Rapala4 Soft Grip Fillet / Single Stage Sharpener / Sheath

In my opinion, the handle of any knife at any price point should be sealed around the blade, but especially a knife used to prep food. The small gap between the blade and the bolster of this knife allows liquid, fish slime, fish blood, bacteria, etc to penetrate and accumulate in an area than can't be cleaned, only to discharge at a later time increasing the risk of bacteria transfer. Other than that, it looks and feels like a good quality filet knife. That is why I am baffled by the handle not being sealed around the blade. I would not have purchased this knife if I had known it was made this way.

The package includes directions for cutting fish so this is marketed as a food prep knife.It’s not.The silver end of handle is made out of pre-cast hollow hard plastic. Not molded in-place. Mine had a 1/8" gap on both sides that are imposable to clean rotting fish out of. The blade is also the opposite of 'full tang' it wobbles in the handle, which is only long enough for a 3 finger grip.The linked  American Angler Saltwater 6 Inch Fillet Knife, White  6" knife is a similarly priced and has a molded-on easy to clean handle, I just wish they made a shorter one for better control with small fish.

purchased as Xmas present. The knife has been used TWICE, and the blade is coming out of handle. Dangerous to use.This is sad. i have owned Rapala knives for 50 years...this product is a fine example of what their products have become. JUNK...!!! AVOID...!!!

I was dismayed to learn upon receiving this knife that the bolster is plastic, not metal, and that the blade wiggled in its mount right out of the box. It sharpened well and I used it to good effect to butcher four rabbits, but I noticed that the blade nicked really easy and it needed an extreme amount of sharpening between each rabbit. It's not the most flexible steel but nor is it super rigid. I will say the handle is comfortable and wasn't slippery at all, even when wet and covered with slimy rabbit bits. All together I would not buy this again. However, at this price it is perfectly serviceable for light duty work. (I don't really believe someone is breaking down 40lbs of fish nightly with this as another review claims).

I've used Rapala knives for 50 years. They are as good if not better than some expensive German filet knives I own but seldom use. I bought two of these, this model and the other "Falcon 4". No difference except for the handle configuration. I believe I will like this one better, especially with wet hands.My original wood handle rapalas are still in service, with blades made in Finland. I don't believe the steel quality in the newer knives (Chinese) is inferior. Rapala knives are known for quality and if the new blades were inferior to old, I don't think Rapala would let it slide...I am hard on them, too. I use them excusively for skinning and boning deer. I have one rapala I have ground the tip-point round, and not sharpened it, mostly to keep from skinning and boning my fingers which is usually 1-2 times per deer. These suckers are sharp. Real easy to lay yourself wide open if you aren't paying attention.The sharpener widget that comes with this knife seems to work well. I have used a flat diamond sharpener for years and this seems to do as good of job.

i have 3 other rapala soft grip fillet knives, but this is the first one with the 9 inch blade. i am no expert by any means, but i do a better job with the rapala soft grip knives. sharp, flexible, and easy to grip, simple to sharpen. not too expensive, another great rapala product.

This has been a great knife, and I filet allot of fish. It has held an edge very well so far but I do have a good habit of using my steel before each cleaning. Seams like solid construction and hasn't rusted on me yet. I also bought a pair of cut resistant gloves, I would highly recommend. I have been cleaning fish a few times that have flopped and i cut myself pretty bad. With the gloves glancing blows do nothing, you just keep on cleaning.

Blade is not sealed around the hilt. This is something I read about earlier in the comments, but since the knife isnt being used for anything food related, I didn't really care. But the previous comments are 100% correct. There is a large gap between the grip and the blade, I wouldn't trust this for cutting meats. The gap is going to cause rust due to the way it holds water after a wash. I'll use it till it breaks, then get a victorinox.

I have a number of filet knives but this is my first 4" filet knife and I enjoy using it on smaller fish and starting the cuts along the backbone of larger fish such as pike, bass & walleye. The blade is flexible and the length makes it easier to manipulate around the rib cage, thereby reducing the amount of flesh left on the bones. The blade stays sharp and is easy to maintain a god sharp cutting edge. Overall it was a good investment for its intended purpose.

I purchased this knife with the intent to use it at work as a cheap replaceable knife to fillet salmon, trout, arctic char and tilapia, at first this knife wasn't extremely sharp but I used the honing tool that came with it and that put a more usable edge on it. When I say usable I mean the knife is sharp enough at first to take hair off my arm but it cannot persist in that state for more than a few cuts.The handle was also pleasant to use as it was soft and no-slip which made it easier when I started getting messy which isn't too hard when you cut fish for a living. Overall this is a terrific inexpensive knife, it won't be as good as a Shun or any form of Japanese Fillet style knife but for someone who just wants a cheap fillet knife to throw in a boat, tackle box or use it at work I would recommend it. The only lack of quality I have noticed with this knife thus far is that the logo on the handle of the knife isn't applied very well and came off after a total of 5 washes with soap and water.

Einfach klasse! Habe als Anfänger sogar größere Brassen und Rapfen damit filettiert - das die nicht schmecken liegt ja nicht am Messer :-)Allerdings ist der beigefügte Schärfer wohl eher Spielzeug...

Das "Filetiermesser", falls man es als solches bezeichnen darf, ist den Preis nicht wert. 15 Euro wären akzeptabel gewesen, mehr aber weiß Gott nicht. Das Messer wird alles andere als scharf geliefert, zum filetieren wird die Schärfe auf keinen Fall ausreichen. Das silbrig glänzende Stück am vorderen Ende des Griffes ist aus Kunststoff und nicht, wie die Produktbilder zu vermuten lassen, aus Metall. Die mitgelieferte Scheide stinkt künstlich und verstärkt nochmal den billigen Eindruck des Messers. Man bekommt allein hier auf Amazon für den Preis wesentlich bessere Alternativen. Eine Kaufempfehlung kann ich daher leider nicht aussprechen.LG

I found that this blade need constant sharpening, it will not hold an edge. Debating whether or not to return as i really like the size. When breasting a duck, i need to sharpen between removal of each breast.