Wusthof Culinar 10-Piece Profile Knife Block Set Review

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(More customer reviews)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 Culinar line is an all stainless steel look, rather than a black handle. Although the picture and some descriptions want you to think this is a single piece knife, be advised that the hand is a separate piece of stainless steel molded onto the tang. I personally prefer the handle of the Grand Prix and Classic, because the grip is surer for me, but this is, to some extent, a matter of personal preference. This series "looks" more professional to some (like a Viking stove).
This set includes an 8 inch chef's knife, a 3 ½ inch paring knife, a 6 inch sandwich knife, 8 inch bread, a 5 inch salami, a 2 ¾ inch trimming knife, a sharpening steel, and an oak block
The 8 inch chef's knife is a great knife. Wusthof offers four sizes of chef's knives in the Classic version, 5, 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.
I have found very few uses for the 6 inch sandwich or 5 inch salami knives. I prefer the larger size of the chef's knife or the smaller 4 ½ inch utility knife. These knives are just the wrong width and length for most tasks, and falls into the overkill department, except when part of a set.
The 3 ¾ inch trimming knife, however, is a good length for small tasks, like trimming fat from cuts of meat.
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. However, I prefer the 9 inch knife over the 8 inch included in this set.
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 a good deal as far as price. However, keep in mind you really only get 7 knives. Adding the set of steak knives (which I consider a luxury, and not a necessity), will fill the remainder of the block.

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The Wusthof Culinar 7 pieceBlock set comes with every every knife you will need to accomplish you cutting tasks. The set includes a 3.5" parer for peeling and paring, a 4.5" Utility is the perfect size for small slicing jobs, the 8" bread knife is the right size for those crusty loaves of bread. The 8" carver makes fine clean slices of meat as well as a 8" Cooks knife to be used for chopping, as well as dicing.The set comes with a 9 slot block to store your Culinar knives and a 9" honing steel to keep your knives sharp and ready to use. WusthofCulinar knives are made in "The Cutlery Capital of the World", Solingen Germany.It is this balance of German technology and old world hand craftsmanship that is the secret of how each WÜSTHOF knife is created. Known the world-over for it’s unique and uncompromising quality, Wusthof uses a special blend of German steel through out the whole length of the knife. The ingredients of this steel are proudly etched on each blade. Wusthof not only uses the best materials to make a fine knife,but it is also crucial that each blade is precisely tempered.This tempering allows the knife to hold its edge for an extremelylong time, yet still be able to be maintained in your home kitchen.

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Farberware Pro Forged 14-Piece Knife Block Set Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this set based on CR's review fo them as a "Best buy." For comparison I also bought one of the Wusthof Grand Prix knives, which were rated the best overall. I would say that the Wusthof is a slightly better knife, but I fully agree with CR that the price difference is not worth paying. The Farberware set is very good and cuts really well. It stays sharp and does everything you might ask a knife set to do. After pondering the issue a while, I have decided I would be foolish to spend the extra money for the higher end knives. This set is really a great deal -- you get a very good set of knives at a very reasonable price.

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These knives are drop forged, heat-tempered and full tang for strength and durability. Their precision ground blade makes them nice and sharp. As we all know, a sharp blade is far safer than a dull one. Unlike many value-priced sets, you can actually use a sharpener on these knives, giving you many more years of service. The plastic handles are triple riveted and there is an extra wide safety bolster which affords comfort and optimum balance. This set offers a useful selection of well-constructed cutlery, at a very attractive price.

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Oneida Stainless Steel Performance 14-pc. Knife Set with Block Review

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(More customer reviews)My husband and I got this knife set as a wedding gift and we love it. They are sharp and cut easily. We've used them daily since June 2009 and they are still as sharp as the day we got them.

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This high quality cutlery set features Asian style, oval stainless steel weighted hollow handles with brushed and polished finishes. High carbon and taper ground blades offer superior cutting performance. Blades resist rust, stains and pitting. Fully forged bolster and full tang provide better balance and the bolster design protects your hand from accidental slips across the blade. This set includes a pearlized granite lacquer block which holds a Bread Knife, Chef\'s Knife, Santoku Knife, Utility Knife, Paring Knife and 6 Steak Knives. A Sharpening Steel and Kitchen Shears complete your set. This set is great for the cook who is looking for great performance and contemporary style.

