Knife Block Reviews

I recently bought this set for my first big Thanksgiving (fyi: this is a very good price - I paid $30 more at a kitchen wares shop in NYC that is noted for low prices). It's awesome!

My boyfriend had never carved a turkey before, and with all the work I put into that bird, I didn't want him to hack it to pieces. He did a beautiful job and credits this knife set with the results. The knife was easy to handle, exceptionally sharp (first use, but if you have your knives professionally sharpened a couple times a year - it costs just a few dollars a knife - they will stay in peak condition) and well-designed. The knife back has a saber-cut; purely cosmetic, but a nice detail. The weight felt comfortable both in my feminine hands and my bf's larger manly-man hands.

The curved prongs of the fork made it easy to hold the bird in place without puncturing the flesh, and worked just as beautifully when spearing pieces of meat to carve or serve.

The presentation box might seem extraneous, but it is actually a great way to store and protect the set - most of us don't use carving knives and forks every day.

I generally use Global knives, but I told my Knife Guy I wanted the best - and this is what he recommended. Absolutely worth the money, and a great performer.

These knives were exactly what I needed. I was looking for a 6" Chefs knife, a tomato knife, a good paring knife, and shears in a block set and this was it!

My previous set of knives were a set of stamped Henckels (I didn't know any better) and I thought they were great compared to the hand-me-down knives my Mother past on to me (miscellaneous mismatched knives of all kinds). But then I started noticing the quality looking knives they were using on the cooking shows and decided to try one. I ordered a Santuko Granton Edge knife. It's a great knife but I don't use it as much as I thought I would. What I did learn by buying it though was the difference between stamped knives and good quality forged knives. I liked it so much I bought these and all I can say is WOW they are nice.

First of all they are sharp! They cut through meat like butter and the tomato knife is sharper than it looks (I was slowing cutting through a tomato and sliced a bit into my finger, ouch!) They feel like strong sharp quality knives in your hand and they look so classy sitting on my counter in the quality oak block they came in.

There are three extra slots to put future knife purchases in but you will not be able to put a bigger chefs knife in the block. The 6" chefs knife slot is the biggest(widest) slot in the block. I bought the 9" bread knife to go in the set and that fits perfectly. Anything as slim as the bread knife (but not any longer than 9") or slimmer would fit fine.

So, if you are looking for a GREAT buy on a QUALITY set of SHARP, CLASSY looking knives, buy these. You will not be disappointed:-)

These is an excellent knife set. Best ones that I have ever used.

I graduated to this set after using a Henckels Fine Edge set. While this is the standard of the Wusthof line, the Henckels Fine Edge is the low end of Henckels and therefore cannot be compared. However, this set is of excellent quality and performance. The price has gone up since I purchased my set, but I still think this is a good deal. The chef' knife is on the small side, but the block has a few extra slots to expand the collection. My next purchase will probably be a Wusthof Classic Santoku or larger chef's knife.

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 Classic line is the more conservative counterpart to the Grand Prix line. The only difference, however, is the handle style. I personally prefer the Grand Prix, but this is an issue of personal preference. 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 ½ inch paring knife.

The 8 inch chef's knife, is a great knife. Wusthof offers three sizes of chef's knives, 6, 8 and 10 inch. For most home cooks, I think the 8 inch knife is the best choice. The 6 inch is a bit small for bigger jobs, but the 10 inch is too big for most jobs. While the 8 inch isn't perfect for all uses, if you are only buying one size chef's knife (and most people only buy one), this is the one I would recommend.

As for the 3 ½ inch paring knife, this knife falls into the category of overkill for me. Most cooks will get by just fine with the 4 ½ inch utility knife. There is really no notable difference in size for the vast majority of applications between the 3 ½ inch paring knife and the 4 ½ inch utility knife. I prefer the 4 ½ inch utility knife, but the 3 ½ inch paring knife will do the trick for most tasks.

This set is a good deal; however, if compiling a set myself, I would include the chef's knife and the 4 ½ inch utility knife. Judge for yourself.

In June of 2003, I wrote a blurb praising this starter set. My opinion from then hasn't changed, except the last part where I wrote that I couldn't justify Wusthof's price for those knive you don't use every day. Well, I lied. Since then I have replaced virtually every knife I had then with a Wusthof. Whether I was dicing veggies, carving a roast, or simply cutting up a chicken, I just got to the point where I could no longer tolerate using an inferior knife for the job; so I upgraded as I went along. All my old knives went into my camping box (you're supposed to be "roughing it" when camping, right?).

The knives in this set are superb. The problem is that after using them, you are liable to do as I did and spend lots of money later. Be warned.

