Zwilling JA Henckels Twin Gourmet 15-Piece Block Set

A little misleading
The picture of the knife on the box of this product shows the words Made in Germany. The product is actually made in Spain. Zwilling knives in Germany are known to be of a superior quality...so this is a little misleading.
Great deal for the price
This set is a cost-effective solution for making sure you always have a suitable decent-quality knife for the task on hand, but none of the included knives really qualifies as the kitchen knife of choice. For that, I would recommend a FORGED 8" chef's knife with a bolster (Henckels offers one for about $100 Zwillilng J.A. Henckels Twin Four Star 8-Inch High Carbon Stainless-Steel Chef's Knife), which would fit nicely into any of the few spare slots in the included block (none of which will fit a typical meat cleaver, incidentally).

The steak knives are a high point of the set. Note that they are serrated, which could lead to future sharpening difficulties. It goes without saying that the bread knife is also serrated.

There's nothing here that will impress an enthusiast, but for the rest of us, it's a reasonably-priced product that gets you 90% of the way toward a full suite of utilitarian...
Knives are good except shears
The knives are very good quality and I love using them. However, I am very disappointed that the shears has NO logo and No indication that it is Zwilling JA Henckels. It seems that the shears is just a cheap NO BRAND shear added to the block set. The block set is supposed to be made in Spain, as I stated before the Shears has NO indication that it is made in Spain as well. So you never know where it comes from. Therefore, it is NOT a real Zwilling JA Henckels block set (seems misleading)!
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Chicago Cutlery Landmark 14-Piece Block Knife Set

A Solid Knife Set
I purchased this knife set for my wife about a month ago. As of today, there have been no complaints regarding the quality of the knives at all.
PRO's
- The block that holds the knives is well put together and cradles each knife snug, but not too tight to make it difficult to return each knife to its proper place. - - Each knife comes out of the package extremely sharp.
- The knifes are all built with 1 piece of metal, so the blade cannot break from the handle
- A sharpening stick does come with the set.

CON's
- The block does take up a lot of counter space due to the easy access tilt and quantity of knives.
- The kitchen sheers don't seem to meet the quality / size of the rest of the knives. (They are not terrible, but I just expected them to be a bit bigger)
- It would have been nice to have a butchers blade in the set...but it isn't touted as having one so I am just nitpicking now.

All in all a very quality set of knives...
Excellent set for the price
Before purchasing this set I read a lot of reviews on Chicago Cutlery's other products so I knew what I could expect. This set was consitant with many of the other reviews. The knifes themselves are great quality and feel. The craftsmanship was good but not great(a few imperfections here and there). The blades are very sharp and not flimsy at all, will hold edge with proper care. They cut through most things effortlessly. We havent had any issues with rust, staining or dulling of any sort. We always handwash and hand dry immediately after use(as reccomended).

The Block is very nice looking but it is actually painted and not stained(wich was slightly dissapointing) but it still looks very nice, dispite a few scuffs probably from packing wich for the most part are not visable. No problems as of yet with the poly inserts. Many people have commented on how nice the set looks.

I gave this set a 4 stars overall because it doesn't look quite as nice as advertised but...
excellent!
I bought these for my wife as a christmas present two years ago and they are still sharp! If they seem a little dull a few strokes across the included sharpening rod and presto. My wife loves them and its a beautiful set. We couldnt be happier and would reccomend this set to anyone.
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Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star 8-Piece Knife Set with Block

Awesome set, cuts like butter!
This is the 3rd set of Henckels I've owned. I sent the first set to the local cutlery store for sharpening and they came back with a different personality. Didn't cut like Henckels anymore. Really disappointed. In search of a replacement set, I got the lower end Twin Signature 11pcs set. It was stamped, not forged. They cut well, but the knife felt cheap compared with the real forged Henckels.

