CUTCO #1813 Ultimate Set. 19 High Carbon Stainless Kitchen Knives & Forks, 12 Table Knives,3 Cuttin

- Free 1712 Basting Spoon, CUTCO polishing Cloth, and mini 10-foot measuring tape included with purchase.
- Highly engineered thermo-resin ergonomic handles will not crack, chip, fade or absorb material
- CUTCO Forever Guarantee --- Free sharpening and replacement forever!
- Full Tang, Triple Rivet Construction --- High Quality Nickel-Silver Alloy Rivets.
- Manufactured entirely in USA by American craftworkers
1)Inferior tempering. Cutco is stamped instead of forged. All best knives are forged (with the exception of Henckels Twinstar which is using a new technology called sintering) because forged knives make a better edge among other reasons. All the worst and cheapest knives are stamped because it is cheaper and easier. The forging process randomises the metal particles for a slightly tougher knife. It also permits the differing thicknesses of metal which is necessary for a heavy raised bolster between the knife handle and knife blade. Forged knives have more metal than stamped knives and thus are heavier. The forging process enables extra metal proportioning to give the knife perfect balance. Most prefer the weight of a forged knife. It feels heftier and more substantial. Forged knives generally are thicker, have more heft, hold an edge better, provide bolsters which brings better balance and safety, and obviously have been made with a lot more care and craftmanship. The forging process enhances the flexibility (making it less likely to snap to break), density, and hardness, and better solidifies the structure of a knife.
2)Steel. Cutco claims they use the highest quality steel money can buy. They call it high carbon surgical grade steel. While this is subjective Cutco uses 440A grade steel while most top of the line knives (which is where Cutco is priced at) uses 440C, which is higher in carbon. 440C is more expensive to make, buy, and manufacture with. 440C also makes a sharper edge, and holds it better. Because of it's grain structure 440C is also more stain resistant. And while 440C steel is generally only found in top of the line kitchen knives, 440A is often found in the cheaper, run of the mill type kitchen knives. Where they got the surgical grade label is beyond me, 440A steel doesn't have a regular grade and a surgical grade. When you think of surgical instruments you think sanitary, expensive, and high qualityit's just sales hype.
3)Lack of bolsters provides for inferior balance and less safety.
4)Double-D edge. Most cooking enthusiasts prefer a straight edge which the double-d is not and you cannot sharpen Cutco edges yourself whenever you please. Salespeople use the ol' rope a dope trick when giving a presentation because the serrated pattern cuts tougher objects better, but any chef or cooking enthusiast will tell you that kitchen knives are made to cut through food like meat, bread, and tomatoesnot rope or leather. For that a utility knife is bestand there's are plenty of utility knives that cut through rope and leather better than Cutco's.
Cutco's salespeople swear up and down double-d edges are neither straight, nor serrated but unique (don't all salespeople?). The Double-D edge is in fact another type of serrated edge. Cutco calls their serrated edge "Double D" just like Spyderco calls their serrated edges "Spyderedge." Except Spyderco isn't trying to fool anyone and markets their as a superior serration pattern while Cutco tries to claim theirs is different.
But anyone who knows anything about knives can tell you the ^^^^ pattern on the edge (take a look at the cutco.com website for an explanation and drawing, currently at: makes it a serrated edge. The whole double-d thing is just hype like everything else about the knives. The Double-D edge is not patented and never was.
The problem with the serrated pattern is that it doesn't make a clean cutlittle nicks and tears in the food is made. Serrated knives are generally only good for fibrous vegetables and breadwhere it is needed. Cutco reps may claim that it makes a clean cut, but this is only true for cutting stuff you can press straight down on (like butter), but for things you need to slide the blade back and forth on (like meat) the teeth will tear it up. Serrated edges are also somewhat more difficult to clean.
