[drcoastline]

You need more than one knife just like you need more than one socket or screwdriver.

A good paring knife, filet knife, chef's knife and a cleaver. All serve a different purpose. But the main thing you need is to keep them sharp. So a means to sharpen, look at other threads for options, I personally use the wet sand paper method and a steel for in between.

For a paring knife you can buy a decent one right at Walmart or Marshall's. $6 dollars or so.

For a filet knife go to fishing department of Walmart, Dicks, Bass pro They have Mustad, Victorinox and a bunch of others. I personally have a Dexter they come in various lengths 6",7", 8" or 9" and various flexibility. Get an 8" or 9" medium. About $15.00.

Your Chef's knife should have some decent heft, 1/8" thickness, from time to time you can find Wusthof, Henkels and some other decent knives in Marshall's in the $20 to $30 range.

Walmart has light duty cleavers by Farberware that are nice for around $12.Good for a chicken or dividing a small rack of ribs.

I would also scour yard sales and Fleamarket's. You can find some great old Chef's heavy knives and cleavers with full tangs, riveted wood handles that just need a good cleaning and sharpening. You can get them cheap if you don't mind doing a little work and with all the knives the key is taking care of them. You use on a good cuttingboard, you don't throw them in the dish washer, you hand wash and dry and put them away and keep them sharp.