Sabatier Reviews

My initial reaction, when I received the Sabatier Loire 14 piece Knife Block Set, was both negative and positive. Negative: the name Sabatier Loire is misleading. This knife set is not French, it is made in China (it has no connection with France or French Sabatier cutlery that I can see). Positive: the knives certainly look as attractive as in the Amazon.com illustration, they appear carefully made and very well finished.
So, how do they work in the kitchen?
The problem is: as cutting instruments, they don't come anywhere near top-quality European knives. I am used to Wusthof Classic kitchen knives, which slice through things effortlessly. The 'Sabatier Loire' knives feel relatively blunt. Sharpening the 'Sabatier' blades with a Wusthof steel didn't make much difference (perhaps because the blades of the 'Sabatier Loire' knives seem thicker than Wusthof's, they don't sharpen well). Wusthof knives slice through celery and other plants instantly and easily, while 'Sabatier Loire' require applying pressure and sawing away. My no-name slicing knife (bought for $6 at Zabar's in Manhattan) cuts carrots with a fraction of the effort.
The bread knife doesn't compare with Wusthof's.
So, I have an attractive-looking, large kitchen paperweight (it's not worth returning the set). The Chinese maker deserves an 'E' for effort, which has not been spared in producing a very nicely finished product. But they have yet to learn the techniques of shaping a knife blade, and sharpening it, which makes real French Sabatier cutlery (and Wusthof cutlery) so superior.

I bought a set of sabatier knives from Amazon for about 30 bucks about three months ago. While they are worth that amount, the suggested retail price of something over $300 was VERY misleading. I paid for what I got, but not much more. They cut OK and they have worked fine for a person who uses them about once every blue moon, but to suggest they are quality knives at an unbelievable price is false advertising. I have always been happy with Amazon, and I wonder on what grounds they are able to make such a claim. Additionally, the set I was sent was missing a knife, but not worth the hastle to return in order to receive another set in its entirity. Sp, buy them if you want cheap knives...cheaply...don't if you're looking for a killer deal.

I have another set of Sabatier knives that I got for about $20 less than this set.. which is basically the same exact knives, just simpler handles! This set is nice - don't get me wrong. The knives themselves work very well and are simple to clean. I do think you can find a set just as nice for a LOT less money.