Maxam Knives Review: Top 3 Picks of 2022

Maxam Knives are designed to offer decent performance without setting your bank account back too much. They definitely have some of the lowest price tags I’ve seen on the market. 

Maxam is based in Mainland China, and while Chinese knives don’t have the solid reputation that their Japanese counterparts have, some of them are undoubtedly worth giving a shot. 

As a knife enthusiast with over 15 years of trial and error experiments in the world of knife-reviewing, telling whether a certain knife or a particular brand is worth your hard-earned money is what I do for a living. 

There’s a lot of controversy surrounding Maxam as a knife manufacturer, seeing as it’s a Chinese brand. But if you decide to overlook this controversy and try them for yourself, you might be wondering which is the best Maxam knife. 

In that case, I’d recommend the Maxam 8-piece knife set hands-down, simply because of the insane value for money this package offers. 

Alright, now keep reading this Maxam knives review to see what some of the best Maxam knives have to offer!

Here Are the Best Maxam Knives Review- Tried & Tested

1. Maxam 8-Piece Steak Knife Set 

And forget about rusting because Maxam knives have a high chromium and nickel content, providing unmatched corrosion and rust resistance. Additionally, they have a super comfortable grip, thanks to their ergonomic faux-rivet handles. 

And not only does this 8-piece set come with a free, aesthetically-pleasing presentation box, it also makes storing the knives quite convenient. 

The icing on top is that the set is quite affordable.

But speaking of comfort and convenience, these knives are unfortunately not machine-washable because prolonged exposure to moisture might cause them to rust, so that’s something to keep in mind.

2. Maxam SKFILET Fillet Knife

The knife feels great in hand, with a sturdy fillet and bait construction that’ll last you for years to come. The pakkawood handle is secure, water-resistant, and comfortable, ensuring an enjoyable fish-cutting experience.

The knife comes with a durable nylon sheath that lets you safely store it and bring it along on your fishing trips. It also makes accessing the knife a whole lot easier.

The SKFILET knife comes super sharp out of the box; however, you’ll probably have to re-sharpen it frequently for best results.

3. Maxam Sailor’s Tool

Featuring stainless steel construction, the Maxam Sailor’s Tool is a survival tool that can handle anything you throw at it.

This knife combines a honed blade, shackle key, marlinspike, and bottle opener, all in a single package. The marlinspike, in particular, runs along the spine to help you pick lines and handle complex knots. It also integrates a versatile stainless steel handle with a 5-cm ruler on one side and a 2” ruler on the other.

What’s more, the knife is pretty compact, measuring at just 3.75” when closed and 6.125” when opened. It’s also worth noting that the Sailor’s Tool is equipped with a lanyard ring that allows you to store it securely.

What to Expect From Maxam Knives?

Despite offering sturdy blades with a decent level of sharpness, Maxam knives are still budget knives, meaning they aren’t the longest-lasting or the sturdiest of knives. In other words, don’t expect anything fancy from them. 

They’ll get the job done, whether you opt for a steak knife or a survival tool. However, you can’t compare Maxam knives to Japanese-style knives since the material choices and knife construction are completely different. 

It’s also worth mentioning that Maxam knives purchased back in the day (20-30 years ago) were designed and manufactured in Japan instead of China. Therefore, their quality used to be at least 3x better than the Chinese versions manufactured today.

The primary factor contributing to the difference in quality is the material choices. Even the slightest difference in the concentrations of carbon, vanadium, sulfur, or chromium makes a massive difference in the steel quality. 

Nowadays, many Maxam knives feature 440B steel blades. And while 440B steel has decent carbon content, it doesn’t deliver enough hardness. Not to mention, 440B steel’s corrosion and wear resistance are considered below average compared to other variants of stainless steel, like VG-10 and 440HC steel. 

And unlike other knife manufacturers such as Kai and Mercer, Maxam almost never discloses the type of steel it uses in its knives, which leaves the customers questioning the quality of its products.

Verdict

To sum up, you can’t really go wrong with any of these knives; just make sure to buy the right knife for the proper purpose. For example, if you plan on going camping, it wouldn’t make much sense to buy a steak knife and so on. 

So, if you’re hosting a party and intend to grill some steaks for your guests, the Maxam 8-Piece Steak Knife Set is definitely a bargain you need to grab. You won’t find an 8-piece set of knives of this quality and at this budget from any other manufacturer.

On the other hand, the Maxam SKFILET Fillet Knife is your best bet if you’re going on a fishing trip and need a sturdy knife that feels comfortable and secure to hold.

Finally, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly survival tool for outdoor activities, then the Maxam Sailor’s Tool is the one for you.