A great pair of knives. I use them daily and wouldn't trade them for any other knife I have ever touched. The balance and weight are perfect. Take care of them, and they will last forever.

I actually purchased the 6 knife starter set... The only difference is it did not come with the bread knife (good to have), although I will probably purchase one in the future. I use the 6 inch serated knife for bread, bagels and tomatoes. I think this is a good bargain because I don't feel you need all the knives in the 10 piece set. The block is good to have in order to keep your knives protected and handy. I tried both the Henckels and the Wustoffs and I prefer the fit and feel of the Wusthoffs. I highly recomend these knives.

Having never previously owned or used a quality knife, it seemed rather excessive to spend so much for a set of kitchen knives. Those feelings quickly vanished after purchasing the 7-piece Wusthof Classic set. These knives are a pleasure to use, and the quality and ease of cutting always reminds me they were worth every penny. I've since added the 5-inch tomato knife to my original set, which now seems to meet virtually all my needs, although I can see how more serious chefs might want to expand the set even further with additional specialty knives.

Finally we purchased a set of fine knives. What a difference! I can't really compare these to other fine knives, but I can't imagine better quality.

The 6 inch sandwich knife and the 8 inch chef's knife are great. The handles are smooth and the cutting is effortless. My favorite, however, is the 3 1/2 inch paring knife. It is balanced and cuts so smoothly.

I love this set of knives.

Great knife set. You can chop just like Rachael does, which is why I bought this knife. My only complaint is that the tip has bent slightly and will break if I attempt to straighten.

These Santoku knives have the fantastic Kullenschliff, also called the Granton, edge for extremely finely-honed thin slicing. They slice quickly into whatever width you want, from slivers to less thin pieces, with only a modicum of practice. The sharp flat cutting edge, safely lower than the handle, makes for an easy, comfortable grip. These knives have multiple uses--not just slicing for Asian-style food, nor, for that matter, just for thin slicing. One can chop, dice, or slice safely and quickly with these finely made instruments. I have a large collection of Wusthof knives, but this style is one of my favorites and most frequently used.

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 Classic line is the more conservative counterpart to the Grand Prix line. The only difference, however, is the handle style. I personally prefer the Grand Prix, but this is an issue of personal preference. 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, a 3 ½ inch paring knife and a 6 inch sandwich knife.

The 8 inch chef's knife, is a great knife. Wusthof offers four sizes of chef's knives in the Classic line, 5, 6, 8 and 10 inch. For most home cooks, I think the 8 inch knife is the best choice. The 5 and 6 inch are a bit small for bigger jobs, but the 10 inch is too big for most jobs. While the 8 inch isn't perfect for all uses, if you are only buying one size chef's knife (and most people only buy one), this is the one I would recommend.

As for the 3 ½ inch paring knife, this knife falls into the category of overkill for me. Most cooks will get by just fine with the 4 ½ inch utility knife. There is really no notable difference in size for the vast majority of applications between the 3 ½ inch paring knife and the 4 ½ inch utility knife. I prefer the 4 ½ inch utility knife, but the 3 ½ inch paring knife will do the trick.

I have found very few uses for the 6 inch sandwich knife. I prefer the larger size of the chef's knife or the smaller 4 ½ inch utility knife. This knife is just the wrong width and length for most tasks.

This set is a good deal; however, if compiling a set myself, I would include the chef's knife, the 4 ½ inch utility knife, and the 9 inch bread knife. Judge for yourself.

I loved these knives right out of the box. They came sharp and feel great. I was finally moving out of the parent's house and needed some knives. With the free block and steel from Amazon you can't go wrong. I looked at all the sets for weeks and in the end decided that I would rather just buy what I needed, instead of settling for what came in the sets. I have found that I am rarely happy with prepackaged sets of anything. Therefore, this was a good starting point to which I added a bread knife and plan to add pieces if I need them (I doubt I will, but I may just fill the block :). I bought these sight unseen from Amazon and could not be happier.

Wusthof-Trident is absolutely the best knives in existance. Classic is my personal favorite (the handles feel best to me) but any of their lines will satisfy even the most discriminating cook. Everything about these knives is well thought out.

Henkels, Sabatier, and Chicago Cutlery make very nice knives, but trust me, Wusthof outshines them all.

This is the mother of all knife sets.

