MAC Chef's Knives: MTH80 Pro Series vs TH80 Chef Series

The MTH80 and the TH80 are both full-tang, meaning there is steel from the tip of the knife down into the butt of the handle. The added weight of the steel throughout the handle provides more of a centered balance, compared to traditional Japanese knives of the same length, which are blade-heavy.

The MAC MTH80 Pro Chef's Knife has a minimalistic bolster that seamlessly connects the blade and the handle, and the TH80 has no bolster. The biggest difference in the sense of overall feel at the pinch grip is that the MTH80 Pro has a slightly more ergonomic flare from the bolster into the blade and is a little more comfortable. 

The added weight of the metal bolster of the MTH80 would make it seem as if the MTH80 would have a heavier handle. However, since the bolster lower than the top of the handle of the TH80, it actually gives it a perfectly centered balance when holding the knife right at the bolster flare. Meanwhile, if you held the TH80 at the very base of the blade in a similar fashion, it would have a handle-heavy balance. But when you balance the TH80 at the top of the handle, it's perfectly balanced.

The balance of a knife doesn't determine quality whatsoever; it's simply personal preference. Some people prefer a handle-heavy experience, while others want balance or more weight in the blade.

When comparing the MTH80 and TH80 handles, looks can be deceiving. Next to eachother, the handle of the MTH80 looks much shoert, but since the bolster is essentially a part of the handle, their lengths are roughly the same.

Both of these MAC Chef's Knives are triple riveted, which is what secures the black Pakkawood scales onto the handle. The rivets provide a touch of weight and a traditional German-style chef's knife or Western look.

Pakkawood is a wood and resin-based material that's ridiculously durable and doesn't warp if soaked in water or if you live in a super-humid climate. You should never soak your knives in the sink, but in the event someone uses your special chef's knife and throws it in the sink, you don't have to worry about the handle absorbing water.

Unfortunately, ever since the MTH80 was featured on the incredibly relaxing and stress-free show that never gives you anxiety of flashbacks of family trauma, The Bear, scam artists have decided to capitalize on this iconic knife.

Can you tell the difference between the two knives above? 

There are a bunch of counterfeit MAC MTH80 Pro Chef's Knives on websites like Amazon, eBay, Walmart, etc. The image above is one of the first generations of counterfeits, which is obviously quite different. However, they've gotten better with their design, and they are looking even more similar today.

Since you're here, we hope to earn your business. But fair warning, be sure you get your MAC Chef's Knives from an authorized MAC Dealer, like here at Cutlery and More.

The reality is, these are both fantastic knives. When it comes to performance, they can both do the exact same kind of work on a cutting board. The two biggest differences are feel and price.

The MTH80 Pro Series has a full-body feel and is more comfortable at the pinch grip. However, it costs about 50% more, depending on when you read this blog and the sales that are happening. 

If you're used to German or Western-style knives with a full-tang handle and bolster, we recommend the MTH80. However, if you're looking for the most bang for your buck in the sense of performance, quality, and durability, you can't go wrong with the TH80.

Whichever of these MAC Chef's Knives you choose, what's great is that both the Chef and Pro series have a wide variety of other knife styles throughout the series. From the everyday paring, utility, and santoku knives to the more specialty offset bread or honesuki blades, you have about a dozen or so within each series to build out a stellar collection of MAC Knives.