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Henckels Premio 14-pc. Metal Cap Knife Set Review

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(More customer reviews)Bought these because I needed something after I took a 3 month temp job and didn't want to move a lot of stuff. The knives are nicely balanced, but heavy - if you like a light weight set these are not for you. Their ability to remain sharp is in question - I have to use the steel pretty much every other use. In fairness- this is their recommended interval on the instructions but it would seem that they should hold an edge for longer than that. Two disappointments - they stain easily and often, tomatoes leave a noticeable stain that takes some work with a scouring pad to remove. Unless you wipe them immediately after use it will leave a mark. I haven't put them in the dishwasher - they're always hand cleaned but I'd be really reluctant to try the dishwasher after the staining issues I've had in normal use. The second is that although they're touted as being made from "Genuine Solingen Steel" (it was printed on at least one of the packages) they're in fact made in China.

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Henckels Premio 14-pc. Metal Cap Knife Set

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The Pampered Chef Color Coated Tomato Knife #1064 Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the best knife I have ever tried for slicing through tomato skin. It glides so easily that it makes slicing a tomato effortless. I love this knife. I even use it to chop a tomato for salsa. There is truly a knife for evey purpose. The coating on this knife makes the job of cutting a tomato a breeze.

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Glide through tomato skins with precision.4 1/2" blade

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Farberware Classic 14-Piece Cutlery Set Review

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(More customer reviews)These knives are great. I decided on getting new knives after ours starting looking trashy (they were wood handle ones that were starting to split). After spending days (literally) researching and reading reviews I decided on this set. I wasn't about to spend over $100.00 and up for a knife set...I don't really care that much. But this is a $100.00 set for a great price. These are worth it. They are heavy, fit great in your hand, and sharp right out of the box. The only problem was one of the knives had a "ding" on the top of the blade, but this doesn't affect the cutting and wasn't that noticable to ship back. My husband really like them too. Anyways, this knife set is well worth the price and I think one of my best purchases on Amazon.

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14-Piece Set Includes: 8-Inch Chef , 7-Inch Slicer, 7-Inch Bread, 4-1/2-Inch Serrated Utility, 3-Inch Parer, 6-Stamped Steak Knives, Shear, Sharpener, Natural Wood Block This set features a riveted style comfort grip handles that is permanently bonded to the blade.

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J.A. Henckels Twin Gourmet 18-Piece Block Set with Instructional Knife Skills Video Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned the 18-Piece Henckels Gourmet Knife Set for about 1 year now. I purchased these with some wedding gift certificates that we got when I got married last year. This was an upgrade from a decent Faberware set that I had been using for the 4 years prior. Anyway, this set comes with 18 pieces:
8-inch chef's knife
8-inch carving knife
8-inch bread knife
6-inch chef's knife
6-inch boning/utility knife
5-inch serrated utility knife
3-inch paring knife
eight (8) 4 1/4-inch steak knives
9-inch sharpening steel
8-inch kitchen shears
hardwood storage block
Let me clear up the confusion for the people that don't know...there are actually two Henckels brands. "Henckels International" is the more economical brand, not to be confused with the "Zwilling JA Henckels" brand which is the premium brand. Same manufacturer, different grades of metal, location of construction and quality. You can tell the difference by the look of the logo...the cheaper "International" brand has the one tribal man on the logo, whereas the "Zwilling" brand has twin tribal men on the logo.
The "Gourmet" line is the least expensive of the higher premium sets from the Zwilling JA Henckels brand. It is not forged steel. The blade is stamped. However, the quality is much better than the Henckels International brand of stamped knives. The blade stays sharp for longer periods of use. However, it is probably comparable to the top of the line Henckels International Classic FORGED set. That being said, the price point is about the same for the same number of knives, so it makes sense. The highest end Henckels forged set is the "Professional S" or "Pro S" which costs $200 more than the "Gourmet" for an 18-piece set. Keep in mind that the 8 steak knives from the Pro S line are the same ones that come with the Gourmet line, so you know they are a great quality set.
As a relatively affordable premium set of knives, I have used these knives almost every day since their arrival. I've had to sharpen on occassion, but that's normal. All non-serated knives, you will need to sharpen and hone fairly frequently. (Or at least more frequently than a lot more expensive forged sets.) I do it once every few months with the knives that I use frequently and about once a year for the ones that only get used on occasion. But I also do a lot of cutting with them, so the frequency will depend on how often you use them for cutting tough foods. I cook a lot of meats, including cutting up my own chicken, so that dulls the knives rather quickly. If all you cut are veggies, then your knives won't dull as quickly. That being said, my knives still look and feel as if they are brand new. They are great!!!
They are dishwasher safe, but I don't recommend it because the dishwasher will dull all knives. However, occasionally I toss them in the dishwasher if I have a million things to wash after a dinner party and haven't had any problems.
P.S. I wanted a Santoku knife to add to this collection because I cut a lot of fish for sashimi and sushi. After a lot of examination, I decided to NOT get the Gourmet santoku because it did not have a hollow edge and I wanted a forged knife. I ended up splurging and purchased a Wusthof Classic Hollow Edge Santoku to complete this set. Yes, I know I'm supposed to buy the same Henckels brand for loyalty reasons, but as far as Santoku knives were concerned, I liked the feel and style of the Wustof better. It was a debate between the Henckels Pro S Hollow Edge or the Wusthof Classic Hollow Edge because they were in the same price range and the Wusthof knife won by a hair.