I am really satisfied with this Four Star set. Feels solid, even weight distribution from front to back, and cuts like butter. My friend has a set of Twin Crusine which is so well built that ended up being too heavy in the back. Feels like I am just about to lose control and dropped the knife. Gives me the insecure feeling that I might cut myself trying to overcome the Twin Crusine under control.

One thing I learn this time.... make good use of the sharpening steel. I finally got the courage to learn how to use the sharpening steel with the correct angle and...
Great knives... could be better, though.
I bought this knife set after reading many positive reviews. It has been two months since I received the set from Amazon and I'm impressed with its overall quality. Each knife is still sharp and beautiful. Seven-inch Santoku and 8-inch Chef's knives are my favorites.

My complaints:

1. Blades for two peeling and paring knives are too short to handle a variety of small cutting tasks. For example, I tried to cut apples but the knives are too short to cut the fruits in one stroke. I had to use a bigger utility knife from my old Chicago Cutlery knife set.

2. Five-inch utility knife has a serrated edge, which I believe is useful in certain tasks, like slicing tomatos, but it is not really versatile. As one of the previous reviewers pointed out, you will need a regular utility knife. Six-inch utility knife would be great although it costs $65 if you buy it from an open stock. Update on 12/1/09: Cutleryandmore.com started its holiday sale... Henckels 6-inch...
Needs a regular utility knife
The knives themselves are fantastic, but the set really needs a regular unserrated 6-inch utility knife. Since buying it separately is outrageously expensive, I've had to pull a poorer-quality knife back out for now since this is a knife I used frequently. I love the santoku, had never used one before, but it's amazing for chopping. The handles are a perfect size for me, a woman with larger hands, and a man would probably appreciate them as well (although the five-star series knives have even more substantial handles). I see other reviews saying they prefer the Twin series, but these are the higher-end knives, forged instead of stamped like the Twin knives. Overall I would recommend this set as a good starter, and suggest you buy other pieces like the utility knife, bread knife, and steak knives as you come into inheritances....
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Berghoff Twist 6-Piece Knife Block Set

Quality design, quality product
I like these knives. The set is as complete as it needs to be in a home kitchen.

They are well balanced, their handle allow a good grip, they are easy to keep clean.

They are made of a very hard steel which demands a high quality steel to keep them sharp.

No regrets!
Lightweight, German Quality, Superb Cutting
These were on sale on Amazon for only thirty seven dollars when I bought them, so an amazing, amazing deal....even at the seventy or so dollars it usually sells, these are worth it. Once through the machine so far and no rust but I took them right out when it stopped and dried with paper towel then let dry on rack outside machine.
very sharp, won't rust
very good for the price, feels very sturdy and has a great weight to it. no rusting! and works in the dish washer!
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Wusthof Classic 7-Piece Cutlery Set with Storage Block

Superior Knives; Perfect Set
I received these knives as a wedding gift two years ago, and I have probably used them every day since, and for some intense cooking projects. They have held up beautifully. I sharpen them every few months, and they are still cutting and chopping just as well as when I first used them.

Coming from low-end budget knives stuck in a drawer together, I noticed the difference immediately. Because of the full-length tang, the knives are perfectly steady in my hand while I chop; there is no "wobbling." Most importantly, the knives cut through anything I give them immediately and cleanly. The only time I had some difficulty was with an especially tough pumpkin, but after using some more muscle, the knife handled that well, too.

I like the seven-piece set because it seems to address all of my knife-needs (and I cook an elaborate dinner almost every evening). The only overlap is with the 4 1/2" utility knife and the paring knife. Since they are similar in size, they can be...
Very sharp - careful!
My wife and I bought these knives through another retailer and have loved them. They are sharp, sharp, sharp. Slicing tomatoes is so smooth and easy - and hard veggies like carrots cut like butter.

It's nice that this set includes the honing steel. With proper care these should last a very long time.

