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Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description
From the inventors of the famous Swiss Army knife comes a line of fine cutlery designed for accomplished and aspiring chefs at work or in the home. Each blade in the stamped collection is expertly made in Switzerland from high-carbon stainless steel and undergoes a special tempering process for an edge that can be resharpened again and again. The result is a knife that can keep its original sharpness throughout the entire life of the blade. Each blade is conical ground throughout its length and depth, and laser tested to ensure optimum cutting power and durability. Ergonomically designed to minimize wrist tension, the unique, patented Fibrox handles are slip resistant when wet. Plus, all stamped cutlery with Fibrox handles is approved by the NSF (National Sanitary Foundation). Although cutlery steel is naturally sanitary, materials and construction details of these handles minimize crevices that may otherwise offer hospitality to bacteria. The Victorinox Stamped collection is an extensive range with open-stock pieces as well as handy and versatile sets.
Who is Victorinox?
Although Victorinox is known the world over as the creator of the Original Swiss Army Knife, the company started out in 1884 as a cutlery workshop. By the time company creator Karl Elsener delivered his first pocket knife to the Swiss Army, his cutlery business was already booming. Over the next century, Victorinox cutlery became a top-rated choice among professionals worldwide, with over 300 blades to offer.
Designed for the professional or home chef, this superb 7-piece set includes a 3-1/2-inch paring knife, 4-1/2-inch tomato and bagel knife, 5-inch mini chef's and utility knife, 8-inch chef's knife, sharpening steel, kitchen shears, and a slant hardwood block for storing. All Stamped cutlery should be washed by hand for best care, and Victorinox covers each piece with a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects.
What’s in the Box
3-1/2-inch paring knife, 4-1/2-inch tomato and bagel knife, 5-inch mini chef's and utility knife, 8-inch chef's knife, sharpening steel, kitchen shears, and a slant hardwood block.
From the Manufacturer
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Although Victorinox is known the world over as the creator of the Original Swiss Army Knife, the company started out in 1884 as a cutlery workshop. By the time company creator Karl Elsener delivered his first pocket knife to the Swiss Army, his cutlery business was already booming. Over the next century, Victorinox cutlery became a top-rated choice among professionals worldwide, with over 300 blades to offer.
Victorinox knives have regularly appeared as highly ranked and recommended kitchen tools in Cook’s Illustrated, Men’s Health, The Cincinnati Enquirer, New York Magazine, and Natural Health, just to name a few. In 2009, the company announced a partnership with professional chef, Daniel Humm, of Eleven Madison Park in New York City. In addition, building on the success of its cutlery business, Victorinox has brought all the same quality and expertise to a wider range of products and accessories, including other kitchen tools, pocket tools, watches, luggage, and clothing.
Who is R.H. Forschner?
Victorinox had been a staple in European commercial cutlery for over 50 years when approached by New York’s R.H. Forschner, known since 1855 as a builder of scales for butchers, to be their sole cutlery supplier. The two companies joined forces in 1937, and R.H. Forschner subsequently became North America’s dominant professional brand, as ubiquitous in the bustling meatpacking plants of the Midwest as it is in the gleaming, four-star restaurant kitchens of Midtown Manhattan.
As a division of Victorinox/Swiss Army Brands, R.H. Forschner marketed cutlery under the brand name “RH Forschner by Victorinox” and distributed to the commercial, food service, and retail trade classes. That brand has been considered a top choice of professionals worldwide with over 300 styles of blades bearing the R.H. Forschner name. However, in 2009, in conjunction with Victorinox’s 125th anniversary, the company, Victorinox Swiss Army, Inc., has decided to remove the “RH Forschner” name from all blades. Blades thenceforth only include the “Victorinox” name.
What is a stamped blade?