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J.A. Henckels Twin Gourmet 18-Piece Block Set

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Shun SG0404 Elite 8-Inch Chef's Knife Review

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(More customer reviews)First and foremost, let me start this review with a few general notes...
I am NOT a professional chef- I work in finance. I am a cooking enthusiast who decided to get serious about my kitchen. I admit that my needs are vastly different from those of a culinary professional.
That said, I must mention that reviews are great but I highly recommend going to a local kitchen supply store that will allow you to test drive knives.
Just about every celebrity chef has his or her own preference- I first heard about Shun knives from Alton Brown, who uses Shun Classics. I happen to prefer the Elites and my brother swears by Wusthof. The other reviewer of this item prefers Global.
The reason for the wide variety of opinion is that buying knives is a very personal thing- what's right for one might be very wrong for another! The only way to ensure you are happy with your investment is to take each for a spin and decide for yourself.
One more general word of wisdom- don't buy a set unless you would buy each and every component independently. Manufacturers have a bad habit of including one or two items that you really don't need, like a tomato knife or three different sizes of utility knife. Common sense says don't pay for the extra knife/accessory you don't need and therefore won't use.
Now, let's review this knife...
At $220 it should go without saying, but I'll say it for the sake of being thorough: this knife is sharp, *extremely* sharp. However, my personal feeling is that when you reach these high end price tags, you will find that all of the major brands will give you an adequately sharp blade. Beyond that, you need to concern yourself with edge durability and comfort.
As for durability, I'll say again that at this end of the price range you should naturally expect to get a knife that will last decades- no matter what brand you buy. The differentiator here has little to do with whether or not the knife will break, but rather how often you'll need to hone and sharpen your blades. (Honing and sharpening are NOT the same thing.)
While I haven't owned this knife long enough to make promises regarding the edge durability, the SG-2 alloy used in the Shun Elite will supposedly hold it's edge for quite a long time- even longer than the VG-10 used in the Shun Classics. If true, this would mean you could expect to get more cutting done between honings. Again, I can't vouch that this is true but that is the expectation Shun has set.
Finally, we come to comfort- you just have to feel comfort for yourself, but here are a few of my thoughts. Let me start with the comfort factors I *didn't* like about the competitors:
Global: Weight & handle length. For me, the Global was just too light. It is a proverbial feather. I fully understand that this would be a huge benefit were I chopping, dicing, and mincing for hours every day- but I don't. And since I'm a somewhat burly fellow, the lack of heft was disorienting for me. The handle is also a little on the short side for my big hands, which left the end of the handle bumping into the inside of my palm.
Wusthof & Henckels: Weight & handle shape. Both of these German-made knives are like battle axes. Holding them, I felt that if raging barbarian hordes stormed my kitchen I would be able to defend myself by wielding a Wusthof/Henckels as a broadsword and my dutch oven lid as a shield. They both seemed to be strong on power and brute force at the expense of agility and nimbleness. The handles felt quite boxy and lacked any elegance to their touch. (The Henckels was a little smoother than the Wusthof but both were very boxy.)
Now for what I liked about the Shun...
The handle was curvaceous, contouring to the peaks and valleys of my fingers and palms. The length was just right so that the knife felt perfectly balanced in my hand. The weight was neither too heavy nor too light. I felt like I could muster enough force to chop through anything, yet maintain grace and control while doing so. I attribute this to the thin 16 degree edge of the Shun, as opposed to the "normal" 22 degree edge of most knives.
While the Classic and the Elite had different handles, both were quite comfy and ergonomic. The winning element of the Elite over the Classic was the ambidexterity of the handle. You must choose either right or left handed with the Classic, which is a problem for me since I'm a lefty and my wife is a righty.In the end, settling on the Elite was a very easy decision for me but it could not have been made without holding and cutting with each knife myself. Even if everything I have just described resonates with your personal tastes please please please make sure you go out and try before you buy.
Admittedly, I did not purchase from Amazon but not because of price! There was actually no material price difference between Amazon and my local store. I simply felt honour-bound to buy from the folks who allowed me to test drive the knives.