I will say - be careful! I cut up several kitchen towels without realizing it when I dried the knives after washing! I've also knicked my fingers once or twice - I'm used to our old dull and chipped knives. These are very sharp and can cut you without you even realizing it has happened.
fantastic knives
I love to cook, not a chef by any means, but I can appreciate good utensils and 'kichen gear'. Since I bought this knife set, I look for an excuse to chop things...even onions, because the using a great knife is amazing. These knives have a really good and balanced weight to them that makes them very steady in your hand. It feels like you are holding a knife. You don't need to put a lot of weight into things, the knife will do the work. Totally reccommend this set.
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BergHOFF Geminis Cutlery Set, 7-Piece

Like
I got exactly what I was expecting. Never bought a set like this before and they are as advertised. Solid, sharp and well balanced.


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Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Pro S 9-Piece Knife Set with Block

A Beautiful Set But Not All Traditionally Forged
I have ordered this and it hasn't been shipped to me yet so I should probably wait to review it, but I did some resesrch because I know nothing about this, and there are some things peope should know. The Henckels' Pro S knife set is rated by Consumer Reports higher than Henckel's Four Star and considerably higher then Henckels' Five Star. Only the Wusthof Trident Grand Prix and Wusthof Trident Classic sets were top rated above Henckel's Pro S set, with Henckel's Four Star coming in 4th and Henckel's Five Star coming in 10th. All the top 10 knife sets, except Henckels', (these 3 lines) are termed "forged" by Consumer Reports. Consumer Reports termed these (but not lesser) Henckels' knives "Forged Style".I did dome checking up on the Internet and found myself at Henckels' homepage (which can bee accessed via AOL's Productopia if you can't access it directly). Henckels' provides a way to e-mail them questions, and because some of Henckel's other sets and...
Henckle, where is the quality control?
I bought the 9 piece Pro S set as a Christmas present for my father. I looked at all the different grades Henckle's makes and decided to go all out and buy the... Pro S set made in Solingen, Germany. I believe you get what you pay for, or at least that's the way it's supposed to work. After the excitement wore off of opening this... gift, for my father anyway, I took a close look at these knives and was somewhat disappointed by what I found.

This set is comprised of 6 knives, a scissors, sharpening steel, and wood block. The problem I immediately noticed is that on the six knives, none of them had the back edge of the blade, "the top of the blade," deburred. The top edges of these knives was very sharp, sharp enough to cut your finger if you rubbed or pressed your finger on them. This is alarming because some people like to rest their forefinger on the top of the knife when cutting, or like to rest the knife in the web of their hand, between thumb and forefinger, when...
They stay sharp and feel great!
These are fantastic knives. They stay sharp soooooo long. Whenever they dull slightly I just use that Sharpening steel they have. Works real, real good. I don't see how even the most ardent chef or anyone else for that matter could ever complain about these. I've owned them for about three years and they are still like brand new. Every time I use them I still get a big smile on my face and feel a great sense of satisfaction. One of my best all time purchases. Enjoy........
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Mundial 5100 Series 7-Piece Knife Set with Block, Black

High Quality, distinctive set of Knives.
I bought the Mundial 7-piece set for my father in law. I wanted to get him a quality of set of knives at an affordable price. Knowing that no set of knives like Shun or Wusthof could possibly be worth the $500-$1000 price tag and owning Henckels myself - I knew there had to be a happy medium. I did some research and Mundials are exactly that. Not too expensive but very high quality. They are heavy with good balance, fully forged (one piece of metal), and guaranteed for life. I suggest though paying the extra $50 and getting the 10-piece set as the block for the 7 is the same and have 3 empty slots. The individual cost for the extra 3 knives is actually much more than $50.
Possibly my favorite wedding gift!
I bought a small set of small, regular kitchen knives at a local store and fell in love with them, so a few months later when it came time to make a wedding registry I put this Mundial knife set at the top of my list.

We love our knife set, they are so sharp! Nothing has given these knives a problem.

