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

by Zwilling J.A. Henckels

• 7-piece set consists of 4-inch parer, 5-inch Santoku, 5-inch serrated utility, 8-inch chef knife, cutting shears, sharpening steel, and block
• Friodur ice-hardened, 1-piece, high-carbon, no-stain, forged steel blades
• Full rat-tail tangs and bolsters provide better weight and superior balance
• German-made molded polypropylene handles; Zwilling J.A. Henckels' logo
• Measures approximately 17-1/2 by 9 by 16 inches

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 9 x 16 inches ; 7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0035GWY8M
• Item model number: 35246-001
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,879 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

A useful addition to any busy kitchen, this seven-piece knife set consists of a 4-inch parer, a 5-inch Santoku, a 5-inch serrated utility, an 8-inch chef knife, and cutting shears, as well as a 9-inch sharpening steel to keep all the blades in good working order. Constructed under Henckels' sigmaforge standards, their one-piece, high-carbon, no-stain, forged steel blades come Friodur ice hardened for durability and maximum corrosion resistance. Even more, the knives supply German-made molded polypropylene handles for a comfortable grip, and full rat-tail tangs and bolsters for superior balance. The set also provides a large wooden block--complete with the Zwilling J.A. Henckels' logo--that not only showcases the collection, but also safely and securely stores the knives when not in use. The seven-piece knife set measures approximately 17-1/2 by 9 by 16 inches.

Product Description

Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Four Star 7-piece set contains a assortment of quality kitchen knives. The set includes a 4-inch Parer, 5-inch Santoku, 5-inch Serrated Utility, 8-inch Chef, 9-inch Steel, Twin L Shears, and a Hardwood block. Twin Four Star kni

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

147 of 148 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars See through the advertising BS. This is the best value on Henckels knives December 27, 2011

By Jason P Leggett

These were a Christmas gift from my parents. I requested these specifically after doing several months of research on knives.

Many knife manufacturers come up with so many different 'lines' for their knives that the consumer has no idea what the hell he's looking at. It took me months to research these knives and determine they were the best value. Why?

Henckels has two major lines: 'Twin' and 'International.' Twin are made in Europe, International are made in China. Within the 'Twin' classification are about five or six different lines, from 'gourmet' to 'pro-s' with a lot in-between, but only two types of blade construction are found within this line!

Basically, when you buy a knife, you're either buying 'forged' steel--a blade produced all from one piece of metal in a multi-step process that requires much skilled labor for every blade--or 'stamped' steel, a mass-production method where the blade is cut from a sheet of cold-rolled steel. Needless to say, forged is better. And anything from China is almost certainly going to be a 'stamped' blade.

But Henckels is spreading two types of blade construction across five or six different brands, each more expensive than the last. They differentiate their knives by more ergonomic handles.

Seriously. That's the difference. This $170 kit contains all but two of the most fundamental cooking knives (what's missing is a slicer/carver, steak knives, and a bread knife). These can easily be added to the kit and still yield a much lower price than the 'full' kits of more expensive lines. It is the absolute cheapest set of FORGED Henckels blades, anywhere. The exact same blade can be purchased with a slightly different handle in the Five Star, Pro-S, and even Four Star II sets (that's right--Henckels made a new line that is much more expensive to replace these and doubled the price. The difference is a metal cap on the handle).

The 'Gourmet' and 'Signature' lines are, frankly, a waste of your time. They are stamped blades.

Henckels' forging method is spectacular and they are a company worthy of your business. But you are a customer who deserves to get the right value. This is the right value. And it's probably discontinued by Henckels now in lieu of the much more expensive Four Star II line, intended to replace these and give them a much better margin on their sales.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great set of knives and super value! December 16, 2011

By C. Pop

After spending weeks going between the Calphalon Katanas, Wustofs classic, and the plethora of Zwilling knives I finally made the decision to purchase this set. I didn't choose the Katanas because they didn't seem to hold an edge very long and it didn't feel that great in my hand. The Wustofs I decided were too pricey because after all, I am not a professional chef, but I still want a quality set of knifes that will last me a long time.

After looking through the various Zwilling series, I discovered that there is very little difference between this older model of knife compared to the newest lines out. Here is a breakdown of the differences in the lines:

TWIN Professional `S' - full tang, three rivet traditional handle

Four Star - original molded handle knife

Four Star II - updated version of the four star upscale knife, original molded handle with a metal cap on the end.

TWIN Profection- Full tang, three rivet design of the poly handle is ergonomic, fitting the grip perfectly.
The new bolster design provides solid, balanced feel giving a full cutting edge.

The blades are the same on all of the above. One is not considered better than the other - all have special formulated steel made to Zwilling J.A. Henckels' specifications and all are Friodur® ice-hardened, a process of heating, cooling and re-heating that changes the molecular structure of the blade for optimum no-stain features and an extremely long-lasting edge.

So when you see that the new 7 piece Four Star II set is $299 and the other sets are even more expensive, you can see the value in this $169. I purchased mine at Bed Bath with a 20% and the matching steak knives. It's a sweet deal.

Lastly, do these things cut! I used to have the Henckels International line. There is no comparison between the two. The balance, edge, and sturdiness of these are fantastic.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Knives Last a Lifetime November 27, 2011

By Gregory E. Howard

I was a chef for 11 years, and early on I learned the necessity of owning top quality knives.

I purchased a set of J.A. Henckels Four Star knives in 1987, and I am still using them today -- a quarter-century later. They have survived two divorces (not my ex's fault; the knives were far sharper than I was), a dozen moves back and forth cross-country, and most important: daily use, week in & week out, in professional kitchens and at home.

When it comes to chef's knives, as with so many other things, you DO get what you pay for, so my advice is simple: Buy the best knives your budget allows for, take the time to learn how to use them* and care for them**, and they will last a lifetime.

*Proper use includes how to hold your knives, the correct strokes for cutting, paring, etc., and the proper cutting surfaces.
**Learn how to keep your knives sharp with stone & steel, how to clean them and how to store them.

J. A. Henckels' knives are an investment well worth the money; they will make cooking far less stressful and a lot more fun for many years to come.