Compact blade for precision tasks: peeling, deveining, garlic, garnishes.

Per STS: "possibly the most versatile, universal food-prep knife" — used in-hand, not on a board.

Same engineering as the Kitchen Knife — molten SS poured into mold, edge-hardenable.

79% 430 SS body + 21% 420 SS cutting edge — sharps and holds the edge.

Just 2.4 oz — half the weight of the Kitchen Knife. Doesn't drag in your hand.

Molded cover for safe handling and edge protection during transport.

The Paring Knife uses the same engineering philosophy as the larger Kitchen Knife — just in a smaller package: Material Split: - 79% 430 Stainless Steel (body / non-cutting parts) - 21% 420 Stainless Steel (cutting edge) (Slightly different ratio vs the Kitchen Knife's 81/19, but same alloys and approach) Why the same approach: - 430 SS = ferritic, corrosion-resistant - 420 SS = martensitic, hardenable - Combine = structure + sharp edge Cast construction: - Molten SS poured into a mold - Tighter grain structure than stamped - Can be hardened to higher HRC Why this matters for a paring knife: - Paring knives see heavy use (constant peeling, detailed work) - The hardenable 420 SS edge stays sharp through extended prep - 430 SS body resists corrosion (paring knives are often washed frequently) - Cast construction feels solid in hand (important for the "in-hand" usage style) Material split comparison: | Product | 430 SS | 420 SS | Use | |---|---|---|---| | Detour Paring Knife | 79% | 21% | Precision prep | | Detour Kitchen Knife | 81% | 19% | Larger prep | | Detour Cutlery Set Knife | ~100% 430 | — | Eating |

Per STS FAQ: "The blade is 3.5" / 9 cm long (the knife is not TSA-compliant)." Why 3.5" is the paring knife sweet spot: - Standard paring knife blade is 3-4" — STS chose 3.5" as the middle - Long enough for whole-peel jobs on apples - Short enough for tight curl cuts and detailed work - Pointed tip for piercing and intricate cuts TSA non-compliance note: - 3.5" exceeds the 2.36" / 6 cm TSA carry-on limit - Must go in checked luggage, not carry-on - International travel also typically restricts blades in carry-on Paring knife functions (more than the chef knife): - Peeling — apples, potatoes, citrus zest - Deveining — shrimp, removing stems from strawberries - Garlic prep — crushing, mincing, smashing - Shallot/onion detail — small dice, slicing thin - Garnishes — radish roses, citrus twists - Herb work — chopping parsley, basil chiffonade - Detail carving — fancy cuts for plating Why paring beats chef knife for these tasks: - Smaller blade = more control - Held in-hand and rotated (not rocked on board) - Used like a precision tool, not a chopping tool - Better feel for delicate work

Per STS FAQ: "Do I need a paring knife as well as a kitchen knife? A good paring knife is possibly the most versatile, universal food-prep knife. The Detour knife has perfect balance and a sharp, pointed blade - it will become your go-to food-prep tool." This is STS's clear positioning: - The paring knife is more versatile than the kitchen knife - Better for the most common prep tasks - Used in-hand (vs rocker-style chef knife on board) - Often called "the most-used knife in any kitchen" Real-world chef wisdom: - Many professional cooks use paring knives MORE than chef knives - A 3.5" paring knife fits most tasks for 1-2 person cooking - When in doubt, reach for the paring knife first - Save the chef knife for specific heavy tasks For camp cooking specifically: - Almost all camp food prep = small quantities - Paring knife handles small-volume prep better than chef - The 3.5" size suits single-pot and single-pan meals - Pairing with the Pan and Pot = complete cooking system

Same construction + feel claims as the Kitchen Knife: Balance: - Weight distributed for in-hand use (different from rocking on board) - Balance point near the handle/blade junction (where the thumb naturally falls) - Comfortable for extended prep without hand fatigue "Ideal degree of flex": - Paring knives are inherently more flexible than chef knives - The flex helps with: - Curved peeling motions (follow the contour of fruit) - Thin slicing without crushing - Deveining shrimp (the blade flexes with the curve) - Detail work without snapping through delicate items

