Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This is not your run-of-the-mill, keep-your-knives-in-a-45 degree-angle-knife block.
It is distinctively higher than most of those blocks that store the knifes in a 45 degree angle. But it is also distinctively less deep then those other blocks, contributing to a relatively slender footprint.
Because the slots for the big knives are not only on top of the block, but extend half down the front, it is a very different motion with which you pull a knife out not with one swooping pull, but kind of first straight forward and then out. After a few times, this motion becomes natural, though, and you should not have any problems with that. Our big chef knifes have about 5 inches room between the end of their handles and the cabinet floor when they are in the block, and that is ample space to put them into the block and pull them out.
The height of the block is sufficient to not let our big chef knives touch the counter-top.
A very nice feature of this block is its open construction, which lets the knives dry very easily should there still be some moisture when you store them away. With most 45 degree blocks, the moisture is trapped in the narrow slots and could contribute to forming mold there.
Also, my wife uses our knife as holder to dry out her water bottles, which works now much better through the upright position the bottles are in, sitting on one of the knife handles, than formerly with our old 45 degree block.
The block is also very handsomely crafted and seems to be very durable. Plus, I personally like the light wooden color, and that they use maple wood and not plastic, and mineral oil as surface protection instead of some form of paint.
This block is certainly not a cheap buy, but it's features and looks make it worth the price.
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program If you feel, as a home cook, that your knives and block are sufficient for your needs, you may not wish to consider the J. K. Adams block. However, if you are a chef, a serious home cook, or one who aspires to be one or the other and will be purchasing your knives individually, this beautifully crafted maple block may be one you should consider. For example, you may wish to choose your knives from one manufacturer, but if you want top quality knives of your choice from Westhof, Viking, Masahiro, Henckel Pro, or Messermeister, Ginsu, Cutco or any number of excellent knife manufacturers you may be selecting a block as well. Serious chefs will consider everything from the handle of a knife, the steel, to the way it balances in one's hand. Selecting a proper block should receive the same consideration.
This block is designed to hold an assortment of knives. A chef's knife does range in size from six to twelve inches so those who are considering adding the larger knife need to keep in mind that the block itself is approximately nine inches tall. Carving, slicing, utility, boning, fillet, paring, and other specialty knives can either be placed on the top or bottom sleeves. One word of caution is that the six sleeves for your smaller knives are open on the bottom. This block obviously will not fit every knife blade in the world and blades longer that five inches may be damaged if you simply toss them in the shorter sleeve without thinking. If you are considering purchasing this beautifully crafted maple block for your home or professional kitchen, think about the knives you'll be using.
I definitely like the open design of this block. The first thing that came to mind is that it would be easy to clean and much more sanitary than the closed in blocks. There will be little chance of any stray pieces of food lodging in the slots as the J. K. Adams Universal Knife Block has an open, easy to clean design. I would not recommend it if you have little hands that are helping you out in your home kitchen. Another thing I like is that when I reach for a knife I can tip it forward and toward me instead of pulling it straight out or up as in some blocks I've seen. The block can be "seasoned" and maintained with a touch of mineral oil now and then. This block is not for everyone, but for those who want beauty, quality, and function, this is one that you may wish to add to your counter.
Buy J.K. Adams 9-1/2-Inch-by-9 inch by 6-1/2-Inch Maple Wood Universal Knife Storage Block, 13-Slot Now
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program When I got this, I tore off the shrink wrap, took my knifes out of the drawer they'd been sleeping in and put them in this rack. First the big knives and they went in swimmingly, looked good.
Then I put in the steak knives in front and thunk, thunk, thunk, six thunks I heard as the knives dropped through their allotted slots and hit the marble counter under the rack. It was too short, the part of the rack for the steak knives was too short. Too short it was.
I got another set of steak knives, same deal, the rack was too short. You drop the knives in and they hit with a thunk whatever is below the rack. Somebody should have measured when they designed this thing.
And before you ask, I tried two sets of steak knives and both sets found this rack wanting. So I called my neighbor, asked her to bring over her steak knives, the ones that are in the knife rack by her microwave. And my rack was too short for them too. So, all in all, this rack was a waste of wood.
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This holds 6 "short" knives (like steak knives) and 7 larger knives total.
This items takes up the space of TWO of my smaller cheap-o butcher blocks, but only holds half the amount of knives. (it's footprint is twice as large as one old knife holder, so it takes up more of the premium counter space.
There is considerably less clearance above this item when beneath kitchen cupboards, than, compared to my old knife holders. That's why I say it is too tall. I'm used to being able to just stick my hand under the cupboard to get to my knives. This one would force me to leave it out on the counter closer to the counter's edge than the back splash, making it more possible that it could get knocked off by accident. With young kids in the house, the risk of that happening just isn't worth it.
There is hardly any room between the large knives for the smaller ones to fit in when full.
In a world of innovative design, this plain old wooden box with slits in it doesn't impress me.
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Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I love to cook, and that generates an equivalent love of kitchen gadgets. Over the years, I've ended up with an assortment of extra kitchen knives that don't go in the knife block that came with my nice set. There's a bread knive, tomato knives, steak knives and more. For years I've had them in little bins in a kitchen drawer, but I like having my knives at more convenient reach, in a knife block.
The J.K. Adams 13-Slot Maple Universal Knife Storage Block seemed a good option to collect all of those loose knives into a block. When I received it, however, the block seemed oversized considering how many knives it holds, and is rather utilitarian in appearance, promoting function over form while I prefer a happy balance of both qualities. The wood is an attractive color and finish, but the shape is just completely uninspired. Worse, it is almost completely vertical with no slant to the unit. I prefer a knife block that has a bit of a slant and makes the knives easier to access quickly.
The block has 7 slots for larger knives and 6 for small knives. The small knives fit everything from steak knives to small tomato knives. The larger slots will hold butcher knives, bread knives, and more. Even still, the block takes up much more counter space than I would like for something that only holds thirteen knives.
This knife block works, but it isn't the best option I've seen.
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For $20, you can't go wrong. When I first got this set, I was curious as how sharp it would be. All of the blades will shave the hair off of my arm. I was scared of them (don't want to loose a finger making dinner). I have used the 8" chef's knife to dull it enough to not be scared, haven't used the rest, but when iI dull them down I will. The steel seems good quality, not very thick and yet still strong. Buy it, yet BE VERY CAREFUL.