I can't compare them to other high end knives, since I haven't used any, but me and my wife are happy with these.

Update: It's been almost 3 years now and the knives are still working wonderfully. I sharpen them regularly with the included sharpener and I would say they're just as good as my friends that have knives that cost twice the price. (like cutco).
Not as pictured, substandard scissors
I love my old Mundial scissors (I've had them for 6+ years) so I was excited to get this set of knives with a new pair. Unfortunately there was a couple of set-backs that made me regret buying this on Amazon.

First, there's some hackery being used to describe this kit. The second image of the knives shows 7 pieces, but there's actually only 6. One of the small knives is not included and the block is really the 7th piece. So it's really "6-Piece Set w/ Block" as opposed to the clarity of the "10-piece Block Set".

Second, the scissors are substandard. My old Mundial scissors were clean and elegant. The new ones are rough, greasy, shop metal. I honestly thought Amazon sold me a counterfeit set. I've contacted Mundial about the difference, along with pictures, and am awaiting a response (update: they responded fast!)

The knives seem good. The only product I knew was the scissors, so I don't know if they're different.

[Update] within minutes of...
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Mundial 5100 Series 10-Piece Block Set, Black

Sharp and Sturdy
After researching many brands of knives, I decided on the Mundial brand. I was a bit nervouse because I couldn't find any locally to look at. From the first time that I used the chef's knife, I knew that I would love these. They are very well balanced and I like the weight of them. They cut easily through everything from chicken to tender tomatoes.

We are very pleased with Mundial knives. I would recommend them to anybody and would purchase them again in the future.
Great knives for half the price of the competition
I was contemplating spending almost double the price paid for this cutlery on a similar Wusthof or Henckels 10 piece set. After receiving the knives I am glad I did not. These knives are of excellent quality and sharpness. After researching this product I expect exceptional durability of the edge. I can see no difference in the quality of this set compared to the other premium branded knives. I believe the only difference is that the other brands are more well recognized by the "Williams-Sonoma" home chef and as such command more market price. The maker of these knives originated from Germany then moved to Brazil, so you are still getting the manufacturing quality associated with that region. I have big hands, this particular line, while comfortable, could have a slightly larger handle if you are of similar size. Smaller to average-large hands should adjust to the handle contours well.
Excellent Quality, Great Choice at Sale Price
Mundial's 5100 competes very well with Wusthoff classic and Ikon series. We sold many Mundial knives (5500, 5100 series and others) to restaurants and home cooks when I worked at a large restaurant supply business in So. Florida. Buy these with confidence when they are on sale.
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Shun Classic 6-Piece Knife Set with Bamboo Block

Shun Knives are Beautiful, Elegant, and the Sharpest around
The only thing this set is missing is a Serrated Blade. I have the Shun Serrated 9" Bread Knife and although it's not used as often as my Chef's Knife and Paring Knife, it's still essential to have a good serrated blade for cutting bread and the like.

Shun knives are beautiful creations period. Since I'm Asian, I love the tradition look and feel of this Japanese knife. I love the beauty of the blade and the dark, polished, Pakkawood handle. The unique "D"-shaped, Wood handles are preferable. The shape fits my hand perfectly, and the wood does not get slippery when wet - providing a very secure hold. The steel is of utmost quality and sharpness. Do not put this blade into any old electric knife sharpener! Electric knife sharpeners are made to put one angle on any blade. These blades come with a 16 degree angle and you don't want to be changing that angle. There are electric knife sharpeners that can sharpen these knives, but you'll have to do some research and find out...
Nice Knives for Smaller Hands
I bought this set for my significant other at Christmas. I looked around at Wusthof, Global, and a few others but liked the unique look and feel of these better. I also figured these would be more comfortable and easier to wield for a female. The end result is that she really enjoys them. Although she has fairly large hands for a woman, the handles fit her nicely.