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The ancient traditions of Japanese samurai sword-making, meet today's state-of-the-art steel technology in the new Shun Elite series of knives by Kai.Like the traditional samurai sword blade, Shun Elite is extremely sharp and flexible; ideal for food preparation.But unlike the traditional blade, Shun Elite features a center layer of a new type of "super steel" called SG-2.This new "super steel" starts out in a powdered form.Under heat and pressure it combines to make a much denser alloy which in turn creates the finest molecular structure used in knife making today.The result is an edge that will hold longer than any other steel on the market.Even better for busy chefs.Shun Elite's superior edge will respond quickly and easily to a honing steel when it needs a quick touchup.For added strength and protection, the SG-2 is clade between two outer layers of quality 410A stainless steel for beauty and tireless handling.Shun Elite features an ergonomic handle of handsome PakkaWood®.This premium-quality hardwood laminate combines the beauty and feel of hardwoods with the strength and performance of plastic.Inlaid with a traditional symbol, the handle is also enhanced by thin rings of brass and copper separating it from the bolster. With this kind of beauty and performance, Shun Elite will soon become the knife chefs reach for again and again.

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Kyocera Kyotop Damascus Pakka Handle 6.0-Inch Chef Knife Review

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(More customer reviews)I got this knife about four months ago and have been slowly putting it through it's paces.
The knife has a good balance and when I use it, it feels like a natural extension of my hand.
It is not a very heavy knife but it's edge is definitely first rate. During the last four months I've put it through all of its paces. It moves effortlessly through just about everything I've tried.
For example, I was recently butchering a chicken. The knife glided effortlessly through the meat. I didn't realize it until I started to put the pieces away; it also glided effortlessly through the ends of the chicken bones and made very thin clean slices of the bones as well.
I've also learned that I can't chop with this knife on my flexible cutting boards. The knife is incredibly fast on this surface; the only problem is that it cuts through the boards.
This is definitely the sharpest knife in my drawer and it is the first knife I reach for whenever I have to do any knife work in the kitchen.

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Kyocera's premium cutlery line features stunning Damascus-look blades. Close in hardness to diamond, these advanced ceramic knifes feature Kyotop (Hot- Isostatic pressed) "HIP" blades. These blades are fired a second time under high pressure and temperature in a sealed chamber. This process increases the density of the advanced ceramic material, resulting in greater wear resistance. The moisture-resistant, 3 riveted handles are made out of Pakka wood. The 6-inch blade, great for all prep jobs, chopping, and slicing.

