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For a whole brisket, the best knife is usually a long, narrow slicer of about 12 inches. America’s Test Kitchen and Serious Eats both name the Victorinox Fibrox 12-inch Granton slicer as their pick, while Aaron Franklin prefers an inexpensive scalloped slicer. Below are four 12-inch slicers with each maker’s own specs and care notes. For other knives, see our best chef knives, our best knife sets and our best steak knives.
What to look for in a brisket slicer
Length. America’s Test Kitchen found that 12-inch blades spanned a brisket better than 10- or 11-inch blades. Serious Eats recommends 11 to 12 inches so each stroke uses more of the edge. A longer blade means fewer back-and-forth passes through the flat.
Height and flexibility. America’s Test Kitchen preferred a blade about 1.5 inches tall with moderate flex. Too much flex reduced control, while a stiffer blade stayed flush with the meat and cut straighter slices.
Edge type. The experts disagree. A Granton edge has hollows in the blade face and a plain cutting edge. America’s Test Kitchen found brisket and turkey slices released more cleanly from Granton blades, and pitmaster Drew Harper told Serious Eats he prefers a “12-inch non-serrated Granton edge.” Aaron Franklin, in his MasterClass, favors an inexpensive 12-inch scalloped knife that cuts through bark with little pressure. A plain edge can be honed and sharpened the usual way, and our best knife sharpeners guide covers the options.
Electric or manual. Food & Wine got clean slices from a BLACK+DECKER electric knife in 2023. America’s Test Kitchen cautioned in 2025 that most electric knives have less than seven inches of effective blade, which is short for a full brisket. We do not link an electric knife below, because we could not match the maker’s model number to an exact Amazon listing.
How we chose
We’re a research-led site. We read each maker’s own product page in October 2026 and include a knife only if the page gives a blade length and edge type and we could match it to one Amazon US listing by name, blade length and edge type. We checked the Amazon US listings on October 21, 2026. Where the maker and the listing give different model numbers, the pick says so. Our October 2026 search of the US CPSC recall database found no recall for any knife recommended here. We show numeric price bands rather than prices. Bands reflect observed selling prices at our last review. Offers change; check the listing.
The picks
1. Victorinox Fibrox Pro Slicing Knife, Granton Blade, 12-Inch
What it is: A light, non-forged slicer with a fluted edge and a non-slip handle. It sits in our $75–150 band.
Best for: Cooks who want the knife both America’s Test Kitchen and Serious Eats name as their pick, and a maker that permits the dishwasher.
Specs (from Victorinox’s own product page, October 2026): 11.8-inch blade, sold as 12-inch; fluted (Granton-style) edge; thermoplastic elastomer handle; 6.2 oz; not forged; item number 5.4723.30. Care: the maker says dishwasher safe. Warranty: Victorinox lifetime warranty.
- Pros: America’s Test Kitchen named a Victorinox 12-inch Granton slicer its winner among eight slicers, citing 12-inch reach, moderate flex, hollows that release meat and a grippy handle. Serious Eats also names the Victorinox Fibrox Pro 12-inch Granton as its best slicing knife.
- Cons: The maker’s page does not name the steel alloy. Amazon lists this knife under item number 47645, while the maker’s page gives 5.4723.30; the name, blade length and edge type match, but we could not match the two numbers directly.
2. Cutluxe 12″ Slicing Carving Brisket Knife, Artisan Series (ART-SLC-12-1)
What it is: A 12-inch Granton slicer with a Pakkawood handle, from a brand that sells direct and through Amazon. It sits in our $25–75 band.
Best for: Smokers who want a Granton blade and a full-tang handle without stepping up to the premium bands.
Specs (from Cutluxe’s own product page, October 2026): 12-inch blade; hand-sharpened Granton edge at 14–16° per side; high-carbon German steel; full-tang, triple-riveted Pakkawood handle. Care: hand wash only, dry immediately and use a wood or plastic board. Warranty: lifetime against manufacturing defects for the original purchaser; misuse and dishwasher damage are excluded.
- Pros: The maker publishes the edge angle, handle construction and warranty terms; the Granton face follows what America’s Test Kitchen found about food release.
- Cons: The maker’s page does not give the alloy number, blade height or flexibility, so we cannot compare it with the 1.5-inch, moderate-flex profile America’s Test Kitchen preferred. Hand wash only.
3. Dalstrong Gladiator Series 12″ Slicing and Carving Knife
What it is: A 12-inch slicer with a hollowed (divoted) blade face and a plain, non-serrated edge. It sits in our $75–150 band.
Best for: Cooks who want a full-tang slicer with a sheath and a published edge angle.
Specs (from Dalstrong’s own product page, October 2026): 12-inch blade; divoted blade face; 16–18° non-serrated edge; high-carbon German steel. Care: hand wash in warm water with mild soap and dry thoroughly. Warranty: limited lifetime against manufacturing defects, non-transferable. Amazon lists it as the Gladiator Elite 12-inch slicer, model GS-12-slicer. Dalstrong’s own product page, in our research, showed no retail model number, only the product family GS-12-in-slicer.
- Pros: The maker publishes the edge angle and a plain edge that can be honed in the normal way; the divots serve the same purpose as a Granton.
