Ginsu 7108 Chikara 8-Piece Stainless Steel Knife Set with Bamboo Block

by Ginsu

• Japanese-style cook's knives specialized for their dexterity in chopping, dicing, and slicing
• 5 knives included: 3-1/2-inch paring, 5-inch utility, 5-inch serrated, 7-inch santoku, and an 8-inch chef's
• Also included: a pair of kitchen shears, sharpening rod, and bamboo storage block
• Traditional-style rounded Japanese handles made of heat and water-resistant resin; full tang
• Rust-resistant stainless steel blades hold an incredibly sharp edge; hand wash and dry

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 15.5 x 12 x 19.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0016J4230
• Item model number: 7108
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (249 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,062 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)
  • #3 in Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Knives & Cutlery Accessories > Cutlery Sets > Knife Block Sets

Product Description

Having the right tools breeds security in the kitchen. These Japanese-style cook's knives are specialized for their dexterity in chopping, dicing, and slicing. The 8-piece set includes the following knives: 3-1/2-inch paring, 5-inch utility, 5-inch serrated, 7-inch santoku, and an 8-inch chef's. Rounding out the set is a pair of kitchen shears, sharpening rod, and bamboo storage block. Rust-resistant stainless-steel blades hold an incredibly sharp edge. Traditional-style rounded Japanese handles are made of heat- and water-resistant resin, and they feature a full tang. As with all fine cutlery, hand washing is best for care.

What's in the Box?
8 pieces: 3-1/2-inch paring, 5-inch utility, 5-inch serrated, 7-inch santoku, 8-inch chef's, shears, sharpening rod, and bamboo storage block.

From the Manufacturer

Ginsu 6-piece knife set.
View larger.

Serrated blade performs like a fine-edge knife and never needs to be sharpened. View larger.

Chikara 8-Piece Knife Set with Bamboo Block

In the Japanese language "Chikara" means power and energy. The 420J2 Japanese stainless-steel fully forged blades and traditional Japanese handles express the true meaning of Chikara in the kitchen.

Key Features

Japanese-style handles: the handles are made from heat- and water-resistant resin, and they fit smoothly in your hand.

Fully forged blades: the blade, bolster, and tang of the knife are made from a single piece of steel for exceptional balance and strength.

Bamboo storage block: designed to store and protect your cutlery, the block has a beautiful bamboo finish and Asian fair that will complement any kitchen.

Limited lifetime warranty: for the assurance that your Ginsu knives will perform both now and for years to come.

Proper Care

Ginsu Chikara knives should be hand washed only, and they require periodic sharpening using whetstone. The edge should be honed by using the honing rod before each use to ensure maximum performance.

Set Includes
	8-Inch Chef's Knife	Known as the most versatile of all knives, the chef's knife may be used to peel, trim, pare, slice, dice, and chop.
	7-Inch Santoku Knife	A traditional Asian-style knife that excels in chopping, slicing, and making paper-thin cuts. The Kullens grind on the blade adds a unique visual appeal, as well as aids in preventing foods from sticking to the blade.
	5-Inch Utility Knife	The utility knife is a great tool for generally any type of use. It excels at cutting smaller portions of meats and fruits, but can also be used to pare, trim, peel, slice, and dice foods.
	5-Inch Serrated Utility Knife	Performs all the tasks of the fine-edge utility knife, but the serrated edge is specially designed to slice delicate foods such as tomatoes.
	3-1/2-Inch Paring Knife	Due to its small size, the paring knife allows fine control of the blade and tip of the knife, making it great for fine and precision cutting. Peeling, garnishing, and small chopping tasks can quickly and easily be accomplished with the paring knife.
	8-Inch Honing Rod	Used to maintain the edge of the blades.
	Kitchen Shears	The kitchen shears are the most versatile tool in the kitchen. They can be used to cut anything from poultry and vegetables to twine and plastic bags. The handles have a built-in twist-style bottle opener, jar opener, and nut cracker. The blades have a built-in bottle opener.
	Bamboo Storage Block	Made from richly grained bamboo, the block beautifully stores and protects fine cutlery when not in use.