As for sharpness, you may think they stay razor sharp but in reality only the crevices of the blade edge are. You see serrated edges like the Double-D's look like this: ^^^^^^ when contacting the food the points get worn down rather quickly but the crevices stay sharp, so it may seem like it is razor sharp but in reality only the crevices are. It can never be as sharp as a well maintained plain edge, the edge preferred by cooking enthusiasts and professionals. Maybe a serrated edge is better at cutting rope (the rope a dope trick), but the best kitchen knives are not made to cut through rope, they are made to make a good, clean cuts on food. Master chef Wylie Dufresne just recently told GQ magazine in their Sept '03 edition, "I have plenty of friends whose parents have Cutco in a knife block. You pull them out and they're all as dull as can be."
Other knives you can sharpen yourself whenever you want, but with Cutco knives you need Cutco to sharpen them for you. I will refer you once again to Cutco's own website: at cutco.com, currently here:
"For resharpening of Double-D® or straight-edged knives, send them along with a return shipping and handling fee of $5.00 (1-3 items) or $8.00 (4 or more items) to the CUTCO address below."
You have to pay for them to be sent in and sent back all the while without your knives. I've heard of representatives of the company coming out and sharpening them for you, but this is by no means guranteed to happen so there is obviously good reason they don't state this on their website.
5)Handles. Of course this is subjective but the handles are different from any of the others and some people find them uncomfortable (especially those with extremely large or small hands since they were designed for the average hand), some others find them dorky looking and wouldn't want to set them out on the dinner table. Sure the handles were designed to be comforableall handles are designed that way! And like all good salepeople, Cutco even has a good story to tell about it. That doesn't mean they actually ARE comfortable. Consumer Reports, the leading consumer magaine, also found the handles to be uncomfortable. The handles are made of what Cutco call "Thermoresin" and thermo=heated and resin=plastic, injection molded plastic is the absolute cheapest material cost and method possible. And the type of plastic the handles are made out of, celluloid plastic, is highly nitrated and self-oxidizing like the gun cotton in smokeless gun powder (to a lesser extent) thus highly flammablenot good for a kitchen knife. Although the rivots are made of what they call "nickel-siver", there is no silver in them. They call it nickel-silver because it has a silver color to it. The handles have no current patent on them, other companies could copy them but choose not to. Wear Ever cookware had handles designed by the same person in the 30's and 40s, they have since dumped this design.
6)Corrosion. Many people (including Consumer Reports magazine) believe that Cutco blades corrode a little easier than most. Consumer Reports seemed to hint that it may have to do with the type of metal used, polishing, or coating.
7)Restrictions when buying. Since you can only buy from a Vector rep, you are forced to select your rep with care because a flock of amateur sales reps can and will include a range from the best professionals through the worst rip off artists.
8)Price. Many will agree that Cutco is not best for commercial use but it is priced for commercial use. You can get a 7 piece block of top of the line hand-forged, bolstered, well balanced Wusthof-Trident Grand Prix for $249. A similar set of Cutco can easily run you $300-$400. Tramontina Professional is supposed to be the best value having the same features as the best knives but at about 1/3 the price. There may also be hidden costs added (such as shipping & handling, C.O.D., sales tax, etc.) that make the actual price much higher that the displayed and originally discussed price.
Cutco is sold at prices very similar to knives that are top of the line yet are not as good as them in almost every way except they do have comparable rockwell hardness, are full tang, and have a good guarantee. I wouldn't spend my hard earned money on guarantees though and the other qualities you can find in much cheaper knives.
The average household has very cheap, low quality knives that generally only last 5-15 years. So when they hear there is a forever guarantee it becomes the main selling point. What they don't know is all knives in that price range are built to last a lifetime and with proper care they definately will. The only way they won't is if you abuse them, which Cutco's guarantee doesn't even fully cover. Also, in case it doesn't last a lifetime, many top of the line knives carry a lifetime guarantee.