The knives come very sharp and hold their edge for a long time. It will be interesting to see how well they take to a professional sharpening. Overall, I am happy that I purchased this set.

There is one caveat. I also do quite a bit of cooking and have large hands. After using the Shuns for a couple of months, I have come to the conclusion that the Wusthof Grand Prixs fit me better and feel sturdier. I cannot really justify having two sets of expensive knives around the house, so we will be keeping the Shuns. My advice: Go to Sur La Table or Williams-Sonoma and handle the knives yourself...
excellent knives, no taskmaster shears, no logo on the block
The knives are excellent, as is usual for Shun knives. However, the bamboo block does NOT have the Shun logo (it is a plain bamboo block), and the shears are NOT the Shun Taskmaster Shears -no nutcracker, no bottle opener, no bone cutting indentations. In fact, I got the Shun Herb Shears DM7100 instead. My advice: get the knives, shears, and block separately so you get exactly what you want. The few dollars you "save" by ordering the combo are definitely not worth it.
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Zwilling JA Henckels Four Star 9-Piece Knife Set with Block

Favorite of Ex-wives everywhere
The quality of Henckel knives is at the top of the heap.You spend more money than this,but the knife is not going to perform any better.This will be my third set of these.Every time I got divorced these knives mysteriously dissapeared.They are all still in happy use today just not at my house.I like them so much I've bought three sets.This is the lowest price I've paid,even fifteen years ago !!I give em five stars.
JA Henckels Four Star Knife Set
The Zwilling JA Henckels Four Star 9-Piece Block Set (or any Four Star set for that matter) is absolutely the best kitchen knife ever made. There are, of course, more expensive knives but as far as feel, balance, and most importantly, cutting, this is the best knife I have ever used. I actually purchased a different set of Henckels at a local department store because they were out of the Four Star's and tomorrow they are getting donated to a charity because they just don't feel as good. There is just no comparison when you get a Four Star in your hands from the small paring knife to the large, great for everything, chef knife, for cutting things around the kitchen. If you want the absolute best knife set you can get, this is the one!
Second Set
I just purchased my second set, I know the listing say they are dishwasher safe but I do not like my knifes going into the dishwasher. I had a set that my mother gave me and I took very good care of them. My wife ran them in the dishwasher and this caused the handles to get a milky film over the top of my great looking black handles, over time I just did not care. Now that we have a new home she promised to not run them in the dishwasher again. I can't wait for my new set to arrive this week. My favorite knife is the 5" Santoku Hollow Edge I use this knife about 80% of the time. The balance and build of these knifes are fantastic. Sure you could spend thousands on more expensive knife sets but these are about the best that I have seen for the money. Make sure to buy the bigger block and get a set of steak knifes to complete the set.
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Global Synergy Knife Block Set, 7 piece

worth the price
This is an excellent set.
The actual holder is not good at all, it was ugly, overly tall, light weight and tippy due to cheap construction. We gave it away and used our old wood block.

This would not deter us from buying the set as I believe it is less expensive this way vs buying single units.


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

See through the advertising BS. This is the best value on Henckels knives
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...
What a great set of knives and super value!
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...
Good Knives Last a Lifetime
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...
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Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Signature Stainless-Steel 11-Piece Knife Set with Block

Finally, Knives that Can Cut with Easy Effort
We had a collection of various knives that worked well for awhile. We had them sharpened by two different establishments but they became dull quickly. We finally decided to purchase a new, complete set. I had heard good things about Henckels' Knives and opted to purchase a medium-quality, Signature set. The higher the price on Henckels the higher the quality, but don't think that the lower priced ones are poor quality. We also own steak knives that cut wonderfully and I'm sure all sets are fantastic! I did quite a bit of research to find out what was what before purchasing. I have never had knives that cut as well as these. They are so sharp that it took us a little time to get use to keeping our fingers out of the way. The slightest pressure will slit your skin. (Not a knife for children!!!) Each knife cuts beautifully and it's easy to tell which knife should be used for which cutting task. The manufacturer suggests washing by hand, not in a dishwasher. We are following that and...
Can't go wrong at this price
I bought these knives for my mother as a gift. She previously had an old set of Chicago Cutlery knives (30+ years) that needed replacement, and after some research, I decided to go with these.