A stamped knife can usually be identified by the absence of a bolster. Stamped blades are cut into their shapes from cold-rolled pieces of steel and then ground, tempered, and sharpened. Creating them requires many less steps than forging and results in lighter, narrower blades. Some professionals prefer the thicker, heavier forged blades, but many pros, who spend much of their day cutting and slicing, enjoy a lighter knife since it’s less fatiguing and easier to manipulate at speed.
Stamped knives are easier to produce and therefore less expensive. They perform very well and can approach the quality of a forged blade, but not the weight or feel. Victorinox manufactures a complete range of stamped blades with unique, patented Fibrox handles and they are considered among the greatest values in the knife industry.
What knives do I need to own?
Knife choice or selection is determined by many factors--size, function, style, and preference. The most important factor is function. Different knives have different uses. It is important to use the proper knife for a specific task, since proper knife selection and the use of a proper-sized, sharp knife make for safe cutting. General kitchen tasks and the knife to use for them are as follows:
Paring: The most common to own and use, a paring knife is generally for small cutting jobs and peeling of vegetables or fruit. The blade size is usually from three to four inches. Choose the shape and size to fit your hand. Since this is one of the more versatile knives, owning more than one is recommended.
Chef's: The most important tool and essential to every cook, a chef‘s knife is most often used in a rocking method to mince, dice, and chop vegetables and herbs. This one is known as the chef’s best friend.
Slicer: Most commonly used to slice meats, poultry, and seafood, the slicer is an important companion to any host or hostess.
Boning: As its name suggests, a boning knife is used to trim or remove meat and fish from the bone.
Bread: Designed with a special edge, a bread knife makes easy work of cutting through crusty bread, pastries, or any item with a crust and a soft interior.
Fillet: Most often used by pros and seasoned home chefs, the fillet knife is used to fillet meat and fish.
Cleaver: An important addition to any collection, a cleaver is often used to cut or chop through bones.
Santoku: This knife combines the features of a cleaver with a chef's knife. The curved blade helps the rocking motion used for chopping, and the wide blade works well for scooping sliced food off a cutting board and for crushing garlic. The santoku can also be used to slice meat and has a narrow spine for making thin cuts.
Utility: An all-purpose knife often referred to as a sandwich knife, the utility knife peels and slices fruits and vegetables, and even carves small meats.
Shaping: With its curved blade, a shaping knife is great for small precision cuts where control is essential, such as peeling, trimming, or garnishing.
What are the different knife edges and what do they do?
Straight: The vast majority of Victorinox knives come with a straight or fine edge. This means it has a perfect taper along the blade and no serrations. It is designed to cut without tearing or shredding.
Serrated: An edge designed with small, jagged teeth along the edge.
Scalloped: A blade with waves along the edge generally used to cut breads with a hard crust and soft interior, as well as tougher-skinned fruits and vegetables.
Granton: This edge has hollowed-out grooves or dimples on the sides of the blade. These grooves fill with the fat and juices of the product being cut, allowing for thin, even cuts without tearing. Even with the grooves, these are still straight-edge knives and can be honed with a sharpening steel.
How should I care for my cutlery?
After use, knives should not be allowed to soak in water. The best practice is to hand wash and dry them immediately. This is especially true if they have been used on fruit or salty foods, which may cause some staining, even on stainless steel. Most knives require very little maintenance and it is worth the effort to protect your investment.
Though Victorinox knives are dishwasher safe, this is strongly discouraged. The dishwasher’s agitation may cause damage. Additionally, harsh detergents can be harmful and cause pitting and spotting on the blades. The handles may also discolor and develop a white film with constant use of the dishwasher. Plus, intense heat associated with dishwashers is not good for the temper of the blade.
How do I keep my knives sharp?
All quality knives require proper maintenance to keep them in perfect cutting shape. The best of edges will quickly dull if it strikes metal, glass, or Formica. A wooden cutting board makes the best cutting surface. And, if a slip occurs, a proper cutting board is safer for the user. Frequent use of a Victorinox sharpening steel will keep blades in tip top working condition. All straight-edge knives need steeling to keep their edges.
