I’ve commonly seen this recommended as a go-to beginner chefs knife. Good to start with a cheap one especially if you are going to learn how to hone and sharpen on your own. If you plan on paying someone to sharpen for you then you could get something even nicer right out the gate. I’ve had one of these for about a decade and it’s been great. Different types of steel will be good for certain things, but this is good for a wide range of cutting activities.

Victorinox Swiss Army 5.2063.20-X4 Fibrox Straight Chef's Knife Black 8 inhttps://a.co/d/ehSnxkO

https://www.macknife.com/products/professional-series-8-chefs-knife-with-dimples-mth-80

Tbh I'd get them from Google so might as well do that yourself. They're not cheap but Damascus steel is very good.

German knives are good too and cheaper. If you want good quality of either I'd suggest looking for knifes recommended by chefs rather than housewives (no offense ladies). If the catering industry uses it, it's durable 😉

My brother was one of those knife sales men. Basically he had to convince family and friends to throw knife parties (like how they used to sell tubuerwear).