i won this in a raffle basket donated by a bakery, and we really like it. It took about one minute to get used to the handle.

Many online reviews recommend this Mercer Culinary M23210 Millennia 10-Inch Wide Wavy Edge Bread Knife. Given its price, it's certainly worth a try.

We've had two of these bread knives for at least 30 years! We bought it at Pike Place Market in Seattle. It cuts through bread like butter, even after all these years. Ours have seen lots of use, as I make most of our bread. The only thing to know is they are specifically right or left handed--so we have 2--one for me and one for my husband, the lefty!

You can find several on Etsy--I just searched for "Bread Knife" on Etsy to DL this pic.

ETA: They run about $25-$35 on Etsy

I have two of the Mercers and they work great. I bake alot of crusty sour dough. I take one with me whenever we are renting a condo/house. You can’t beat the price. The wooden ETSY knives are gorgeous!!

I’ve used this Cutco serrated knife professionally and at home for more than 20 years. Sent it back for sharpening once. I really like it for bread, tomatoes tomatoes, melons. They used to do a pretty pearlized handle as well— don’t know if they still offer that.

I have a super ugly fancy presentation bread knife that my mother handed over to me for being too ugly for her, which cuts really well. For daily use, I use the cheap country grocery store bread knife I bought decades ago when I lived abroad. It works just about as well on bread, but doesn't cut fingers of the bleary eyed.

Based on that, and the recommendations in this thread, I'd try the $17 knife which looks like a good edge for bread.

Take a look at Victorinox knives. Their slicing and other knives often come out on top in tests by America's Test Kitchen. And have long been recommended by ATK's other identity, Cook's Illustrated.

I have these from Wusthof and prefer the smaller one. Both excellent after many years.

Years ago I bought a Chicago Cutlery bread knife at Target. I gave it to someone not long after getting my second Wusthof bread knife. The Chicago Cutlery knife was still in great shape after some 25 years. I still kind of wish I’d kept it.

I have a Wustoff that I've used for 20 years. It cost a lot, but I figure that I will have it until I die.

Porkchop - When you say serrated knife, are you referring to a scalloped edge like the Wusthofs and others shown above, or ones with catchy tiny teeth? I have a Wusthof, liked it enough to buy another as a gift, but my Amazon Basics version is probably just as good. The ones that I’ve not liked are the tiny teeth kind, something that would catch a sweater if you drew the blade across it.

The one wdcruise posted stands out at me for the handle. It avoids hitting your knuckles as you cut through. Given the handle’s shape, blade type, good reviews, and proce, it seems like a smart bet to me.

My ugly knife has the little saw teeth and cuts bread exceptionally well, but I've used the kind that FOAS described. The former cuts like a fine tool. The latter cut like a chain saw with bits flying everywhere.

I have one with wide serrations but the one I usually use is one with little tiny teeth which came in a set from one of those grocery store demonstrators. We call it "the Wonderknife" because it's one of those ones they used to advertise as being able to saw down a tree and still cut a tomato etc. I like it because it can cut through a really crunchy crust easily without making a huge mess.

Not to toot my own horn but….

I was looking for a chef's knife recently and came across Mercer in reviews. ATK recommends them as the best budget knife. Their Renaissance chef's knives look just like my Wusthof knife. It is made of forged German steel but manufactured in Taiwan. They have a bread knife in that line too.

https://www.amazon.com/Mercer-Culinary-M23510-Renaissance-8-Inch/dp/B002R1CGUC/ref=ast_sto_dp_puis?ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.9fe8cbfa-bf43-43d1-a707-3f4e65a4b666&th=1

I think ATK continues to recommend the Mercer. I have Victoronix, Wustof (2 sizes) and Mercer (but not the exact one referenced). I like the Mercer and it is the best value by far. The Victoronix is a good knife as well, but get the commercial one with the larger plastic handle. The Wustof is probably the most durable feeling of the three but costs the most.

When I moved out of my parents' house, 50+ years ago, I raided the kitchen and took the essentials. Among them was this bread knife. In all the years I knew my parents, they NEVER bought anything besides sliced bread. I don't ever recall my mother using the knife to cut anything. Of course, as a baker, I use this constantly. Good luck finding one.

I have @chloebud 's same Wustof knife and love it.

I have this one and it works well. It's somewhat better than my original, single serrated Wüsthof bread knife, but not "life changing" better. Both work much better than the ones I had previously (the previous ones are long gone, so I don't know what brand they were).

https://www.amazon.com/W%C3%BCsthof-Classic-9-Inch-Double-Serrated/dp/B0883TY8BB?ie=UTF8&th=1

Just wanted to add this Wusthof utility knife (5” blade) I have is great for slicing rolls and smaller baguettes. The box it came in was labeled ”sandwich/sausage knife.” It’s truly a favorite. Also great for tomatoes.

Another vote for Cutco

I have the same knife but by OXO. I use it for the same things you do.

Update: I got the Mercer one, since I had to place an A* order anyway.

Wow -- what a difference! Slices through bread with ease, no ripping, tearing, or crushing at all. I haven't made a loaf with an extra-crispy crust yet, but it sliced up the semi-crispy crust beautifully. I was even able to get semi-thin slices, which I couldn't do before -- woohoo!

Great!

I own a Wusthof bread knife. I'd NEVER seen a "Bow" bread Knife. I purchased one on Ebay, just got it...IT IS THE BEST BREAD KNIFE I'VE EVER USED! It doesn't "crush" the bread...

I have found that if you gently "saw" the bread, it doesn't crush the bread nor does it crumble - even crusty bread. It might have to do with the knife I have, but I thought I'd mention it in case others want to try it.

I was considering one of the bow knives, but I don't have a convenient space in the drawer to store it, they're kinda big.

I agree a sharp bread knife and gentle sawing avoids crushing and crumbs. I tend to automatically saw when slicing most breads.

I have an older Victorinox with fibrox handle that is also labeled Forschner. This thing is fantastic.

I don't really need to slice bread very often but I do have my mom's knife from the early 1960's. That baby cuts through just about anything. My great niece was selling Cutco to get money for school so of course I had to listen to her spiel and because I love her, I bought a dandy knife. But the beginning of her sales pitch started with "do you have a knife that can do this?" and then she cut a rope. I got my mom's knife out and it cut right through that rope, no problem. :) My mom's knife has a bakelite handle that amazingly is still in decent condition. It's stained but otherwise isn't too bad. I do love the Cutco knife too. Pretty pricey but she is my great niece. :)

I have a Cutco spreader/spatula-not sure what it's called. It's my favorite knife for buttering toast or spreading mayo or peanut butter, really great for sandwiches. It has a serrated edge so cuts bread nicely, though I've never used it on home baked bread. The blade would probably be too short unless it was a small loaf.

The Bow Knife is large, but...it fits in a regular drawer...along the edge....next to my other knifes. For homemade bread it is EXCELLENT! I'm using it every day! I found Amazon carries it...an Ubikor Bow Knife, $5.99. It's made out of birchwood. Link