Product Details
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What's in the Box
8-inch chef's, 5-inch tomato, 8-inch bread, 6-inch utility, 6-inch boning, 2-1/2-inch paring, six 5-inch steak knives, hardwood block
While this is a great set, it is not a high-end set, so you may want to look elsewhere if that's what you're after. None of the knives have a full-tang (where the steel goes all the way through the handle) or rivets. The handles are plastic. Also, the steel is from Japan (if I'm not mistaken) instead of Germany and boy, do the Germans know how to make steel!
So, dear friends, if you're looking for a set that you can pass on to your children and your children's children then you should indeed move up the Henckels line or look into Cutco (my favorites) or another high-end set. If you're looking to buy a good, inexpensive set that looks great and is every bit as functional, then look no more!
Also, consider looking into a pair of kitchen shears... they're indespensible!
Want performance from your knives? Here's what to look for:
(1) "Made in Germany." There's not much to say about this; the Germans make no compromises when it comes to making steel, and their manufacturing technology is among the finest as well. Ask your favorite surgeons where their scalpels come from; ask the most knowledgeable machinists you know where the tool bits they respect most are made; ask the best mechanics you know what "country of origin" is listed on the boxes containing the finest bearings. You'll get an occasional "Japan" in there -- and the Japanese certainly deserve recognition, though they have yet to enter the cooking knife market in earnest -- but Germany usually dominates.
(2) A name of distinction. It's true, there are many good knives made by lesser names, at lesser prices. The trick is, which ones? I have to tell you, I have been selecting knives for over 20 years, I use them every day and have studied their characteristics carefully, and I still am fooled sometimes by promising-looking knives with concealed but nonetheless tragic flaws. Make sure your brand is made by a manufacturer who stands behind their products, so you can exchange or return your knives if you are unhappy. It is YOUR satisfaction that matters, forget all the reviews written by "experts," how do they know what will make you happy?
(3) Buy knives whose handles fit your hand and whose weight distribution fits your strength and style. This might sound obvious, but most people skip it.