Messermeister Meridian Elite Sheep's Foot paring knife 9 cm (3.5")

The Messermeister Meridian Elite Paring Knife 9 cm (3.5") is a compact Sheep’s Foot parer built for precision prep where control matters most. Its straight, compact edge is ideal for mincing shallots, peeling potatoes, trimming fruit, and other small tasks that benefit from a stable tip and accurate, close-in cutting.

This knife is hot-drop hammer forged from a single billet of German 1.4116 stainless carbon alloy, creating strength and rigidity from heel to tip. The blade is heat treated and cooled to a Rockwell hardness of 57–58, balancing durability with practical everyday performance for a paring knife.

Steel performance is a key reason 1.4116 is trusted in hardworking kitchen knives. It is engineered for toughness and chip resistance, handling daily bumps and contact with dense ingredients without being overly fragile. With approximately 15% chromium, it offers strong corrosion resistance against rust, oxidation, and staining, even around acidic foods, while still being easy to sharpen quickly with standard tools.

Because the hardness is moderate, the edge tends to respond well to honing — it can roll slightly over time rather than chipping, and a few light passes on a honing rod can realign the edge between sharpenings. For cutting performance, the three-step 15° Elite edge is hand stropped on a cloth wheel to create a very sharp, clean-feeling cutting surface.

A bolsterless heel maximizes usable edge length and makes cutting, honing, and sharpening simpler over the life of the knife. Handcrafted in Solingen, Germany, the historic cutlery capital, it is backed by Messermeister’s Knife for Life™ guarantee for lifetime coverage against material and manufacturing defects.

Care of the knife:

Hand wash with warm water and a mild detergent, then rinse and dry immediately.

Do not place in the dishwasher. Avoid cleaners containing bleach or citrus extracts, and store safely in a block, sheath, or on a magnetic rack to protect the edge.