Sabatier Reviews

I have been using this line of knives for 20 years now, and proudly say that my best knives are the "knives that rust". Whenever I've been lucky enough to stumble across these knives in a store I inevitibly buy several...and give away far too many of them as gifts. Anyone who uses my sabatier paring knives for the first time says "wow, that's sharp!" They don't believe me when I tell them the knife never needs sharpening. I'm convinced the slight rusting that occurs when I'm less than scrupulous about drying the knife keeps it incredibly sharp. They also last for many years, if you're careful not to abuse them by using them to open packages, pry things open....I've bought 3 in twenty years, and still have two.

The CA reviewer is wrong. This knife is French-made, not Chinese. I know, I own one. I used to be a chef and this knife compares favorably to Wusthof. Nice balance and comparable edge to any other high carbon stainless knife I've used.

This is the prettiest and most prized knife in my kitchen. When I use it I feel like Julia Child, slicing and chopping with great verve. The balance is great; it's long enough to really get a job done; the handle has enough room to not bump knuckles; but the rosewood handle also makes it stand out visually from the black ones so common today. It's just plain pretty. Hand washing is no trouble; it's like caring for any other fine possession. I consider it a great value and will definitely consider buying others in this line.

I am a confessed knife-a-holic and have more knives than well equipped Boy Scout troop on a camping trip. My criteria for a great chef's knife is that it be well balanced and comfortable, and have enough curvature in the blade to be able to chop/cut on the cutting board without having the tip dig into the board. Some chefs knives, such as the Henkels have a very pointed blade, which tend to dig into the cutting board. The blades I like best are from Sabatier and Wustoff. The Sabatier is a real winner. It is very well balanced and has an ideal blade shape that will handle all kinds of tasks. It can be used for fine work (like dicing onions) to anything that might be expected of a 10" knife. The only oddity, if you will, is the handle. It is a beautiful resin impregnated piece of wood, but the bottom side is flat, rather than rounded. At first it felt a little strange, but I soon began to get used to the feel and found that it added a measure of control to the knife. Maybe I am rationalizing, but I find the handle a real joy to use. If you want a more traditional handle, get the polyproprolene one. It is very comfortable. Either one that you chose, you will have a real winner.

Sabatier's provence line is everything I look for in a knife. Wood handles, clean lines, and high carbon. Emblematic of french quality by means of its hand ground finish and sturdy yet elegant brass riveted handle-the block set still falls short. The biggest disapointment comes from the block itself, roughly cut in taiwan with uneven holes and glaring second rate quality. The knives are less appreciable in such a frame. The set also feels incomplete from the many vacant knife holes in the block. Perhaps this is good marketing, it certainly had me pricing the steak knife set. Nevertheless, the Sabatier knife set is a beautiful and functional grouping of knives, with the bread knife a particular stand out. The craftmanship is rough in a couple of spots, but i consider this the warmth of hand produced materials. Overall a wonderful set that most often shines, and other times leaves a bit desired.

For the first four years of our marriage, we suffered with a cheap set of three knives, adding an equally cheap serrated knife. When we got these a few months ago, I couldn't believe that I had put up with the old ones for so long. The Sabatiers are beautiful and cut wonderfully. I never knew tomatoes could retain their shape when cut, but they do when I use my tomato slicer! Now whenever I use cheap knives at other people's houses I really notice the difference. The only downside is that these knives have made me a knife snob. I'm eager to add the steak knives, cleaver, and additional chef's knife to fill all of the slots in the block.

I originally purchased the three-piece starter set of the Provence line. They were on sale with an additional discount and I had a coupon, and I ended up getting them for about half the regular price. Anyway, I was really happy with the starter set, with their beautiful rosewood handles that fit nicely in my (sort of large) hands. The high carbon stainless steel forged by hand in France blades run through the handle so you won't have that handle/blade dislocation problem you may have experienced with cheaper knives. And the blades feel nice and sturdy, and have held a great edge through the six months that I have used them almost daily.

In deciding whether to complete the set or buy another more expensive (and presumably better quality) set, I had looked at several sets of knives in stores, including more expensive brands such as Global, Wusthof, and some Henckels, etc., and I was never happy about the value those knives offered. Even the most expensive types (where one knife can cost more than a full cheaper set) didn't feel like they were of good enough quality, particularly in the strength of the blade, to warrant their price. I could hold the point of the knives in one hand and the end of the handle in the other hand, and feel a lot of "give"...meaning the knives just weren't very solid.

Anyway, I was so happy with the starter set of the Provence line once I compared to other brands, that I decided that I would complete the set. I ended up watching the price on this 10-piece set and waiting for a deal. The Amazon price seems to fluctuate pretty wildly... the normal discounted rate is around three-thirty, but they somewhat frequently make it down into the mid-two-hundred range. Finally, I saw the set go down to one-fifty plus an additional twenty dollar coupon (toward future purchases), and I thought it was a steal! I ordered my set, and after telling some friends about it they were really jealous, because unfortunately that price only lasted a few hours and was no longer available. So, about a week later the price again went from three-thirty down to one-fifty with an additional twenty buck coupon. I ordered three more sets! I passed two sets on to coworkers who also liked them, and I gave one set to my mother for her birthday.

