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.
Wusthof makes the best knife blades in the business, and in my opinion the best quality knives. Cheaper knives generally dull more quickly, and some never get truly sharp at all. Wusthof knives, in contrast, get clean, exact cuts every time, and are a joy to use.
The "Wusthof Classic" style of this set, with the three rivets attaching the black composite handle pieces to the full length tang of the blade, used to be the only style of handle Wusthof made. Wusthof now makes several other styles, including the slightly less expensive "Grand Prix" line with a molded handle, and the much more expensive "Culinar" line with stainless steel handles. If you have money to burn, you might want to look at the Culinar line, but for most people, the Wusthof Classic knives are likely the best tradeoff between money and quality.
The three knives in this set are the ideal knives for a brand new cook with no existing kitchen equipment. The chef's knife and the paring knife are needed in any well equipped kitchen; the "sandwich knife" is a compromise that can substitute, albeit imperfectly, for any of three or four other special purpose knives.
Amazon currently lists the Wusthof classic chef's knife in six different sizes; the 8" blade size is one of the sizes I own, and it works well for almost any cutting task in the kitchen. There are times when it feels like a larger size might work even better, such as when dealing with a large roast or turkey, but the 8" always seems to be sufficient in the end; there really aren't any times when I want a smaller chef's knife for general purpose use.
Paring for example, peeling potatoes is more of a special purpose task, for which a specialized knife is really superior. The 3.5" blade length in this set may seem short, but it's short for a reason. Often while one is using the paring knife in one hand, one is holding the object being cut in the other. The short blade length makes it easier to avoid stabbing oneself while maneuvering both the knife and the object.
The 6" knife is a little different. Unlike the other two knives in this set, the 6" knife is really only perfect for a very limited set of tasks. Its strength is that it can substitute, if a bit imperfectly, for a variety of other knives that may be missing from the kitchen of a brand new cook. For example, it can be used for utility tasks that require more than the 3.5" blade length of the paring knife which is to say, most utility tasks if the cook doesn't already have a 4" or 4.5" utility knife. It can also be used, in a pinch, when what the cook really wants is a second chef's knife for example, to cut fresh vegetables for a salad when it wouldn't be hygienic to reuse the big chef's knife that was just used on raw meat. The 6" knife won't be perfect for these tasks, but it will work, and will be much better than no knife at all.
As the new cook collects more knives, the 6" knife will likely be used less and less. It won't ever become completely unused I just used mine this evening, despite having half a dozen other Wusthof knives to choose from, because the 6" length is perfect for slicing a tenderloin roast but eventually it will become one of the lesser used pieces in the set.
That may make the 6" knife less than cost effective for a cook that already has an established set of kitchen tools. For such a cook, one of the other sets might be better perhaps the two piece "starter" set with the chef's knife and the paring knife, along with perhaps a Wusthof sharpening steel. For a brand new cook with no kitchen equipment, though, this three piece set is close to perfect, and it is the set I started my Wusthof collection with, 20 years ago.
Buy Wusthof Classic Gourmet 3-Piece Knife Set Now
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.
Update! June 2011 and still going strong! Daily use, occasional sharpening, wow.
Read Best Reviews of Wusthof Classic Gourmet 3-Piece Knife Set Here
I got so tired of dull knives, I took the plunge and got Wustof. I was surprised how often I use the paring knife. These knives are perfectly balanced, and made with the best construction. The blades are chromium/molybdenum steel, probably the best knife steel available.
I trusted this tried and true brand, and it paid off. These knives stay sharp. They feel like a natural extension of the hand. They're beautifully finished. I was so excited to use them. I took 16 random poor quality knives to the church thrift shop. As it turns out, these three knives are all I need for cooking.
These are lifetime investments. I wish I hadn't have been so cheap for so long.
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If I could, I'd give this product 10 stars, or even 20. I bought these knives for my boyfriend for his birthday, we are both in college and have recently gotten very involved in cooking. We did much research and found these to be the best cooking knives (we watch Food Network and virtually everyone uses these knives) and, we were definitely impressed. They are nothing short of amazing! They cut through everything like butter, it makes cooking such a breeze, they are easy to handle, and I've heard they last for forever, judging from everyones reviews on here. I only reccommend these knives, they are lifesavers and make cooking that much more enjoyable. I will never own any other knives other than Wusthof. Also, this set is a GREAT price for what you are getting! Absolutely amazing. 10 stars if I could.
UPDATE: I have had these knives for over a year (I know it isn't a super long time, but it's enough for an update) and they still look brand new. We use these knives daily and they work wonders. The only thing you need to do is get them sharpened every once in awhile, depending how often you use them.
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I got this as a gift for my husband and he really likes it! The knife is really sharp and cuts through fruits and vegetables very easily. It's not really an issue but the knife is fairly small and probably works better for smaller hands. Would recommend this knife.