I own a set of Shun knives myself. I've used her old Chicago Cutlery knives a fair bit, as well as many other brands (mostly inexpensive ones). So I've used dirt cheap, to (nearly) top of the line.

My impressions of the knives...

Pro - These knives have a comfortable, well balanced feel to them. They cut well, and they look handsome in the block.

Con - Other than the minor complaint that the block isn't fitted to the set(some holes are too big for the smaller knives), at this price, no other complaints have merit.

Conclusion - I think these knives are a good deal. If you want a good set of knives, and can't/don't want to spend $1000+ on an upscale set... These are definitely worth a look at.
I love these knives!
I had never had "good" knives before. My old knives were constantly dull, no matter how much they were sharpened. When I got these knives I was so excited to try them out, I started cutting veggies. Obviously I wasn't used to their sharpness because I ended up cutting myself over and over for about a week before I got the hang of using them. I love them and definitely recommend them.... just be careful!
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Tramontina 80038/511 Professional Stainless Steel 14-Piece Forged Cutlery/Steak Knive Set

Beautiful Knives, Strong Sturdy Feel
Just received this set of Tramontina Knives today. Out of the box they are very nice knives. All the blades seemed to be sharp and without blemished or manufacturer abnormalities. The grip is rounded for a nice ergonomic grasp, and they have a quality "heaviness and sturdiness" when in hand. The blade connection to the handle at first appears to be seamless, however a very minuscule hair line connection is visible when you look very close. They definitely have the look as though they're are cast iron forged from one piece of metal though.

The holes cut in the wood block seem to vary a little so they may not all line up 100% (height wise) when down in their slot, but mine don't seem to have any noticeable difference from a couple feet away. The block is made in China and there was some visible spill out of glue in sections, but what do you expect from China.

Overall great first impression with these knives, I wanted to write this review now so I can come back and...
Great knife set for the price
I'm by no means a gourmet chef or expert on high end knives. Some of the reviews on knives get into some serious detail comparing the knives to space shuttle alloy materials and Japanese/German steel heritage. All I know is that these knives didn't cost me an arm and a leg, are sharp as heck, and quite attractive. Because they a single body steel versus having a wood, attached handle, they are dishwasher safe (though I generally hand wash). The only two knocks I would give the set (why I rated 4 vs 5) are that the steak knives have no serration and it would have been nice to get a bread knife.
Great for the money
I bought this set of knives about 3 weeks ago and I have been using it quite often. They came out of the box nice and sharp, and after a rinse with hot soapy water they were ready to use. The weight and balance feels nice in my hand when I'm slicing up meat, veggies, and herbs. I like the almost seamless connection between the handle and the blade. It makes it very easy to keep them clean.
Then knife block seems pretty sturdy and looks nice in my kitchen.
I bought this set as it seemed like the best quality for the money. All the knives are forged steel. A big selling factor for me is that these knives are not made in China. They are made in Brazil. However, the block comes from the PRC.

Anyway, so far so good. I feel like this is a great value for the money and I would recommend them for someone who's looking for a good set of knives but can't afford the big bucks for Henkel or Victorinox.
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Berghoff 8-Piece Gourmet Knife Block

Well-made and Nicely Balanced Cutlery
Let me preface my review by saying that I received this set of cutlery in exchange for reviewing the product. There is no requirement that I give a good review. Also, let me point out that the actual set of knives I received has a different product number than the one on this page and is more probably the set listed here: BergHOFF Forged 8-Piece Knife Block Set. Nevertheless, I imagine that the two sets are very similar.

