Seido Knives Review [2025]

In this post, we provide a review of Seido Knives – makers of premium quality, Japanese-style knives and knife sets. 

Seido Knives Review – Who Are They?

Seido Knives is a relatively young knife company based in Canada, with a distribution center in Portland, OR.  They make visually stunning Japanese-style knives in a range of styles, including single knives and multi-piece knife sets. 

Their mission is to craft razor-sharp, premium-quality knives designed to endure the test of time. To achieve this, Seido collaborates with top-tier knife manufacturers across Asia, combining Japanese artistry with contemporary design.

Each Seido knife is forged using quality materials, such as Japanese steel, to ensure superior sharpness, balance, and durability. The result is a collection of Japanese-inspired knives that offer professional-grade performance.

Seido is also known for their visually attractive knives, including both Damasus blade patterns and resin-based handles.

Are Seido Knives Good Quality?

Based on the feedback of multiple customers, the review of Seido knives is generally positive. 

According to multiple reviews, customers find that Seido knife blades are razor sharp out of the box. They also find that the knives have excellent grip and overall balance for use in the kitchen. 

However, some have experienced pre-mature rusting on the blades within the first 3-6 months of use. And others have commented that the blades don’t hold an edge over time as compared with some of the more traditional knife manufacturers such as Wusthof or Dalstrong.

Given that the company is relatively new, these could be one-off concerns. In general, however, reviews for Seido knives are favorable.

Most Popular Seido Chef Knives at a Glance

To kick off our Seido knives review, here is a list of the two most popular Seido chef knives that are currently trending online. These are highly-rated and recommended for home chefs who value both form and function. 

Seido Kiritsuke Damascus Chef Knife

Blade: high carbon, stainless steel | Handle: synthetic | Length: 8.5″

Made in Asia, the Seido Kiritsuke Damascus Chef Knife is a highly functional kitchen knife that we have found is quite sharp right out of the box.

The blade has both flexibility and strength (Seido Knives claims a Rockwell hardness score of 60-62 for the Kiritsuke). It is precision-forged from high VG10 high carbon stainless steel and has full tang construction. This knife is also encased in several layers Damascus steel, giving it its unique appearance.

The synthetic handle is made of epoxy resin stabilized wood which provides durability. Each handle is unique, and provides good grip and overall balance.

Equally at home both in home and professional kitchens, the Seido Kiritsuke Damascus Chef Knife successfully blends both form and function.

Pros

• Attractive styling
• Razor sharp with impressive hardness
• Well-balanced
• Positive reviews

Cons

• Not dishwasher safe
• Relatively high price point

Seido Gyuto Executive Chef Knife

Blade: high carbon, stainless steel | Handle: synthetic | Length: 8″

Made in Asia, the Seido Gyuto Executive Chef Knife is another highly functional kitchen knife. Like the Kiritsuke, we have found the Gyuto Executive quite sharp right out of the box.

The blade has both flexibility and strength (Seido Knives claims a Rockwell hardness score of 60-62). It is precision-forged from high VG10 high carbon stainless steel and has full tang construction. This knife is also encased in several layers Damascus steel, giving it its unique appearance.

The synthetic handle is made of epoxy resin stabilized wood which provides durability. Each handle is unique, visually attractive, and provides good grip and overall balance.

Equally at home both in home and professional kitchens, the Seido Gyuto Executive Chef Knife successfully blends both form and function.

Pros

• Attractive styling
• Razor sharp with impressive hardness
• Well-balanced
• Positive reviews

Cons

• Not dishwasher safe
• Relatively high price point

Most Popular Seido Chef Knife Sets at a Glance

In addition to selling individual knives, Seido Knives also offers multi-piece knife sets. Below are two of the most popular Seido Knife sets that are currently trending online.

Seido 8-Piece Master Chef Knife Set

Blade: high carbon, stainless steel | Handle: pakkawood | Length: multiple

Seido 5-Piece Caveman Butcher Knife Set

Blade: high carbon, stainless steel | Handle: mahogany | Length: multiple

Concerns about Seido Knives

Here at Knivesadvisors, we are generally impressed with the craftsmanship and functionality of Seido knives. The company offers an impressive range of styles, and stands behind their products. The unique styling, particularly with their resin-impregnated wood handles and Damascus layering, is certainly differentiated within the kitchen knife market.

That said, some customers have expressed concerns in a number of areas. While every knife manufacturer fields customer concerns, several themes emerged which we feel are important to highlight to our blog readers.

Pre-Mature Rust Formation

Some customers have noted pre-mature rust formation of Seido chef knifes, even after careful care such as hand washing and drying. One customer noticed rust on the tip of one of the blades after only 2 weeks of ownership.

Here is Seido’s response:

“Rust can sometimes appear even with careful care due to environmental factors like humidity, exposure to acidic foods, or prolonged contact with water. Even high-quality knives with carbon or high-carbon stainless steel components can be prone to this when certain conditions align.”

Again, this could be one-off complaints that may not be representative of the typical customer experience. That said, reports of rust formation after a short period of time even after careful maintenance is concerning for premium knives.

Knife Origin

Some have expressed concern that Seido knives are not true Japanese knives. While they are Japanese-style knives, Seido knives are manufactured by craftsmen globally – including various parts of Asia.

Our view is that Seido knives are designed primarily for home cooks, as professional cooks rely on more traditional knives from Wusthof, Henkels, Dalstrong, and Shun. That said, these are authentic Japanese-style knives designed for a wide range of applications.

Damascus Patterns

Customers should be aware that not all of Seido knives have true Damascus patterns.

According to our research, two types of knife finishes are available by Seido:

1. Damascus Steel: These knives are created with Damascus layers, providing the traditional patterns and enhanced durability.
2. Laser-Etched: Their Master Series features a laser-etched Damascus-style pattern, as stated in our product descriptions. This series combines aesthetics with functionality, giving a Damascus look without the higher cost of authentic Damascus layering.
   

Returns & Customer Service

Some customers have complained about the difficulty in making returns, despite the company’s “no questions asked” policy. In addition, the company charges a 20% restocking fee for all returned items. While a restocking fee is common with knife returns with other knife companies, this policy is not clearly marked on their website.

In addition, returns must be shipped to Canada which can be costly for customers who live in the United States. Making an investment in premium knives is a big step. So it pays to ensure the company stands behind their products, and honors their no questions asked return policy.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our Seido knives review.

Seido Knives is a relatively young Canadian-based company that manufactures a variety of premium knifes – including their popular Japanese-inspired chef knives.  Customers praise their knives for sharpness, balance, durability, and styling.  Whether these knives will stand the test of time is unclear, but many folks love them.

Here at Knivesadvisors, we find the price point for Seido knives somewhat high relative to other more mature knife manufacturers. Seido has done an admirable job of creating visually stunning knives that perform well. However, we prefer high quality Japanese and German knifes from more established brands, without all the bling.