So, in short, I highly recommend these knives. I offer the following qualifications:

* The block that comes with the set is of extremely poor quality. BE PREPARED TO THROW THE BLOCK AWAY! I was so happy with the value I got for the knives themselves that the block was irrelevant to me, but you should still be aware that one of the 10 pieces in the set is the block, and its not worth diddly. In the four sets I got, every one of the four had a problem with the block...cracks, pieces falling off, weird stains, and one that was so misshapen that it actually pulled itself into three pieces by the time it arrived. I did not count this against the rating of the knives because again, for the price I got, the knives themselves are a great value regardless of the block.

* Whoever prepares the knives for shipping does a bad job...3 of the 4 boxes I received were open because they were barely taped shut, and the packing is not solid enough, so the knives and block slide around quite a bit. Again, not a reason to not buy the knives, but just annoying!

* The knives arrived looking dusty, but after hand washing looked great. If the knives arrive and the handles appear to be discolored, hand wash them to get the dust off (you should never put them in the dishwasher anyway) and they should look fine.

* Most importantly, note that the price seems to fluctuate a lot. You'll ultimately have to decide what you are willing to pay, but I recommend against the full three-thirty price. You may be happy with the two-fifty value that is offered fairly regularly, and I think that this is close to the lower end of average prices you would find if you shopped around a lot...but for a super value, watch for another one-fifty sale!

Good luck and enjoy your lovely Provence knives.

I purchased this item from Amazon back in 2001 and was thrilled with the quality and value of the knives. They were by far the best set I have ever owned.

Flash forward to 2003, and I repurchased the set through Amazon after the originals were lost in a fire. The new set came in different packaging and is noticeably inferior in quality. The steel isn't as thick or as durable, the blades are dull and poorly finished, and the handles have a cheaper feel and look to them. I've already noticed rust and discoloration on two of the knives even though I've always hand washed them. This never happened with the earler set.

I'm inclined to believe that these are seconds or knockoffs, even though they carry the Sabatier "Made in France" inscription on the blades. My advice: stay away, or purchase from somewhere where you can see and feel the knives before buying.

These were too good to pass up for this price. I received a Sabatier Grand Chef as a gift a few years ago and it's my knife of choice for slicing firm vegetables(like carrots and potatoes). The thin edge cuts effotlessly through. I use my Wusthof Trident for meats because the heavier blade helps in cutting paper-thin slices. These Provence Sabatiers have the same blade as the Grand Chefs so I expect the same edge quality. Buy this set - you won't find a better price anywhere else.

I have owned German, Japanese, U.S., Chinese and Brazilian knives. I have also used various Sabatier knives for over 10 years. They are sharp, well-balanced, beautiful and easily maintained. You can spend more money, but you cannot find better knives than these. At under $60 for 3 of the most useful and popular Sabatier Provence knives, I can't believe it's true. I have to look twice, no three times, before I immediately place my order. Buy these today, now!, before Amazon comes to their senses and either take these off the market or double their prices (which still will be a bargain). Just remember, while washing them, use non-abrasive sponges to prevent scratching and to maintain their beauty (as with all high carbon stainless steel knives or cookware). You will thank me and enjoy these wonderful knives for many, many years as I have.

I think the quality control could be improved, the sharpening steel came slightly bent and the handle is loose, unfortunately, returning this item is more trouble than its worth. The knives look good and are extermely sharp, over all its a good set of knives at a great price

Contrary to the other reviews of these steak knives, I don't like them. The serrations are too deep, and the handles are so fat they don't fit easily into a drawer with my other knives.

They'll be difficult to sharpen later.

These knives may have "ergonomic" handles, but they look really strange in a place setting. I do not like the handles, and I think they are too big compared with the blade. The blade is serrated. It works like most other serrated steak knives. Another reviewer mentioned that the fat handles do not fit easily into the drawer, and this is true. The blades will get spots if put into the dishwasher. Not bad for the price, but not something that looks good on the dinner table.

I was happily surprised to discover that for once I got much more than I paid for. They cut the through thick and thin with ease and, as a side benefit, they are great at cutting rolls and baguettes. After I got my initial set, I returned and got 6 sets for Christmas presents (plus another for me). The handy wooden tray is an added bonus and is also of good quality.

I have cut myself 3 or 4 times since buying these knives less than a month ago. I haven't had this problem with other knives. They are sharp enough that it bleeds despite pressure. Part of the problem is actually that a couple of the knives aren't sharp enough so they don't glide right through the food. Most of the knives arrived sharp, but a couple need sharpening. I don't have any experience using the sharpening tool so I'm waiting to have someone show me. I don't think this problem will go away after sharpening them though. I suspect the knives are poorly balanced, as another reviewer said. The blade of the knife bends a bit when going through denser foods like carrots or onions and can consequently slip. I don't think I will ever feel compfortable chopping quickly with these knives.

That said, I am not unhappy with my purchase. They were cheap. They are decent knives for the price. The are not comparable to more expensive knives though, except that they are sharp and will stay sharp if you use the sharpener.

I brought this set from Amazon.com and got a very good deal $14.99. It is a very good set for this price. The knives are very sharp and sturdy. It looks good too. Very happy with the set.
***
I have been using these knives for the past 3 months now. They are still sharp as new. Very easy to clean and care. sharpen using the sharpener.
I bought 2 more sets for $11.50 each for my sisters.

If you have roommates, but also cook, you know the stress of having "nice" equipment. These knives are perfect for such a situation! While very inexpensive, they are are of good quality, and it is a complete set. I'm very impressed with their weight and strength. They are also pretty stylish - impress your friends!
Some complained that they are not sharp out of the box.. but that's why they come with a sharpener!