Cutco's money back guarantee is for 15 days. Most large retail chains like Sears and Walmart carry a 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee. The forever guarantee is nice, but a couple nitpicks: "Should you damage your CUTCO through misuse or abuse, we will replace the item for one half of the current retail price." it needs to be sent in to Cutco "with an explanatory note" and Cutco is the sole determinor of what is misuse or abuse (such as chipping your knife), also the "guarantee is intended solely for consumer/in-home use." Don't believe me? Check out the Cutco website yourself:I you are looking for the guarantee, Henckels Twinstar and Messermeister (among many others) both offer similar lifetime warrantees and are of better quality (in many people's opinions). If you must have the best kitchen knives available, Wusthof Trident Grand Prix is highly regarded as the best kitchen knives money can buy and the prices are similar to Cutco's. If you are looking for brand name, Henckels is considered the #1 selling brand in the world, been in business since 1731, and they will replace their twinstar knives that have a "diamond edge" with new ones if they get dull. For the best value, you can find high quality, forged, full tang knives with bolsters at a very reasonable price (about 1/3 that of Cutco's) you might want look into the Tramontina Professional Series which is regarded as the best value in the knife industry. If you don't want to spend very much money on knives, the Forschner Victoronox is made by the same people who make Swiss Army Knives and considered the best of the very cheap kitchen knives. If you don't want to sharpen your knives, you might want to look at the Regent Sheffield Infinity Edge or Henckels Twinstar depending on how much you want to spend. Most retail stores have a 30-day money back guarantee.
My opinion is that Cutco is not worth their price and I'm sure most professionals would agree. In fact you would have great difficulty finding one culinary arts school, master chef, or knife expert that recommends this brand. Norman Weinstein, a nationally recognized knife skills instructor who's taught since 1995 at the Institute of Culinary Education was quoted by the Baltimore Sun newspaper as saying "Why, why, would you buy such a knife?"
Cutco is able to sell their knives at such a high price because they are being sold to people by their sons, nephews, and granddaughters (basically people who care for them and trust them, or their friends, and know very little about knives). Consumersearch.com looked over all the professional reviews available and while 11 professionals liked Wusthof Trident the best, only one liked Cutco and that one only liked Cutco compared to other stamped knives:The bottom line is that no brand or set is best for everyone and you should check them all out and compare to decide which is best for your needs, wants, and preferences. The retail store is probably the best place to do this, unfortunately Cutco is not sold there.
Chicago Cutlery Metropolitan 4-Piece Steak Knife Set
These knifes are excellent value. They are razor sharp when received and stay that way with a few strokes of a sharpner, after or before each use. The ony thing is these knifes are not drop forged, they are stamped steel, but are of excellent quility. One last thing do not put these knifes in the dishwasher it will damage the handles and the blades. Hand wash them only. I would recommend these knifes to anyone on a budget as a very good product for a very reasonable price.My mother-in-law had Chicago Cutlery (still has the same set in daily use, actually), and that is what my husband grew up with. He liked the feel and recognized the excellent quality, so in 1998 when he moved out, we went to the Chicago Cutlery store and spent about two hours there, handling knives, choosing a set. This was one of our first dates, actually, and I liked the knives enough to marry the guy. :-) A couple of years ago, two of the steak knifes snapped off just above the handle. Eventually I got around to contacting the company for replacements, and the process was very easy and quick, and they simply sent a set of four. Our old set was "Metropolitan" in black, but these new knifes didn't look the same. They are, in fact, very different. They are shaped very differently. Everything is lighter the handles are much lighter and feel like plastic instead of slate, the rivets are thinner, and the blades are SIGNIFICANTLY thinner. The blades are so thin, that in the first couple of days, the tips actually bent, and easily bent back. They do not hold an edge for long at all. After a couple of weeks, they just became the utility knives I use for cutting oranges, or those shrinky plastic seals on the salad containers. If I need to say, cut a steak, I put it back in the block and grab an old knife, or one of the Cutco knives I brought to the marriage. I know our favorite consumer magazine just gave these knives a good review, but I have to disagree. They are just this side of useless, and we would never buy anything like this new. If you are shopping based on the reputation of Chicago Cutlery, know that these are not the knives that reputation was built on.Buy Chicago Cutlery Metropolitan 4-Piece Steak Knife Set Now
These seem to be well made, and I would expect them to last a long time. I can't imagine the riveted handles ever breaking like cheap knives sometimes do. Compared to a lot of knives, these were very reasonably priced. The only negative to them is, the blades weren't overly sharp from the factory. A couple of swipes over the hone and that took care of that.Read Best Reviews of Chicago Cutlery Metropolitan 4-Piece Steak Knife Set Here
Victorinox Cutlery 3-Piece Chef's Set, Black Fibrox Handles
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program In my kitchen, I try to practice the buying philosophy of "buy for quality ONCE". Yet somehow I have ended up with a drawer full of knives of varying quality, and I really only use 2 the most:1) A surprisingly affordable (under $125) Santoku
2) A serrated 5 inch utility knife (indispensible for slicing tomatoes)
So I was a wee bit curious to try this Victorinox Black-Fibrox Handled 3-piece Chef's Set as part of Amazon's Vine Program. They are a Swiss Army Knife product (and thus there is an assumption of quality behind this brand name), yet their price was really affordable. Could these knives really live up to their name for the price? Would they knock my higher quality knives out of the park AND out of my knife drawer?
