Chicago Cutlery Classic Chef 14-Piece Knife Block Set Review

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(More customer reviews)Years of trusting Chicago Cutlery went down the drain with this purchase.
How the company could risk its reputation for quality by putting out such a poor product is beyond me.
The wood knife holder is fine. The handles are smooth and well finished. The knife blades are a complete and total disaster. The so-called "STAINLESS" steel is really a poor quality carbon steel. I have the distinct feeling that my set was unfinished, as the serrated edges were so rough that slicing meats or even a tomato ended up with a tearing of the food. I finally used a sharpener to take the unfinished edges down a little. That worked, but seems dumb that they came out of the factory unfinished.
The blades are very heavy whch may seem like a feature, but because the serrations are only on one side, when you try to cut, the angle of the blade edge causes the blade to turn , and prevents even cuts.
The worst part, is the rust. I note that after I bought the item, the term "hand wash" was added to the descriptive copy. Even hand washing and drying did not prevent rust, and then of course, if the rust is allowed to remain for any time... pitting takes place.
My wife bought the set at Christmas from Kmart... supposedly a $59.95 value for $29.95. Hey... I was happy... a set of Chicago, at a great price. Not to be... I have thrown away the original box, but don't recall anything on the box or the descriptive card that was included that said the set was imported from China. Usually, when this is the case, the words "made in China" are imbedded in the blade. Not so. The blade has only the embossed "Chicago" brand.
I used to work near the Chicago headquarters, and knew some of the workers, who had pride in their product. That was then, this is now...
They say you get what you pay for. In this case, I must tell you that I bought a similar set for our cabin, with a few less steak knives, but the same basic carving knives... no wood knife holder but a nice wood cutting board. The set doesn't rust, cuts better, and the best part is that it had a day in, day out price of a flat $8.00. The stamped brand was "Gourmet Traditions", and the "made in China" stamp WAS on the blade.
We gave our "Classic" set away to Goodwill, with a warning that it wasn't worth more than $5-8.00
"Chicago Cutlery" made an enemy of me... You can only trade on a magnificent reputation 'til your old customers catch on.


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Part of Chicago Cutlery's Classic Chef line, these knives are notable for their serrated edges, which never need to be sharpened. The full-tang blades, which extend from tip to tail, are made of stamped, hefty, high-carbon stainless steel designed to resist rust and stains. The triple-riveted polymer handles are sturdy and easy to clean. Made in China, this cutlery set includes eight steak knives and a lifetime warranty. The knives are dishwasher-safe, but hand washing is recommended for a longer life.
What's in the Box A 7-inch chef's knife, a 7-inch slicing knife, a 7-inch bread knife, a 5-inch utility knife, 8, 4-1/2-inch steak knives, a 3-inch paring knife, and a hardwood block

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