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If a standard knife handle is hard to hold, the handle is worth comparing as closely as the blade. None of the knives below is marketed as an arthritis knife on its maker’s product page, so this guide sticks to what we can check: three kitchen knives whose makers describe textured, soft-feel or enlarged handles, with specs taken from each maker’s own product page, except Dexter-Russell’s 10-inch blade size, which comes from its Amazon US listing. This is a product-features guide, not medical advice. For other knife choices, see our chef knife guide, our paring knife picks or our chef knives for the money.
How we chose
We’re a research-led site. We looked for knives whose makers describe a handle built for grip: a soft or textured surface, an enlarged shape, or a finger guard. We read each maker’s own product page in October 2026 and quote only what it says. We found all three picks in Amazon US search results when we checked (October 2026; stock can change, so check the listing), and each Amazon link goes to the exact model named below. 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.
What to look for in a handle
These are features to compare, not claims about any health outcome. A doctor or occupational therapist can advise on what suits your own hands.
- Handle size and shape. Rada describes its Anthem Wave handle as wider and longer than its other handle styles, and as suited to people who prefer a bigger handle.
- Surface texture. Mercer describes a raised, textured Santoprene® handle with textured finger points; Dexter-Russell describes a soft, textured non-slip grip.
- A finger guard. Mercer and Dexter-Russell both say their handles include a finger guard, which sits between the hand and the blade.
- Blade length. The knives below run from 6½ to 10 inches. In our view, a shorter blade is generally a smaller knife to control, while a longer one covers more food per stroke.
- Weight. It matters for a tired hand, but not every maker page lists it, so check the listing for the exact model before you buy.
The picks
1. Mercer Culinary Millennia 8-Inch Chef’s Knife (M22608)
What it is: A stamped 8-inch chef’s knife from Mercer Culinary’s Millennia line, built for professional kitchens. It sits in our $25–75 band.
Best for: Someone who wants a standard chef’s knife size with a handle that Mercer describes as textured, with finger points and a finger guard.
Specs (from Mercer’s own product page, October 2026): 8-inch (20.3 cm) blade of one-piece high-carbon Japanese steel; stamped construction; 15° blade angle; Rockwell hardness 53–54 HRC; handle of Santoprene® and polypropylene, described as a raised textured handle with textured finger points and a protective finger guard; NSF certified; limited lifetime warranty. Mercer says not to wash it in a dishwasher.
- Pros: The handle is described as textured for slip resistance, with a finger guard; stamped steel and a 15° edge angle are stated on the maker’s page; hand-washing is simple to follow.
- Cons: Mercer’s page gives no handle dimensions, so the grip size is not something we can compare; dishwasher use is not recommended; an 8-inch blade is a mid-size knife, so for lighter prep you may prefer our paring knife picks.
2. Rada Cutlery Anthem Wave Cook’s Knife (W434)
What it is: A 6½-inch cook’s knife from Rada, made in the USA. Rada introduced the Anthem Wave handle in 2019. It sits in our $25–75 band.
Best for: Someone who wants a larger handle on a compact blade. Rada says the Anthem Wave handle is wider and longer than its other handle styles and is meant for people who prefer a bigger handle.
Specs (from Rada’s own product page, October 2026): 6½-inch blade, 2-inch blade height, 12-inch overall length; surgical-quality T420 high-carbon stainless steel; black resin handle with an ergonomic grip; made in the USA; Rada’s lifetime guarantee. Rada recommends hand washing, and says its black-handle knives are more dishwasher tolerant than its silver-handle ones.
- Pros: The enlarged handle is stated by the maker; the shortest blade of the three; a lifetime guarantee from a US maker.
- Cons: Rada’s page gives no handle measurements, so “wider and longer” is a comparison to Rada’s own other handles, not a number; a 6½-inch blade is shorter than a standard chef’s knife; hand washing is recommended.
3. Dexter-Russell SofGrip 10-Inch Cook’s Knife (SG145-10B)
What it is: A 10-inch cook’s knife from Dexter-Russell’s SofGrip line, designed and built in Southbridge, Massachusetts, per the maker. It sits in our $25–75 band.
Best for: Someone who wants a soft, textured handle and is comfortable with a long blade. Dexter-Russell describes the SofGrip handle as soft and ergonomic with a textured non-slip grip.