The BergHOFF Forged 8-Piece Knife Block Set is great. If you're anything like me, cutlery isn't something you give a lot of thought to. My own long-time knife block set was purchased at Walmart or somewhere similar years ago and probably cost less than $100. And these knives have served me just fine for the limited use I give them. If you want a more study and long-lasting set, however, you may want to take a look at these BergHOFF knives.

The set includes six knives, a pair...
Solid knife set for basic kitchen/cooking tasks
The short review:

Solid knife set for basic kitchen/cooking tasks.

The longer review:

- Solid construction on these knives. They feel very sturdy.
- The grips are great, and the knife is comfortable in your hand.
- Good looking block. It's not the one in the photo however, it's an angled wooden block - not a black cylinder.
- No steak knifes, and no room in the block for additional knives beyond what comes with the set. It's kind of a bummer to have a block in my kitchen without the space for some steak knives.
- Scissors included. Every since my first knife set that included scissors, I've used them in the kitchen a lot more than I thought I would.

I will update this review in the future with information about how the knife set holds up over time.
Good Knives
These are good basic knives for most cooking functions.

Pros:

Full tang and solid construction. The handles and rivets are so well fitted that it's as though they just painted them on.

They came sharp enough to be used immediately.

The handles are quite comfortable.

The block is attractive.

The knives serve their function. Very good bread knife serration, for example. The cute paring knife is very easy to use. The chef's knife is excellent.

Cons:

A bit thin? They feel sturdy anyhow.

I can just tell the steel will tarnish if I let it. I'm probably not going to put these in the dishwashing machine. Albeit they come with a 30 year warranty so perhaps this impression is unfair (I certainly am not an expert on knives).

If the knives wear out, I will return to report that in the review, but I anticipate I'll get reliable use out of them for a long time.

Value:...
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Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro S Stainless-Steel 10-Piece Knife Set with Block

Perfect
My first set of Zwilling Henckels knives and I can't believe how much better they are than the Henckels International (which I had been happy with). Well worth the money.
Excellent Set!
I've wanted a set of the Henckels Pro knives for years, and finally made the investment. This is one of the best sets (variety) I've seen, and the better price. Quality is outstanding, as you'd expect. All I'll need to add for my needs will be their cleaver. Can't go wrong with a quality set of knives, though I wish they'd offer a better quality sharpener (I don't mean the steel that comes with the set-not everyone can be good with these).
Wrong Block
The knives in this set are exactly what I expected. However, the description of the product states hardwood block has steak slots. The block I received did not have steak slots, but did look like the picture.
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Wusthof Classic Ikon two piece starter set

Good Knives, Wrong Combination
There are really two main competitors in the high-end mainstream kitchen knife market: Henckels and Wusthof. Those who have used both usually have a preference. My preference (and therefore bias you should know about) is for the Wusthofs.

The Wusthof Grand Prix line is a more modern design than the Classic series, with a simple black handle. The balance and grip of these knives are as close to perfect as I have found. For those wondering what benefits a higher priced knife provides, one benefit is that the blade (or tang) is one piece all the way through the handle. This makes the blade much stronger, and less likely to snap.

This set includes an 8 inch chef's knife, and a 3

Wusthof Classic 5-Piece Studio Knife Set

Great Quality Knives but Maybe not the Best set
I'll start off with a disclaimer, that as a Vine member, this set was sent to me free to review. Now, I happen to be a bit of a knife snob. I've used a lot of knives and personally prefer Japanese made knives (Shun and Global are two brands here on Amazon that are quite good). However, I do use German knives from time to time as there are some types of knives that don't tend to be made by the Japanese makes.