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Gunter Wilhelm Cutlery 250 Executive Chef 12-Piece Professional Knife Set with Wooden Storage Block Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased these knives at Costco for a screaming deal. The entire 12 piece knife set was $279 and the add-on 7 piece steak knife set was an additional $75. This includes:
* Carving Fork
* 10" Meat Carving slicer w/dimples
* 9" Offset Bread knife
* 10" Chef Knife
* 10" Boning Knife
* Butcher's Cleaver
* 7" Asian Cleaver with dimples
* 7" Santoku with dimples
* 3.5" Paring Knife
* 10" Diamond Steel
* 10" honing steel
* 6 Steak knives
* 2 Wooden Knife Blocks
They are made of German forged 440C steel at a Rockwell hardness rating above that of the comparable Henckels and Wusthof, which means it will hold a sharp edge longer than those brands.
I was skeptical at first but after handling them and actually trying them out in the store, I was convinced it was a great deal. Plus, Gunter Wilhelm has a 30 day money back guarantee and Costco has a lifetime money back guarantee, so how could I go wrong?
Other than these knives being higher in quality than the competition, and other than them being a lot cheaper than the competition, I was also sold on the fact that Gunter Wilhelm has a *lifetime* guarantee on their knives. Should one break, crack, bend, chip, split, etc. in the lifetime that you own it, they will send you a new one FREE of charge, EVEN IF IT'S YOUR OWN FAULT. Now how can you beat THAT?
I've used the knives for about 3 weeks now and look forward to every time I pull one of these knives out of the block. They feel great in your hands, are razor sharp, are well balanced and are a joy to use. Just be careful, because they really are razor sharp. I barely (accidentally) brushed up against one of the blades and instantly drew blood.
To keep them razor sharp, use the honing steel prior to use every time. Just a few passes on each side will suffice.
As for customer service, I've called twice so far with questions about the knives and to state that I love them. Never was anyone rude to me like the other reviewer here has written. Don't believe him. It's a quality company with a quality product and I'm so glad I made the decision to purchase these knives.
I'd recommend them to anyone seeking a quality knife set.

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Equally suited for an at-home cook as for a professional chef, this 12-piece knife set makes a useful addition to any busy kitchen. The high-quality knives feature precision-forged blades made of 440C German steel--a combination alloy made of high-carbon steel and stainless steel that sharpens easily, holds a razor-sharp cutting edge, and resists staining. Plus, the knives come sharpened all the way to the base of the blade where most cutting occurs, and their attractive Pakkawood triple-tang handles provide superior balance and an ergonomic grip for exceptional comfort and control. The set includes a 10-inch chef knife, a paring knife, a Santoku knife, an offset bread knife, and an Asian cleaver, as well as a 10-inch pointer slicer, a carving fork, a boning/fillet knife, a butcher's cleaver, and two sharpening steels (a 10-inch diamond steel and a 10-inch honing steel) that help keep the blades in good working order. Even more, the set provides a large wooden block that not only showcases the collection, but also safely and securely stores the knives when not in use. Using the knives on bamboo cutting boards works the best since bamboo won't warp, crack, or split, and it's naturally anti-bacterial. To clean, hand wash the knives with warm water and a mild detergent, then rinse and dry immediately. The 12-piece knife set measures approximately 12 by 6 by 17 inches and carries a lifetime warranty.

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Global GS-14 6-Inch 15 cm Serrated Utility, Scallop Knife Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this knife along with a few other Global knives and ended up returning it. This is not to say that this is a bad knife but I found that it was unnecessary alongside the rest of the Global knives I purchased. The non-serrated knifes are so sharp that there were practicaly no instances where I needed to use this knife. I did end-up keeping the 8" serrated bread knife but as long as you have that one, you don't really need another serrated knives.
I like being able to sharpen my knives frequently and this isn't very easy to do with serrated knives. A special tool and technique is required and the whole process is very time consuming. In addition, make sure that you use a ceramic sharpener on all global knives. Its supposed to have a different grit that is better for them. Kyocera (ceramic knife manufacturer) makes one specifically for Global but they are quite expensive.

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Serrated Utility Knife

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Oxo Good Grips 8-Inch Chef Knife Review

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(More customer reviews)There are 3 main reasons people cut themselves with knives: 1) bad technique, 2) bad knife handle, 3) dull knife blade (you have to struggle to cut and then you slip). This knife solve the knife handle problem wonderfully. It also should give you no problem with sharpness if you have a knife sharpener. This is not one of the great chef's blades that can have a lot of use before requiring resharpening.
If you have a good French Chef knife and have no problem with the handle (some are just so big and hard to grip!), do not bother with this knife. If you need a decent Chef knife and are willing to sharpen it occasionally, this is a good buy. (You have to sharpen ANY knife eventually.)
I am a quadriplegic/tetraplegic (C5-6 if you care) and I love this knife. Not for its mediocre blade, but for its handle. I have 1/3 use of my hands and 1/2 use of my arms, but I have no problem using the grippy handle on this knife. I own an expensive French Chef knife with a BETTER BLADE, but I use this one far more often because of the BETTER HANDLE.
My Mom has mild arthritis and she loves this knife, too.

