Came out of the box razor sharp. I've bought quite a few TOPS knives over the years, and this is by far the sharpest strait from the factory. I suppose I should expect that for a kitchen knife. The weight and feel of the handle are phenomenal too.I haven’t used it for any sort of cooking yet, but this is definitely going to be great at chopping veggies, meat, pretty much anything I throw at it. I would recommend this to anyone looking for an all-in-one kitchen knife for inside the home or out in the back country. This thing will make it out on a lot of camping trips with the family as well as being a staple in the Kitchen. Pull the trigger and get one it’s worth the price for a beautiful American made piece of cutlery.