My Santoku serves me well, but I really need a new 8" chef's knife for general duty. Thankfully, my wonderful girlfriend has agreed to provide one as a gift this holiday season.

So...I've begun comparison shopping. I don't need anything exorbitant, as much as I love the Ken Onion for $200, just a reliable sharp, no-frills knife that will serve me well for a few years. I'm thinking of a budget around $50, give or take.

Any suggestions, folks?

Is there some industry standard brand that the pro's use that I'm not aware of?