Specs (from Dexter-Russell’s own SG145 product page, October 2026; the 10-inch size from the Amazon US listing title, a retailer source): proprietary DEXSTEEL® blade, individually ground and honed; soft ergonomic handle with a textured non-slip grip and a finger guard; NSF certified; curved blade for a rocking cut; Dexter says its products are guaranteed against defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the product. Dexter recommends hand-washing and sanitizing.
- Pros: The maker describes a soft, non-slip handle with a finger guard; the curved blade is described as suited to a rocking motion; a lifetime guarantee against defects.
- Cons: At 10 inches it is the longest blade here, and the SofGrip line also comes in shorter sizes that we did not review; Dexter’s page gives no handle measurements.
Knives for arthritic hands compared
| Pick | Blade | Handle, per the maker | Finger guard | Cleaning | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer Millennia M22608 | 8 in | Raised textured Santoprene® and polypropylene | Yes (maker states) | Hand wash; no dishwasher | $25–75 |
| Rada Anthem Wave W434 | 6½ in | Black resin, wider and longer than Rada’s other handles | Not stated on the page we read | Hand wash recommended | $25–75 |
| Dexter-Russell SofGrip SG145-10B | 10 in | Soft ergonomic, textured non-slip | Yes (maker states) | Hand wash recommended | $25–75 |
What we found but didn’t recommend
Zwilling Pro and Victorinox Fibrox Pro chef’s knives also turned up in our research. We left them out because we did not read a maker page for the exact US model that supports a grip-specific claim, and we won’t recommend on a retailer’s description alone. Dedicated adaptive knives, such as the right-angle-handle carving knife from UK maker PETA (UK) Ltd, appeared in our research on the maker’s UK site, so we have not built them into the picks. If you are shopping for an adaptive tool, read the maker’s page for the exact model first.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a knife made specifically for arthritic hands?
Specialist adaptive tools, such as right-angle-handle carving knives, are sold for weak grip or limited hand control. None of the three picks here is marketed as an arthritis knife on its maker’s product page. They are mainstream knives whose makers describe textured, soft or enlarged handles. Ask a doctor or occupational therapist what suits your own hands.
What handle features should I compare?
Handle size and shape, surface texture, whether there is a finger guard, blade length and weight. Mercer, Rada and Dexter-Russell each describe at least one of these on their own pages, and none of the maker pages we read gives handle diameter, so check the listing and photos for the exact model.
Which pick has the largest handle?
Rada describes its Anthem Wave handle as wider and longer than its other handle styles. None of the three maker product pages we read in October 2026 gives handle measurements, so we can’t rank the three on handle size.
Can I put these knives in the dishwasher?
Mercer says its Millennia knives should not go in a dishwasher. Rada and Dexter-Russell recommend hand washing; Rada adds that its black-handle knives are more dishwasher tolerant than its silver-handle ones.
Is a shorter knife easier to handle?
In our view, a shorter blade is generally a smaller knife to control, though it covers less food per stroke. The Rada Anthem Wave Cook’s Knife has a 6½-inch blade; for small tasks, our paring knife picks are shorter still.
The verdict
For a conventional chef’s knife size with a textured handle and a finger guard, start with the Mercer Millennia 8-inch. For a larger handle on a shorter blade, the Rada Anthem Wave Cook’s Knife is the one whose maker says its handle is wider and longer. If a soft rubber-style grip is the priority and a 10-inch blade suits you, look at the Dexter-Russell SofGrip. For the wider field of knives, see our best chef knives.
Sources & method: Specs come from each maker’s own product page, read in October 2026: Mercer Culinary (mercerculinary.com, Millennia Chef’s Knife 8″, item M22608), Rada Cutlery (products.radacutlery.com, Anthem Wave Cook’s Knife, item W434) and Dexter-Russell (dexter1818.com, SOFGRIP® Cook’s Knife SG145). The Dexter-Russell 10-inch size comes from the Amazon US listing title, a retailer source, not the maker’s page. Band placements come from our own October 2026 review of each linked Amazon US listing. Every knife was screened against the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall database (October 2026 search; no recall found for any recommended knife). This page describes product features and is not medical advice. Here’s how we choose.