- Cons: Dalstrong’s own pages disagree on the handle material, so we do not state one. We do not have verified blade-height or flexibility figures for this knife. Hand wash only.
4. Shun Classic 12″ Hollow Ground Brisket Knife (DM0778)
What it is: A 12-inch brisket knife with a Japanese AUS8A steel blade, hollow-ground faces and a Pakkawood handle. It sits in our $150–300 band.
Best for: Cooks who put finish and edge geometry ahead of weight and cost, and will hand wash.
Specs (from Shun’s own product page, October 2026): 12-inch (305 mm) blade; AUS8A high-carbon vanadium stainless steel; 16° per side; hollow-ground blade-face indentations; riveted full-tang ebony-colored Pakkawood handle. Care: hand wash right away with gentle, non-citrus soap and towel dry; no dishwasher. Warranty: limited lifetime; normal wear, rust and misuse are excluded.
- Pros: The maker publishes the steel, angle and handle; America’s Test Kitchen included this exact model in its eight-slicer lineup.
- Cons: America’s Test Kitchen reported that its 2.8 mm spine, 11.3 oz weight and rigidity felt more tiring and less agile than the Victorinox. It is also the most expensive pick here.
Brisket slicers compared
| Pick | Blade | Edge (maker) | Steel (maker) | Care (maker) | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victorinox Fibrox Pro 12″ Granton | 11.8 in, sold as 12 in | Fluted Granton-style | Not named on the product page | Dishwasher safe | $75–150 |
| Cutluxe Artisan 12″ (ART-SLC-12-1) | 12 in | Granton, 14–16° per side | High-carbon German steel | Hand wash only | $25–75 |
| Dalstrong Gladiator 12″ | 12 in | Divoted face, 16–18°, non-serrated | High-carbon German steel | Hand wash | $75–150 |
| Shun Classic 12″ (DM0778) | 12 in (305 mm) | Hollow-ground, 16° per side | AUS8A | Hand wash; no dishwasher | $150–300 |
What we found but didn’t recommend
Mercer Culinary’s Millennia Wavy Edge Brisket Knife (M23213) has a 12-inch scalloped blade on the maker’s page. We left it out because we could not find an Amazon US listing with that model number; the Mercer slicers we did find, such as the M23112, are different models and we did not substitute them. The Franklin Barbecue 12-inch slicer, Aaron Franklin’s own line, is sold on the maker’s direct store, whose page omits the steel, handle material, care and warranty, so we cannot verify it against the maker. The BLACK+DECKER EK500B electric knife is discussed above but not linked, for the reason given there.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of knife do you use to slice a brisket?
A long, narrow slicer of about 12 inches. America’s Test Kitchen and Serious Eats both name the Victorinox Fibrox 12-inch Granton slicer, and Aaron Franklin prefers an inexpensive 12-inch scalloped slicer.
How long should a brisket knife be?
America’s Test Kitchen found 12-inch blades span a brisket better than 10- or 11-inch blades. Serious Eats recommends 11 to 12 inches.
Granton or scalloped edge for brisket?
The experts split. America’s Test Kitchen found slices released more cleanly from Granton blades, and Drew Harper told Serious Eats he prefers a non-serrated Granton edge. Aaron Franklin favors a scalloped edge for cutting through bark with little pressure. A plain Granton edge is easier to hone and sharpen at home.
Can I slice brisket with an electric knife?
Food & Wine reported clean slices from a BLACK+DECKER electric knife in 2023. America’s Test Kitchen noted in 2025 that most electric knives have under seven inches of effective blade, which is short for a whole brisket.
Which of these can go in the dishwasher?
Only the Victorinox, per its maker’s page. Cutluxe, Dalstrong and Shun tell you to hand wash and dry; Cutluxe and Shun say not to use the dishwasher.
The verdict
For most home smokers, start with the Victorinox Fibrox Pro 12-inch Granton slicer, the pick of both America’s Test Kitchen and Serious Eats, and the only one here the maker allows in the dishwasher. The Cutluxe Artisan 12-inch is the lower-band Granton option, the Dalstrong Gladiator 12-inch adds a published edge angle and a plain divoted edge, and the Shun Classic DM0778 is the premium choice if you will accept more weight and hand washing. For related guides, see our best bread and serrated knives, our guide to kitchen knife brands and how we choose.
Sources & method: Specs come from each maker’s own product page, read in October 2026: Victorinox (victorinox.com, Fibrox Slicing Knife Granton Blade, 5.4723.30), Cutluxe (cutluxe.com, Artisan Series 12-inch slicer), Dalstrong (dalstrong.com, Gladiator Series 12-inch slicer), Shun (shun.kaiusa.com, Classic 12-inch Hollow Ground Brisket Knife DM0778), Mercer Culinary (mercerculinary.com, M23213, not recommended) and Franklin Barbecue (shop.franklinbbq.com, not recommended). Expert statements come from America’s Test Kitchen (July 2025 slicing-knife review), Serious Eats (slicing knife guide, updated October 2026), Food & Wine (2023 brisket knife guide), Aaron Franklin’s MasterClass, AmazingRibs and OSHA’s general knife-safety guidance. Band placements come from our own October 2026 review of each linked Amazon US listing. Every product was screened against the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall database (October 2026 search; no recall found for any recommended knife). Here’s how we choose.