Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star 7-Piece Knife Set with Block

by Henckels

Product Features

• Knives include 8-inch chef's, 6-inch utility 5-inch serrated utility, and 3-inch paring
• Set includes shears and 9-inch sharpening steel
• Storage block has four extra slots
• Forged of three types of steel for added strength
• Polypropelene handles

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 13 x 5 x 13 inches ; 6.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004WYJA
• Item model number: 35297-000
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,304 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

This set places a lot of useful kitchen cutting edges within reach. The set consists of an 8-inch chef's knife, a 6-inch utility knife, a 5-inch serrated utility knife, a 3-inch paring knife, a pair of multipurpose kitchen shears, and a 9-inch sharpening steel to keep knife edges in order. It all fits in a heavy wood block with four extra slots for future acquisitions or old favorites. Except for the fully forged paring knife, the knives in this set--like other top-grade Henckels knives--are formed by a high-tech welding process that combines three steel types into what appears to be a single piece so a knife's parts have distinct characteristics. Traditionalists might insist on single-piece forging for strength, but Henckels says the invisible welds are stronger than the steel. These knife handles don't have full tangs, but they're made of tough polypropylene. Hand washing is recommended. --Fred Brack

What’s in the Box
8-inch chef's, 6-inch utility 5-inch serrated utility, and 3-inch paring, shears, 9-inch sharpening steel, storage block with four extra slots "

From the Manufacturer

First introduced in 1976, the Four Star® Series is one of the world's most popular knife lines. Four Star® knives were designed and developed in close cooperation with renowned professional chefs. The result was a fully forged knife with a unique molded handle. The Four Star® line contains knives for all tasks, and includes the following open stock knife types: parer, bread, peeling, sandwich, utility, carving, chef’s, granton edge slicer, santoku, and others. Four Star® knives are also available in a range of block sets and gift sets.

A Higher Standard in Knife Construction

Four Star® knives are precision forged from a single piece of exclusive-formula, high-carbon, no-stain steel under the all-new Sigmaforge standard. As a result, Four Star® knives have improved quality consistency, lasting sharpness, and perfect geometry. Sigmaforge one-piece construction also provides high precision and improved stability of the blade and steel structure, thus improving cutting-edge retention for lasting sharpness. In addition, Four Star® knives use J.A. Henckels’ Friodur ice hardening for corrosion resistance, a process that also contributes to cutting-edge retention.

It's All in The Grip:

The Four Star® series features high impact polypropylene handles that are permanently bonded to the knife blades without any gaps. These comfortable handles are break-proof, sanitary, and colorfast. In addition, the super bolster provides weight, insures safety, and adds balance.

Features:

• SIGMAFORGE 1-piece, precision forged construction: Provides perfect geometry, high precision, and improved stability of the blade and steel structure, thus improving cutting edge retention for lasting sharpness.
• Laser controlled edge: Is sharper and stays sharper longer. Has a more consistent blade angle.
• Friodur ice hardening: Maximum no-stain properties and more blade strength. Improved resistance to corrosion and pitting.
• Super bolster: Provides weight, insures safety, and adds balance.
• Full rat-tail tang: Provides a proper balance and greater strength.
• High-carbon no-stain steel, an exclusive J.A. Henckels formula: Non-staining, non-rusting.
• Hand, precision honed blade: Is sharper and stays sharper longer.
• Bonded polypropylene handles: Comfortable molded handles and food safe
• Dishwasher safe: Easy care (Although hand-washing is recommended by J.A. Henckels).
• Full warranty: J.A. Henckels stands behind all its knives.

Product Description

A sharp, superior quality knife can be a cook's best friend. Cutting, slicing, chopping, with speed and precision will reduce prep time, ensure uniform cooking time, and lead to more visually pleasing results. This set equips your kitchen with the basics and provides a safe and convenient way to sharpen and store your fine knives.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent starter set for the burgeoning chef, October 9, 2001

By 

G P (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star 7-Piece Knife Set with Block (Kitchen)

When first advised to buy Henckels by a friend and culinary aficionado, I hesitated; $200+ for a set of knives? But after purchasing this 7-piece Henckels set, I was pleasantly surprised. There are excellent knives and definitely worth the money.

