When it comes to precision and accuracy, the paring knife is every chef's answer. This 3¼" Spear Point Paring Knife is extremely sharp and ready for anything from slicing and dicing to peeling and garnishing. The smooth, uniform cuts will help you make every meal a work of art. With this 3¼" Paring Knife you can expertly remove pepper seeds, core an apple, trim beans, and devein shrimp with ease.A versatile paring knife is an essential tool in every kitchen. Like the chef's knife, a paring knife is meant to be used for a wide array of jobs; however, the first and foremost function of a paring knife is detail work and greater control. Its slightly curved blade and pointed tip even resemble a chef's knife, but, is a fraction of the size, which makes it great for small, precision cuts where control is essential. The pointed tip allows you to make intricate cuts or check the tenderness of meat and vegetables. With increased maneuverability and dexterity, you'll find endless opportunities to utilize this nimble knife.Featuring a world-renowned blade and perfect balance, this 3¼" Parer provides a professional-grade tool optimized for home use. The tapered knife edge is ground in two directions to hold a sharp edge longer, and can easily be brought back to its original sharpness. The ergonomically designed, non-slip textured handle provides a sure grip and easy handling even when wet, making each cut safer and more efficient. Both lightweight and durable, this parer's handle offers perfect balance, allowing for precise and effortless cuts every time. Whether a seasoned, or novice home chef, Victorinox Swiss Army offers not only the right tools and the know-how, but most importantly, the confidence to achieve one’s culinary aspirations. Expertly crafted in Switzerland since 1884, Victorinox offers a lifetime guarantee against defects in material and workmanship. Formerly ForschnerIn 1937 Victorinox began selling cutlery in America through a Connecticut distributor called R.H. Forschner & Co. A well-known manufacturer of butcher scales, Forschner soon became the exclusive U.S. distributor for Victorinox knives, and was the name by which Victorinox knives were known.In 2011 Victorinox began marketing all its product lines, including kitchen knives, under the common umbrella name by which the company is now popularly known – Victorinox Swiss Army. Today, Victorinox Swiss Army still sells a handful of accessories, including the High Heat Turner line, under the Forschner name. Care and UseBe good to your knives and they’ll be good to you. Following these simple guidelines will ensure that you get the longest life out of your knife!Hand WashingVictorinox Swiss Army recommends washing all knives by hand. For best results, hand wash your knives with a soapy cloth and dry immediately.DishwasherWhile this paring knife is dishwasher safe, we still recommend hand washing, as dishwashers are designed to spray water at a relatively high pressure, which can jostle the silverware and cause the knives to collide, dulling the edge.Maintaining your Knife’s EdgeFor optimum performance, knives should be honed after every couple of uses. Proper and frequent use of a honing steel will keep your knives sharper and performing at their best, but remember that a honing steel will not sharpen a dull knife. Honing steels are maintenance tools and are used to help keep an already sharp blade from degrading. During use, a knife edge becomes rolled or turned from direct contact with cutting boards, bones or other hard objects. In this case, honing is necessary to straighten the edge of the knife. After significant use, the steel particles become damaged and the edge cannot be brought back by honing, so sharpening is necessary. If your knives are dull, pitted, or you see visible nicks on the cutting edge, you’ll need to sharpen with a Swiss Sharp Handheld Sharpener (49002) or bring to a professional for re-sharpening.History and HeritageIn 1884, Master Cutler Karl Elsener opened a cutlery shop in Ibach, Switzerland. There, he and the cutlers’ union he formed produced the finest steel cutlery, finished with the now-famous proprietary edge preferred globally by professional and home cooks. In 1891, Karl supplied the Swiss Army with its standard issue Soldier’s Knife and in 1897 with the Officer’s Knife. In 1921, after the death of his mother, Victoria, and with the advent of stainless steel, then known as “inoxydable” and used in the production of his cutlery, Karl changed the name of the company to Victorinox. It is from those humble beginnings that a worldwide icon was born.Today, Victorinox is still owned and operated by the Elsener family, and both the company and family still resides in the small village of Ibach, Switzerland.