knives than what most in the Western world may be used to, but for a good reason, considering the use case.
What Does a Cimeter (Scimitar) Knife Look Like?
The shape is what makes the knife so unique. It has a long curved blade at anywhere from 8-14 inches, with the average being 12 inches. Most are straight-edged with a single or double bevel and pockets for fats and juices to easily slide from the knife’s side while working with raw meats.
What is a Cimeter (Scimitar) Knife Used For?
Traditionally this would be a blade for those out on trail needing to butcher freshly caught game. However, it slowly made its way into the food stands of the Middle East, and now around the world for its efficiency in cutting raw meat. You will likely see this type of blade at any restaurant with larger pieces of meat on the menu.
How to Sharpen Curved Cimeter (Scimitar) Knives?
As the Cimeter knife is exceptionally long, you may wish to use a sharpening stone as an alternative to an electric/automatic knife sharpener. This will reshape the blade and ensure a quality cut, but you should also have a honing steel handy to maintain the edge throughout your work with more significant cuts. Just be sure to clean the blade with a microfiber cloth in case of any leftover materials. Other types of knives can be sharpened with a few draws, but this one will take a bit more work because of the length and curvature.
Conclusion
Cimeter (Scimitar) knives are excellent resources for working with raw meats. The blade’s length, sharpness, and durability make them highly useful in a professional kitchen or at home when you have beef, lamb, poultry, and pork. We suggest you try out the Victorinox Fibrox 12-Inch Curved Cimeter Knife for your use. As always, we also provided plenty of other options that hopefully meet your knife preference’s unique needs and comfort level.
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