The placement of the French knife in the hand is very important. How you grip the knife determines how much control you have over it. The more control - the more consistency and safer operation of the knife you have.

Place the knife on the cutting board with the blade pointing away from your body. Open your right hand (left, if left handed) and grasp the handle of the knife in such a way that the base of the fright index finger rests just over the intersection of the handle and blade with the handle running to the middle of the heel of the hand.

Grip the knife with your thumb on the left side of the blade and with your index finger on it right side, each applying equal pressure. Your right hand should wrap around the handle.

The handle should lie directly under the wrist and in a straight line with the forearm. This is the proper grip for the French knife and does not necessarily apply for other knives.