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How to "Steel" a Knife
1. Hold the steel firmly in your left hand with the guard positioned to stop the blade should it slip.
2. Hold the knife in your right hand and place on top part of steel as shown.
3. Raise back of blade one-eighth inch.
4. Now, moving the blade only, draw it across the steel in an arching curve, pivoted at your wrist. The blade tip should leave the steel about two-thirds of the way down.
5. Repeat the same action with the Blade on the bottom side of the steel. Always maintain the same pressure and angle on both sides of the steel.
6. Repeat five or six times.
When a sharpening steel no longer does the job, it’s time to take the knife to a qualified knife sharpener who will place a new edge on it. This, along with use of the sharpening steel, will give you many years of sharp, safe blades.
Please note that electric knife sharpeners can be harmful. They have to be used carefully as they remove too much metal, can harm the temper of the blade, and most important can change the factory-applied edge angle.
How should I store my knives?
Safety is the biggest concern of storage, both to the user and to protect the knife's edge. Choices include a knife magnet, knife block, drawer insets, and also individual knife protectors.
Product Description
Designed to outfit the kitchen with basic and specialty cutlery, the 7-piece set from Victorinox provides established and aspiring chefs with top-of-the-line tools. The set includes a 3-1/2-inch paring knife, 4-1/2-inch tomato and bagel knife, 5-inch mini chef's and utility knife, and an 8-inch chef's knife. For keeping blades in prime working condition, a sharpening steel is included. Kitchen shears round out the set, and a handy, attractive hardwood block neatly stores every piece. Each knife features high-carbon, stainless-steel blades, hand finished at Victorinox in Switzerland by skilled craftsmen. A special tempering process is used to produce an edge that can be resharpened over and over again, so every knife can keep its original sharpness throughout the entire life of the blade. In addition, full tang construction provides strength and balance. The black Fibrox handles feature a non-slip, ergonomic design to minimize wrist tension, and they are approved by the National Sanitation Foundation. The NSF mark is a certification of quality assurance and hygienic design, carried on all Victorinox Cutlery blades with a Fibrox handle. Sure-grip handles with finger guards are a valuable feature, since the handles inevitably get greasy or wet. A great gift idea, the set carries a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects. What's in the Box:3-1/2-inch paring knife, 4-1/2-inch tomato and bagel knife, 5-inch mini chef's and utility knife, 8-inch chef's knife, sharpening steel, kitchen shears, and slant hardwood block.
Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Four Knives Plus...,
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This review is from: Victorinox 7-Piece Knife Block Set (Kitchen)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Four knives plus a sharpening steel, plus a pair of kitchen scissors, plus a wood block holder equals seven pieces.
It is good you can actually see the set here on Amazon as the box it comes in is a little misleading because there is a knife in every slot in the photo. Part of consistent quality cooking is good equipment and these knives are excellent tools. They are extraordinarily sharp and the handles are durable and comfortable are easy to keep clean and sanitary. One other note - the paring knife does not bear the Victorinox markings. The pair of kitchen shears, as I recall from the box, are made in Italy and do not bear the Victorinox markings, either -- so they are not exactly like other shears or scissors from the company. They are still solid, sharp, and useful, though. I am not really sure why you would want a 5 inch and a 8 inch chef's knife as they are not that different in size. From what I can tell, the set consists of the following: Victorinox 3-1/4-Inch Paring Knife(but it doesn't have the markings) Victorinox 125th Anniversary Limited Edition 4-1/2-Inch Tomato/Bagel Knife(without the 125th anniversary stuff) Victorinox 5-Inch Mini-Chef's Knife with Fibrox Handle Victorinox Fibrox 8-Inch Chef's Knife Kitchen Shear, 3 in., Black Nylon Handle Victorinox Cutlery 9-Inch Round Sharpening Steel, Black Plastic Handle And the block Still, a good set for the price at this time ($110.00 US) and it would make a good gift or starter set for a household that does not have a good set of knives.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great knife set!,
By
This review is from: Victorinox 7-Piece Knife Block Set (Kitchen)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I have never had a set of "good" knives before this. Over time I accumulated mostly knives that weren't very sharp to start with, and/or didn't keep their sharpness for any time, but have two that have been quite nice.