I would advise you go to a store that carries most of the Henckels knife series before you purchase online. While I recommend all of Henckels' forged blades, the handles are key; there are at least 4 handle types, each with personal pro/cons depending on your hand shape and size. The four-star handles are mid-size poly; the five-star handles are similar but a bit larger and more ergonomic. Henckels also makes a "classic" handle, both in poly and wood, and also an all-metal handle.

46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every bit as good as the five star line, but cheaper, December 3, 2002

By 

A. Ryan "Merribelle" (Westminster, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star 7-Piece Knife Set with Block (Kitchen)

Three years ago, my husband (who is a knifemaker himself) bought me this set as a birthday gift. He checked out the 5 star and Pro S lines as well, but decided on the four-star knives for me because they are designed for average-sized hands. Other than that, they are identical to the others except for a handle design that encloses the tang for less chance of rusting and easier care. No really -- that's it. Save the extra thirty dollars for some flowers.

These knives perform beautifully and using them is like a dream after years of grocery store quality cutlery. Like any set of good knives, they require hand cleaning after each use (although I will guiltily admit to a few machine washings in a pinch). Take care of them, and they will take care of your food.

The set comes with every type of kitchen knife you will need, including those fantastic shears. I don't know how I ever used to live without the sharpener. After I had them both for awhile I realized how handy it was to have two sizes of bread knives. If you cannot live without a boning knife, this is available separately.

I can recommend Henckels' Four Star knives without reservation for any home cook.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No comparison..., July 11, 2004

By 

J. Oelkers "scatteredshadows" (Chicago, Illinois United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star 7-Piece Knife Set with Block (Kitchen)

First, I can't attest that these knives are better than similar knives by other makers, such as Wusthof or Global. I did my share of research based on online reviews but I haven't had the privilege of working with knives by other high end manufacturers. My wife and I mostly limit ourselves to preparing relatively simple foods.

This being said, the experience I can relate with absolute authority is the sheer joy I've felt using the Henckels 4-Star knives over the past several months after previously being stuck with no-name, bargain basement serrated knives.

Our old knives were given to us as a wedding gift. Over two years, what had been a 15 knife set was whittled (pun intended...) down to 7 knives, four of which now have loose handles. Two of the knives in this set had blades which broke, and the others had the blade break loose from the handle since they were not full tang. Of course quality, or lack thereof, was just one major deficiency of this set. No, the primary problem was their awful performance. The handles were poorly contoured. The blades were light and thin, wandering aimlessly through the food. Densely serrated edges would shred our food. Ingredients clung to the blades, which were so flimsy we were continually worried that they'd break in midstroke. They also became stained over time, and showed signs of spot rusting

Why am I detailing our lackluster, dollar store quality knives in such detail? Because I think it's crucial to illustrate why it's absolutely NECESSARY, if you do any amount of cooking at all, to buy good quality knives as soon as you possibly can!

In contrast with the old knives, the Henckels cut through our ingredients with authority and precision. Food slides off of them easily. Handles are solid and fit the hand perfectly, allowing for optimal control. They are weighty in comparison to cheaper knives, but superbly balanced. These handling characteristics mean that we slice through food so effortlessly, we really don't feel the extra heft. Also, because they are so efficient, we find that we fly through cutting chores that would take twice as long with the lesser quality knives. In the end, I now get tasks done much faster, yet more deftly. I cut thinner, smaller, more accurately. It's a WORLD of difference!

Anyone who says that you can get by with cheapo knives and don't need 'them fancy 'spensive knives...' is leading you astray. They can't possibly have EVER used good knives. They are advising based on ignorance. Even the simplest task is made better with our Henckels set. Truly, knives like these are NOT just for chefs and serious amateurs. They are for anyone who cooks on even a semiregular basis. They are invaluable if you like cooking fresh food at home yet don't have a lot of time. Do yourself a favor, pass by whatever is being hawked by the hucksters on HSN and the late night infomercials and aim for quality.

These might cost four times as much as lesser brands, but they will last far longer, and make your time in the kitchen immeasurably less stressful. In fact, they restore the pleasure to cooking.