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When you've got veggies to slice, chop or dice no manual tool works more efficiently than a chef's knife. This one by OXO is an excellent choice for anyone who has problems with grip strength, thanks to its soft, over-sized non-slip handle.

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J.A. Henckels International Forged Synergy 13-Piece Knife Set Review

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(More customer reviews)My wife and I have been using this 13-piece set of Forged Synergy knives for about 8 months, and we couldn't be happier with them. They are well made, well-balanced, have beautiful handles, a nice finish, and hold a very sharp edge--we've sliced tomatoes with all of them. If you're buying your first set of fine knives, these WILL hold up to the Henckels reputation for quality.
Now regarding what some others have said, I'll just add my two cents. There is a "Forged Synergy" and a "Fine Edge Synergy" series, and the main kitchen knives in those sets are NOT the same (though the steak knives appear to be so). The forged series has a metal tine that runs all the way through the handle with the black grips riveted on. The J.A. Henckels International Fine Edge Synergy 13-Piece Block Set is totally different--see the Amazon photos and descriptions for yourself. Yes, this Forged Synergy set is also made in China (not Spain or Germany like some of the more expensive Henckels sets), but the quality is still excellent and should far surpass most users' expectations.
Regarding rust spots, we've had none. However, there are two main types of stainless steel: one is harder and slightly less stain resistant; the other is more stain resistant but slightly softer. That means that you give up a little stain resistance to have a knife that holds a sharper edge longer. I think that's much more important than having to clean an occasional rust spot off if it were to occur.
There are only two minor faults I find with this set (that didn't stop me from buying it, however). The kitchen shears are excellent quality and cut great, but the two parts should be easily separable for cleaning purposes. You'll see this in newer shear designs, and it's not a feature that would add to the cost. Also, the black finished knife block will eventually show wear and tear from missing when inserting knives into the slots. I'd have prefered a standard maple block. Lastly, for a few dollars more, I'd recommend the 16-piece version of this set which includes three more knives for about the price of one more (J.A. Henckels International Forged Synergy 16-Piece Knife Set).

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J.A. Henckels International Forged Synergy knives are a contemporary style priced at a great value. These knives are fully forged and made of high quality stainless steel. The stylish molded POM handles with brushed stainless steel accents and stainless s

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Farberware Pro Stainless-Steel 15-Piece Fine-Edge Knife Set with Block, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)Had the knives two weeks, and was really impressed by the look feel and cut. However, after a couple of washes, rust spots began appearing. I suppose if I washed them all by hand and dried them off right away instead of air drying this wouldn't have happened(my fault..(?) ). I expected better, since I've had cheap K-mart knives for 10 years that didn't rust. I contacted farberware and they did say that if I return the rusted knives they would exchange them, with a turn around time of 6-8 weeks.

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SmartBargains Style #3010574021

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Global 4-Inch Paring Knife Review