The Ginsu Story

Known for decades as the maker of very sharp knives, Ginsu has evolved to create incredibly sharp, technologically superior cutlery with the highest quality standards. Ginsu draws from the ancient Japanese methods of Samurai sword smiths to produce the same level of precision and craftsmanship in our contemporary knives. Its fully forged blades and Japanese-style, ergonomic handles have gained respect from generations of consumers, making Ginsu one the most well-known names in cutlery.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

148 of 149 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Set for College Kitchen December 17, 2010

By A. Pan

Amazon Verified Purchase

I am absolutely in love with this Chikara set. The first compliment I received came 5 minutes after it arrived and I set it on my kitchen countertop. The holder is a beautiful caramel color that the picture does not do justice. After 2 weeks of using this item, I can say that the 8 piece set is enough for someone who cooks a few times a day. The most useful knives that I have found is the 7-inch Santoku and 5-inch utility knife. I use the Chef's knife once in awhile but found that the Santoku does the work just fine. They come extremely sharp but for the edge to last longer, you should hone it after one heavy use or two light uses.

In addition, they are forged and not stamped. As a lifetime user of stamped knives, the fact that they are forged makes a huge difference. Each slice carries more weight the the old stamped knives. If you don't know the difference, google it. You'll find it informative.

Overall, these knives were a bargain for the burden of work they accomplish and look beautiful. They have sleek beautiful handles and are just the right size for a standard kitchen. They look and feel a lot more expensive than they are.

If you get this set, make sure you read up on how to treat your knives and it will last a lot longer. Here are some golden rules:

1) Hone your knives, Sharpen once a year.
They are various informative videos on Youtube that tell you how to HONE your knives. They should be done after every use to keep it sharp and long-lasting. Sharpening is only done once a year. The set comes with a steel rod which is okay for honing. It takes a few times to master it but once you do, your knives will stay sharp and your preparation time will be a fraction of what it used to be.... If a college student can do it, you can do it.)

2) Rinse as soon as you're done with it. Dish detergent can be used. Hot water is okay. Most importantly, you MUST dry it off after you use it. Make sure that from tip to handle, everything is toweled off before putting it back in the holder. Try not to cut acidic things with your nice knives but if you do, rinse it quickly.

3) Handwash, no dishwashers. In a nutshell, it causes it to rust and ruins the handle.

4 Keep it in the holder or invest in a traveler. If you just stick it in the drawer it will get dull very fast and ruins your knives. If you travel with it, get a traveling holder.

5) Get a decent cutting board. No glass, no marble, wood is best, plastic is okay. Nothing dulls a knife faster than repeated banging against stone/glass.

6) Be reasonable with your usage. No one in their right mind will open a can of tuna with their knife when a dollar will buy you a can opener.

I will post an update with this product in a few months. So far, it has been the most wonderful and much needed addition to my kitchen.

**UPDATE: 12/20/10
The serrated knife that came with the set cut through a thick, tough shoulder cut of steak like it was a piece of cake. No sawing required! Still amazed!

**UPDATE: 9/3/2011
Still the favorite set in my apartment. I have been honing it extensively and the knives have not lost their sharpness or edge. The santoku has two small spots of rust on them already from lazy roommates that don't wipe off the water. But I digress, I still love these knives and will probably still love it more than my first born child.

**UPDATE 2/2/2013

Wow I can't believe people actually want to listen to what I have to say, but thanks and here's another update.
I STILL have this set that I bought my sophomore year of college and I'm graduating in May. And nope, I still don't need a new set and yes I (and my 3 roommates) use it everyday.
1) alas, the kitchen shears which were as sharp as ever died on us when I discovered there was rust in the joints. This is the only replacement I have made.
2) requires a bit more honing than before which usually indicates I need to sharpen them. For that I run them through the Wusthof knife sharpener (will post link later) and they are brand new again.
After almost 3 years and only one kitchen casualty (shears) I still think this was a great deal and I love everything about these knives. The blades hold up, the edges are still sharp. One commenter stated that more expensive knives remain sharper for longer. I have a Wusthof bread knife and my parents have a J.J. kitchen set at home. Not as heavy as the Chikara is, 2-3 times more expensive, and believe me my parents are "empty nesting" still and even the name brand knives will get dull and reach the end of their lifetimes faster if you don't hone them. So leave this review with this set in your cast and tattoo "HONE THEM" on yourself (or significant other) and as long as you maintain them, you won't be disappointed by the sharpness, durability, and versatility of these knives. Read more ›

93 of 97 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Deal June 25, 2009

By Matthew Friel

This product was everything i expected, It is in Consumer Reports magazine as a best pick for a reason. Only flaw is that it does not come with a bread knife.

