Customer Reviews

J.A. Henckels 8 Piece Stylus Block Set

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This J.A. Henckels 8 Piece Stylus Block Set is a decent set at an excellent price, but do read the specs carefully before you order so that you're not surprised. This set has a modern appearance due to the stainless steel handles, and those have a nice ergonomic feel. But these are not the "Made in Solingen, Germany" like the Four Star, Five Star, Pro "S" (and others), which are forged from a single piece of high-carbon stainless steel. These knives are made in China from stamped stainless steel, as indicated in the specs.

An explanation: J.A. Henckels has two distinct brands. The "Zwilling J.A. Henckels" brand is known as "The Premium Brand," with products that are mainly made in Germany (mostly forged blades) or Spain (for mid-range knives, forged or stamped). The "J.A. Henckels International" brand is "The Value Brand" division that produces less costly, mostly stamped blade knives, often made in China or Taiwan.

If you're looking for some top-of-the line German-made knives from J.A. Henckels, check out the J.A. Henckels Twin Four Star Cutlery, or perhaps the J.A. Henckels Twin Signature 7-Piece Knife Block Set.

Please understand that this is not a put down on this J.A. Henckels 8 Piece Stylus Block Set, which in some ways is better than some other knives crafted in Germany, for the Henckels quality is still there. Just don't be surprised to see the blades marked "Made in China."

I paid $29.99 for this set on a Lightning Deal, and it is a very good set. I would rate this set in the middle of various J.A. Henckels knife sets, and worth around three times what I had paid for it.

They have stamped blades, not forged, but do the job, as long as you keep them sharpened. The set also looks good on our black granite kitchen counter top. I recommend hand washing after each use.

This set was made in China, not Germany, but the quality, for the price, is there. If you have the chance to buy this set for $70.00, or less, you will get your monies worth. I would also advise buying a good knife sharpener, because these knives do get dull after a few weeks of use.

I have only used these knives once so far, so I cannot speak to their durability, but I am impressed. Some people may prefer some forged blades from another name brand, Henckels' premium line, but for the price, this set includes everything anyone would need to start a collection.

If you are concerned about the handles being too slick, they are meaty enough to fill your hand and I have not had any trouble holding on. Just be sure to keep them clean, honed, and sharp and they will melt through even the most stringy chicken breast.

I purchased the JA Henckels International Stylus cutlery set with the graphite painted block in December 2007, and I have had no regrets whatsoever for not purchasing a higher end, more expensive one.I did manage to obtain it at about $30 less than what is offered on Amazon from another supplier, but I still feel the current Amazon price is an excellent value for these knives. The one piece ice forged blade and handle feature is what initially attracted me to this set. If you've ever lost a handle from a knife, you'll understand what I'm talking about.A passionate yet fledgling cook who enjoys teaching my children the finer points of good food preparation, I really appreciate knowing these knives will not fall apart during an important cutting job. The included honing steel quickly restores a straight edge, and I've only needed to sharpen my chef's knife (the workhorse in my kitchen) using the Accusharp Knife sharpener one time.It restored it to its razor sharp edge immediately.With proper cleaning and care, I predict these knives will continue to take the daily heavy use I subject them to for many years to come.AccuSharp Knife Sharpener With Replacement Blades

Yes, this line of Henckels knives is not made in Germany, but in China. (And yes, I also think it is somewhat confusing and irritating at times to see information that suggests products are from one place when they are actually from another. But that is a problem with many of the products sold now.) But, made in China or not, these knives seem rather nice to me, not anything like the quite inexpensive ones that might also be made in China under other brand names.

The blades do not have that too flexible quality that comes from steel stamped too thin. The blade and handle is one piece, so there is no danger of the latter coming off. (Furthermore, there will not be that problem with wooden-handled knives that stay wet just a bit too long after being washed: a rather musty smell.) There is a good mix of types of knieves, though the chef knife has a blade that is a bit narrow (in that it is closer to a carving knife in size than usual). Also, the sharpening tool has a plastic handle, which is aesthetically and practically rather unfortunate, given that everything else is steel.

Finally, the only real issue I have with the set is that the angle of the storage block is such that when placing it on top of a counter that has cabinets hanging over it (something that I think a lot of people do), the knives cannot be removed. You have to move the entire base out so that you have enough room to pull the knife up without hitting the underside of the cabinet. The old block of knives we had was built with a better angle, which did not cause this problem. Still, overall it is a nice set.

So far these knives have been great, stylish, sharp with a good solid feeling and no discoloration or staining when they were accidentaly put through the dishwasher. If you can't afford the really expensive Henckels then this is a good substitute

I bought this set as a Christmas present, but had to check it out before I wrapped it. I have a Henckels block and some Henckels knives as well, both the cheaper Chinese "International" and some more expensive German ones as well. The "International" Henckels knifes I have are wooden-handled, poorly balanced, flimsy and somewhat poorly made. I wanted to be sure that these knives didn't suffer from the same deficits before gifting.

I was quite pleased to see that this set of knives greatly exceeds the quality of the cheaper Henckels knives I own, and approach the quality of some of my most expensive knives. They are well balanced, sturdy, well-made and beautiful. The grip seems like it would be of no concern to me (some other reviewers have pointed out that the stainless grip offers little purchase) but I didn't use them for any cutting work.

Overall, I am jealous, and tempted to buy another set for myself. Just not sure the wife would permit two blocks on the kitchen counter. This set is a steal at twice the price.

We looked at several brands of cutlery and found Henkels to be among the best. When we saw it on deal of the day at such an amazing price, we snatch the set up and added two sets of steak knives. Our expectations have been exceeded.

I received the Stylus set from my wife, who has had a really hard time buying kitchen tools for me in the past. I am an equipment snob and am turned off by the little things. When I saw that these knives were stamped and not forged I was a bit leery but after using them to prepare some holiday meals I am duly impressed.

This set was a deal of the day for [...] bucks and at that price I can overlook the possible longevity issues and focus on the razor sharpness and the really great balance. This set is perfect for the weekend warrior chef wannabe. Don't turn your nose up until you've held them. I Love these knives!!!

These knives make cooking a lot easier. They are very sharp and cut with ease. They are a great buy for anyone! :)