Wusthof is well known for making some very good quality knives, and the Classic is one of their better lines. I find the German knives rather heavy in general but I was pleasantly surprised to find that these are fairly well balanced and nice to hold. The sharpness out of the box was good and holds up well if properly cared for and used. This set includes the 6-inch chef's knife, 4-1/2 inch utility and a 3-1/2 inch paring. Also included are shears and a block with spaces for just these items. Clearly the chef knife is the star of the group and the one you would use the...
Amazing value
Great knives won't make you a great cook. But they may help good cooks enjoy cooking more. Expense has been a barrier, but this new set helps lower that barrier.

Here are the details of the contents of this set (the number following the / is length in cm):

* 3.5" blade Classic Paring Knife (4066/9) with 4" long handle; 2 oz.
* 4.5" blade Classic Utility Knife (4066/12) with 4" long handle; 2.3 oz.
* 6" blade Classic Cook's Knife (4582/16) with 5" long handle, 5.8 oz.
* Pull-apart Kitchen Shears (5558-1)
* Wood (Maple) Block (7250-7)

Excellent knives, good value in a set of the most frequently used knives. Excellent kitchen counter space saver. I paired it with the Wusthof 1550 Classic 7 Inch Hollow Ground Santoku Knife With Board that comes with an 8"x12" bamboo cutting board, on which the block and Santoku knife can be kept along side for ready...
Solid Set for the Beginner
While the Wusthof Classic 5-Piece Studio Knife Set is not high end cutlery by any means, it is a reasonably well made set with good quality steel that will hold an edge. I own several Wusthof kinfs other than this set and I'm not sure they are of equal quality. The block is a little on the "rough" side fit and finish wise and the balance of the knifes is a little off. Still, the selection of knifes is good for the beginner and the blades do look to be Wusthof steel. I have to disagree with some reviewers about the sheers. A good set of kitchen sheers is a must for me. Boning poultry, stemming large greens and opening packages are just a few of the things they are needed for. While this set isn't going to make you an Iron Chef, it's a big step up from Ginsu.
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Gunter Wilhelm Executive Chef Series Model 201 11 Piece Knife Block Set

Quality is Unsurpassed!
What an amazing Knife set the Gunter Wilhelm (GW) Model 201 is. I also received a bonus instructional DVD on GW "Cookware & Knife Skills" when I purchased this at a local warehouse store. The GW Knives feel so hefty and natural, their sharpness is as good as it gets, and they stay that way. I have used Henckels for years, but keeping them sharp has always been problematic. The GW triple full tang construction provides complete confidence while holding the knife, and its Forged construction -- unlike many major brands that are Stamped -- provides a large metal bolster where the blade joins the handle. Each knife feels rigid, balanced, and virtually an extension of my hand.

I was so enthusiastic about and impressed with this set that I went back and purchased some additional GW items:
* 10" Boning/Filet Knife
* 5" Mini-Santoku Knife
* 10" Poultry Shears
* 12" Diamond Steel Sharpener

I am now set for doing virtually any knife task that a...
Incredible knives
We bought these knives from a local Warehouse club store when Gunter Wilhelm (GW) had a booth set up. They caught my eye because they looked identical to my wife's x-favorite knife made by Hammer Stahl (HS). It turns out that GW were the original inventor of these knives and HS copied them. When you compare the 2, the GW knives are bigger, heavier, heftier, more solid and made with better materials. GW knives are incredibly made, very sharp and high quality. They allowed me to trade the old HS knife with a GW knife. These are the best high quality knives you can get for the $. I have to say GW is ' a cut above the rest'. Sorry..

My only complaint is that they have to be hand washed, but most high end knives have the same requirement.
Great set of knives, great price
This set of knives is heafty, high carbon stainless steel, and carefully constructed. They have a rich feel in your hand and hold an edge for a reasonably long time. The company backs up their product. We purchased the set at Amazon after purchasing an individual knife at Costco. Amazon shipped quickly with good packaging. My wife does a lot of cooking and uses these knives constantly and she is very happy with them. We've had them about two months so this review is over a limited time period. We hand wash the knives and they seem to be holding up very well.
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