91 of 98 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Everyday cook needs quality knives September 12, 2009

By Kevin M. Johnson

Amazon Verified Purchase

I saw this knife set in a Consumers Report magazine and they were VERY highly rated. The good thing about these knives is that you get solid quality and performance but for much less than a Henckels or Wusthof type knife. I'm not a professional chef by any means so I don't need to drop $300 - $500 on knives but the set I was using before was ridiculous. Long story short, these knives cut great and they even feel like a really solid product. I sort of smirked when I saw the name Ginsu. I still have those old-time infomercials in my mind's eye but I guess Ginsu really is a legit brand name. I am definitely satisfied with this purchase!

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Knives December 3, 2009

By Sergio Hernandez

Amazon Verified Purchase

Just like everyone said these knives are very sharp and have stayed that way so far. The bamboo knife block and the handles are very well made and look very good. I have avoided rusting by cleaning and drying the knives as soon as im done with them. A quality product.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ginsu Chikara 8-Piece Knife Set October 11, 2010

By Scooter

Amazon Verified Purchase

I have had this knife set for about 2 weeks, and here are my impressions so far:

-Package was shipped well. Knives were individually wrapped and protected to prevent dulling during shipping, and block had no chips/scratches or anything of that nature.

-Nice balance in the hand. Feels "good" to wield, easy to control when cutting. Handles are best sized for someone with smaller hands, I think. Someone with huge hands might wish the handles were bigger.

-Quite sharp right out of the box, and stays that way if you hone the knives before each use, or at least every other use. Unfortunately, I had to go to the Ginsu website to read their instructions for honing the knives, as no such instructions were included in the packaging. Honing is important: by honing properly before each use, the knife stays sharper for longer, meaning safer+easier cutting and fewer trips to a knife shop to have the set sharpened again.

-Love the Santoku knife, use it more than any other knife in the set. Great for chopping and dicing.

-No proper bread knife in this set. Seems like an oversight to me, since a bread knife is one of those must-have things in a knife set. The serrated 5-inch knife can be used as a bread knife if the loaf is small and the crust is not too thick. Still, they should have included a real bread knife.

-Bamboo knife block is of good quality, and it looks good on the counter. Still, I wish it had been designed like most knife blocks where the knives rest at an angle in the block. It makes it easier to get the knives out and put them back, especially in a crowded kitchen where the block is crammed against the wall among other things.

Overall, I think this is an extremely good knife set for the money, and I am glad that I bought it.... Treat the knives well by honing them every time and drying them immediately after use, and they will treat you well in return. I bought this knife set because it had such good reviews here and in Consumer Reports, and nothing in my experience so far has contradicted those good reviews.

If you need a knife set, you can't do better than this set for the money, in my opinion. Read more ›

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Cuts Sharp, Looks Sharp April 18, 2010

By S. Perry

Like many other reviewers, this was an upgrade from your cheap stamped (cut from one sheet of metal) knives. These are razor sharp and cut through just about anything without effort. I was able to compare the Santoku knife to a Wusthof knife, which alone cost as much as this set; and the Ginsu knife wins. Better feel (weight), look, and sharper.

Now for a few quibbles/comments:
1. When purchasing this set, I liked the fact that it came with a Chef's Knife and a Santoku. Now I don't use the Chef's Knife at all, I always reach for the Santoku knife instead.
2. The shears look very cheap compared to the rest of the set, although they are plenty sharp.
3. The serrated knife is good to have (I guess), but I've only used it for grapefruit thus so far.
4. The utility knife (non-serrated) has gone almost unused.

So in sum, great set at great price. I really only needed (and use) the santoku, paring, and steel (to hone).

Note: Reviewers complaining about rust just almost certainly have not taken proper care of their knives. These should be hand washed and dried immediately after use. Don't think about putting them in the dishwasher unless you don't care about rust or appearance.