Per STS: "Includes molded blade cover for added safe handling and to protect the sharp edge." Same cover approach as the Kitchen Knife: - Hard plastic or molded composite shell - Slides over the blade - Protects edge + your hands + other gear Why important for the paring knife: - 3.5" point is the most dangerous part of the knife - Reaching into a drawer or pack can mean a point into finger - Cover is essential for transport - Sharpness is preserved between uses Always use the cover: - During transport - In shared drawers (RV cabinet) - Around children Storage in a drawer: - Cover on, lay flat - Or stand in a knife block with the cover on

The Paring Knife is Award Winning per STS tags — joining the rest of the Detour Stainless Steel line for design innovation. Part of the Detour "Utensils" category: - Paring Knife (A1311) - Kitchen Knife (A1312) — same dual-alloy cast engineering - Cutlery Sets (A1315, A1316) — for eating - All using 430 SS (with 420 SS for the cutting knives)

Two STS knives — different sizes for different tasks: | Aspect | Paring Knife (this, A1311) | Kitchen Knife (A1312) | |---|---|---| | Price | $27.95 | $44.95 | | Blade Length | 3.5" / 9 cm | 5" / 13 cm | | Total Weight | 67.5 g / 2.4 oz | 148.3 g / 5.2 oz | | Packed Size | 20.7 × 2.8 × 1.1 cm / 8 × 1 × 0 in | 25.8 × 4 × 1 cm / 10 × 2 × 0 in | | Material Split | 79% 430 SS + 21% 420 SS | 81% 430 SS + 19% 420 SS | | Construction | Cast | Cast | | Edge Style | Plain edge | Plain edge | | Use | Precision tasks, in-hand | General prep, board work | | Best For | Peeling, deveining, garlic, garnishes | Vegetables, meat, bread | | Held in hand | Yes (rotated for control) | Less so (often rocked on board) | | TSA Carry-on | NO (3.5" exceeds limit) | NO (5" exceeds limit) | | Dishwasher Safe | Yes | Yes | | Blade Cover | Yes | Yes | Choose Paring Knife for: - Precision work - In-hand manipulation - Small-volume prep - Peeling, deveining, garnishes - Most-used knife for 1-2 person meals Choose Kitchen Knife for: - General-purpose prep - Board-based chopping/rocking - Larger vegetables, whole proteins - When you need more blade reach Both are likely worth owning: - Paring for detail and frequent use - Kitchen for general prep and larger tasks - Together = complete camp kitchen

Solo Camping / Van Life: The most-used knife in any single person's camp kitchen. $27.95 is the cheapest premium STS kitchen tool. Couples Cooking: Both paring knife (for one person) + kitchen knife (for the other) cover all prep tasks between two cooks. Boat Galley: Specifically small enough for boat galley drawers and storage. Family Camping: Kid-friendly tasks (peeling potatoes, slicing apples) — the small blade is safer for older kids with supervision. Hunting / Field to Table: Deveining, detail work, processing game. RV / Overlanding: Drawer-friendly size. Doesn't take over limited RV galley space. Backcountry Cabin: Daily prep tool. Replaces flimsy camp paring knives. Cabin / Cottage: Premium primary paring knife. Daily Home Use: Comparable to any home kitchen paring knife — at premium quality.

Detour Stainless Steel Kitchen Knife (STSA1312): Companion 5" knife. Together they cover all kitchen prep tasks. Cutting Board: The Detour Essentials Camp Kitchen Kit (STSA1225) includes 2 polypropylene cutting boards — pair with either knife for safe prep. Detour Stainless Steel Bowls (STSA1323): Prep ingredients directly into bowls. Detour Cookware: Prep goes into the Pan, Pot, or Pouring Pot for cooking. Detour Collapsible Kettle (STSA1215): Paring knife is useful for prep before boiling water for tea/coffee (cutting fruit for infused drinks, etc.). Camp Kitchen Tool Kit (STSA1102): Folding spatula and serving spoon for stirring after prep. Wilderness Wash (50ml): Field dish soap for cleaning the cover and knife. Sharpening stone: A small diamond rod for in-field touch-ups (the 420 SS edge benefits from occasional honing).