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 Classic line is the more conservative counterpart to the Grand Prix line. The only difference, however, is the handle style. I personally prefer the Grand Prix, but this is an issue of personal preference. 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 a 6, 8, and 10 inch chef's knives; 2 ¾ inch peeling knife; 3 ½ inch paring; 4 ½ inch utility; 5 inch tomato; 9 inch bread; 5 inch boning; 8 inch carving knife and fork; 6 inch sandwich; 6 inch flexible fillet; 7 inch santoku; 6 inch cleaver, eight steak knives, sharpening steel, kitchen shears, and an oak block
The chef's knives are great knives. This set includes all three sizes of chef's knives offered in the Grand Prix line, 6, 8 and 10 inch. For most home cooks, I think the 8 inch knife is the best choice. The 6 inch is a bit small for bigger jobs, but the 10 inch is too big for most jobs.

The Wusthof 4 ½ inch utility knife is a great all-around knife. This is the knife I use for the majority of my small chopping work (when I don't use a Chef's knife).

As for the 3 ½ inch paring knife, this knife falls into the category of overkill for me. Most cooks will get by just fine with the 4 ½ inch utility knife. There is really no notable difference in size for the vast majority of applications between the 3 ½ inch paring knife and the 4 ½ inch utility knife. I prefer the 4 ½ inch utility knife, but the 3 ½ inch paring knife is a good addition to the set.

I have found very few uses for the 6 inch sandwich and the 5 inch salami knives. I prefer the larger size of the chef's knife or the smaller 4 ½ inch utility knife. The knives are just the wrong width and length for most tasks, and fall into the overkill department, except when part of a set.

The 2 ¾ inch trimming knife, however, is a good length for small tasks, like trimming fat from cuts of meat.

The 6 inch cleaver, is a good cleaver. Most people really don't use a cleaver anymore, as they buy either pre-cut/pre-packaged meats, or they have the butcher cut the meat into loins or steaks for them. If you really are going to use a cleaver, this one is my favorite. The weight and balance are very good.

The 5 inch boning knife is a good knife. I think this knife is slightly more useful for the everyday cook than the cleaver. I find this knife useful for both boning and fat trimming.

The bread knife, is a great knife. Many people think tomatoes are the hardest food items to clearly cut. I think bread is much more difficult; but this knife makes the task seem easy. This set includes the 9 inch knife that I prefer over the 8 inch.

When it comes to sharpening steels, I have found very little difference between Henckels and Wusthof. As long as you buy a high end steel, you really won't go wrong. Therefore, I shop for this item on price, and Henckels has a price advantage. However as the steel comes with the set, you won't go wrong with this steel.

This set is as complete as they come. If you can afford it, I highly recommend it.

Just to let you guys know, Cutco hires what they call "web solicitors" to hype up their products on sites like this. Also, Cutco is sold through demonstrations by Cutco salespeople only and these salespeople have an interest in bashing other knives on the net. Master Chef Wylie Dufresne told GQ magazine "I have plenty of friends whose parents have Cutco in a knife block. You pull them out and they're all as dull as can be." Norman Weinstein, a nationally recognized kitchen knife skills instructor was quoted by the Baltimore Sun newspaper as saying this about Cutco: "Why, why, would you buy such a knife?"

I thought this would make a nice Christmas gift so I purchased 3 of them several weeks before Christmas. The stock available showed 5 at the time. A week before Christmas, I received a email from Amazon saying the item was back-ordered. Called their support and found out that the items "should" be there by Christmas. Although I panicked through the week, I eventually received all 3 on Christmas eve. But the situation got even worse, it turns out that they sent me the cheaper gift set with the aluminum box and not the wooden one. Called their support back and they said that they had no more of the wooden gift boxes left so they sent the aluminum ones. Since these arrived at 6 p.m. on Christmas eve with no time to go out and find some different gifts to give, I had to keep the 3 screwed up sets that Amazon sent. Thanks again Amazon for making this holiday one of the worst for me.

I too purchased this carving set as a Christmas gift and received the aluminum box instead of the advertised mahogany-stained box. I contacted Amazon about the mix-up and they immediately sent me a replacement, which also included the aluminum box. But I am not really that disappointed, the mahogany-stained box would have been cool, but the aluminum box is still very nice and holds the carving set securely. The important item, the carving set itself, is just beautiful! I am not a connoisseur of fine kitchen utensils, so I did some research before purchasing. Wusthof has been making quality cutlery for years and almost every review I have seen gives their items the highest of marks. I am especially impressed with the craftsmanship of the Classic series. The blade and tang are one continuous piece of forged steel, so it feels very solid and balanced. The grip is comfortable and the knife cuts extremely well. The price may seem a little high for something that you might only use on holidays or special occasions, but this is a set that will last forever and can be passed on through the generations. You get what you pay for. If I carved more turkeys, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a set for myself!