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(More customer reviews)While renovating my meager kitchen, I recently splurged, spending over $330 on two Shun Elite knives. They were hand made Japanese knives--sexy and sleek, beautiful to look at it--and very sharp with a gleaming edge. They caught your eye with a dazzling patterned blade.
A friend, inspired by my kitchen equipment renovation, went out and bought Global knives, preferring them for his high-tech shiny stainless kitchen. He asked me over for a cutlery show-down with my new Shun Elites. I was ready to rub his Globals into the dust with my Shun Elites!
After an entire afternoon of chopping and comparing, we both came to the same overwhelming conclusion--the Globals were sharper and easier to use. It's not that they are sharper per say, but if you examine them closely, the Global's edges are slightly concave, and are burred and rough, while the Shun Elites are polished to a gleaming and shiny finish, and taper to a much more straight point. My friend and I both felt that the Global's burred concave edges allowed the Globals to sorta gripe and slice/slid through everything from carrots to meat with more ease than the Shun's polished and acute edge. Because of this ease, we can also logically foresee the Global's staying sharper longer as well, despite the higher rockwell rating of the Shun's high tech SG-2 powder steel. However, who knows...?
We even tried shaving hair off of our arms, and the Globals won this test with ease. They are incredibly balanced and just seem to bounce in your hands.
This "Spear" 4" paring knife in particuar has a funky "ergonomic" handle that many have critizized, but I LOVE it! I fits my large manly man hands WONDERFULLY and makes this knife everything I have wanted in a small paring style knife. I can see where if you had smaller hands, this might not be the right choice for you--you might want to check out Global's Western style paring knife, which feels like the same ol' Henckels or Wusthoff to me--MUCH prefer the more comfortable and molded feel of this much more modern design...!
I loved my Shun Elites--they were sexy and beautiful. But the Globals were obviously designed by and for chefs--they are much easier and nicer to use, and as I said, they just effortlessly (read rip) through any food with no effort at all; I was very impressed--so much so that I returned my Shun Elites and exchanged them for a complete set of Globals, which are less than half the cost of the Elites--and I got twice as many knives (never have had a good bread or boning knife before!)
I highly recommend that if you are searching for truly sharp (as in Hello, Mr. Winter Squash!), easy to use kitchen cutlery, that feels like an extension of your hand and arm, that you check out Globals--the Shun Elites possibly as well. They are both wonderful knives, but I genuinely have to say I see why Globals are so popular with professional Chefs--they are awesome knives--maybe not as sexy and hand crafted as the Shun's, but they more than make up for that with an incredible ergonomic ease and free flowing sharpness that makes them a joy to use.

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Global GS-7 4" Parer

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Cutco Essentials Set with 1649 #1845 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We have owned Cutco steak knives, paring knives,
a Chef knive, a bread knife, a carving knife set,
and others for many, many years. I had never sent
any of them in for their free sharpening service.
The Chef knife finally got a chip on the tip, and
the special cutting edge of the steak knives was
wearing down, so I decided that it was time to
send these knives in for "repair" and sharpening.
I did have to pay shipping to send the knives there,
and $8.00 to have knives shipped back. To my delight,
Cutco decided the knives were worn enough to be replaced
with brand new knives. This was a total of 9 knives that
were replaced. Cutco truly does stand by their product for
life.
I have other family members who have owned Henckels knives,
but Henckels didn't have the special edge that Cutco has on their
steak knives and many others. My family now owns Cutco, and can't
imagine having anything else. We are sold on Cutco!


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These 5 pieces in an oak storage block are a welcome addition to any kitchen. Set includes:2-3/4" Paring Knife, Turning Fork, 6-3/4" Petite Carver, 7-5/8" Petite Chef, Spatula Spreader, FREE Cutting Board, and Essentials Set Block (5-Pc.) About Cutco: Cutco is one of the largest manufacturers and sellers of high-quality cutlery in North America.Cutco offers a forever performance guarantee, a forever sharpness guarantee, and a forever replacement service agreement for misuse or abuse.Experience the difference with Cutco's quality cutlery!

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Henckels TWIN Pro-S Chef's Knife Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recently purchased this knife and am overjoyed with the performance. If you don't have a well balanced professional knife you can't imagine how nice it is to work with one. I went to the local restaurant supply stores and handled several brands and sizes to see what felt best. The Henckels Pro S 8" was the best. The 10" seemed top heavy but I'm sure someone else may feel different.The blade holds an incredible edge as well. I steel the blade before each use to keep the edge in the best cutting condition.

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31021-203This knife features a sturdy, heavy knife with broad, strong blade and fine cutting edge. The all around winner for professionals and hobby chefs that cleans vegetables, minces herbs and chops. The workhorse of all knives, it's also known as the cook's knife. The knife handle is rocked up and down with one hand while the fingers of the other hand rests lightly on the back of the blade. Features: -SIGMAFORGE One Piece Construction. -Laser controlled edge is sharper and stays sharper longer because it has a more consistent blade angle. -Black polypropylene handle. -Friodur Ice Hardened has Maximum no stain properties and more blade strength. -Full horizontal tang without rivets design for balance. -Handwash recommended. -Blade Dimension: 8''.

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