This set in its block is attractive on my counter. There were three slots in the block that were still available, so the two respectable knives I already own are stored there now. These are awesomely sharp. I use them for everything; there are sizes for every use. Although the handles are a black plastic (resin, I think?) they still have a very nice heft and feel to them. The shape and texture of the handles is good for a secure and comfortable grip. Only the second-smallest knife has a serrated edge. I might have liked to have a bigger serrated knife to use for bread, but I can add one of those later. I have yet to need the sharpening tool after two months of regularly using the knives. I am hand-washing these as recommended, although I am typically the type to toss things in the dishwasher and just hope they'll come out okay. I want to keep these as nice and new-looking as possible since they are on display in my kitchen, and I intend to use them for a loooong time to come! My next task will be to go through the drawer with all my old knives and start tossing...
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Save up for something better,
By
This review is from: Victorinox 7-Piece Knife Block Set (Kitchen)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I'm uploading some pictures so you can see the quality control issues I am mentioning in this review.
This was part of the Vine program, so I did not pay for these knives, but if I had paid for them, they would be on their way back right now. The commonly accepted wisdom when buying knives is that you get what you pay for and this set seems to confirm that. Right out of the box, the knife block itself was in extremely poor shape. Note the photos that show the logo was not completely colored in...I suspect this is supposed to look like a "wood burned" logo, but is instead cheaply printed on with ink. In this case, the stamping is incomplete. Also note the scratches on the block around the base. The knives themselves are obviously cheap and do not handle well. Blades cut okay for now, but this won't last and I don't think they will sharpen well. Brand new, they should be great, and they are not. I am never sure what is preferable in knives...lightweight or heavyweight (I've heard people refer to both as desirable), but I'll just tell you that these are super light. I also uploaded a picture that shows that the difference in material between the larger knives and the two smaller ones. The smaller knives are really like the paring/slicing knives you might buy at any grocery store in their little kitchen utensils section (my grocery store has one anyway)...basic plastic handles. The handles on the bigger knives are slightly different...might also be plastic, but they are not as shiny. Very, very lightweight as well. Not sure if this matters, just trying to mention it. The scissors are very stiff and cheap feeling. I might try to loosen them a bit but since the hinge is covered with metal button this might not work. Incidentally, the picture of the knife on the product page...the one that has a Santoku look with the little sort of cutouts on the side? It's not included in this set at all. UPDATE: 11/25/10 I seem to have upset some people with my review and I am sorry about that. I thought I'd post an update. First of all, I don't think it is unreasonable to think that brand new items look brand new, so the business with the knife block still is troublesome. Nor do I think it is unreasonable to mention that the picture that was given in the ad copy does not match the items that are in the box. Regarding the blades themselves, they are wearing about like any other mid-range knives I have ever had, not extraordinary in any way. I have added 2 more stars to my review for a total of 3 stars, which probably more accurately reflects my experience with these knives than the one star I originally gave it, which was, admittedly based on a first impression. They still seem awfully lightweight to me, to the point that they feel unstable or cheap. The scissors are just okay, still kind of stiff. Probably my favorite knife in the set is the smallest one, the paring knife. That feels good in my hand and cuts very nicely. The larger ones tend to feel as though they might break or bend on bigger jobs. One commenter called my original review a "travesty" which seems a bit harsh, but I am only expressing opinions after all. I'm sure other folks might have had a different experience with this set and found it completely acceptable. For me, I just know I would be disappointed had I paid full price for the set.
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