Here's what I like after using these knives for a week:
1) The blades are strong for being very thin; despite not having a full tang, they do not twist or flex very much.
2) The black Fibrox handle material has a grainy texture, making it easier to securely hang onto when it is wet.
3) The Fibrox material is highly sanitary, according to National Sanitation Foundation.
4) The Swiss Army Knife branding.
5) The lifetime warranty!! (Return to Connecticut for US customers or Ontario for Canadian customers.)
6) The price; If you wanted a 3-piece forged set with a full tang, you would expect to pay 3x the price of these knives (based other options on the Swiss Army website).
7) Of the 3 knives, the 8-inch Chef's knife is the most balanced in my hand, and most likely the only one of all three I will ever really use.
Now for what I do not like about this set, and why I felt I could not rate them more highly. (Please note: I feel it would not be fair to rate these harshly by comparing them with much higher quality knives that are forged and have a full tang; they are just different animals in my mind.)
1) The handles feel hollow, contributing to the imbalanced feel.
2) The thin blade's ultra-light-weightedness does not feel secure in my hands; I foresee a few accidents due to slippage and the occasional flailing and wringing of hands that occurs in my kitchen. (I tend not to flail as much if I have something heavier in my hands.)
3) The 4-inch parer is more handle than blade; it just feels silly and far too large in my hand to easily pare an apple. (I tried.)
4) The 8-inch Slicer is more blade than handle and feels ungainly in my hand, not at all well-balanced.
Neutral Observations:
1) I tried to cut into an acorn squash with the Chef's knife; no luck at ALL. Then I tried the slicer same problem. So before I attributed a negative rating to these knives, I also tried to cut the squash with my best knives still no luck!! So, the acorn squash is getting the negative review here.
2) These are steel, and steel can rust if damaged, so it is important to take special care of even your cheapest knives. Buy some good knife guards for each of them; these can be found in most kitchen stores and are cheap.
3) These knives should never be dishwashered, as with any other chef's knives. This is not uncommon; it is just a fact of life for users of kitchen knives. (Not only is dishwashing bad for the knife and handle but also potentially unsafe for your DW.)
4) At the time of this writing, the Swiss Army website does not seem very responsive to customer comments or questions. There were some questions posted 6 months earlier by other customers which have gone unanswered. I also have not received a response to my question as to how this product (identified on the box as # XS47892) differs from the earlier product incarnation # 46892. I consider this a neutral thing because the manufacturer has answered some, just not all, questions on their website.
UPDATE 3/1/2011: Swiss Army Customer Service responded to my question from 2010. Here is that emailed answer: "After reviewing the 2 different Chef's Cutlery Sets we have available, I found that 46892 which has the Fibrox handle has a paring knife of 4", a chef's knife of 10" and a slicing knife of 8", while the 47892 with the Fibrox handle has a 4" paring knife, a 8" chef knife and an 8" slicing knife." So, the different SKU is due to the size difference in the chef's knives.
Bottom Line:
1) These Victorinox knives are a pretty good entry-level set of knives, but not the best nor most complete option. They will probably get replaced by the user at some time, and supplemented with more useful knives (like a smaller parer, a really good 5 inch serrated knife, and an excellent Santoku)
2) Would I buy these for myself? No as mentioned I would really only ever use one out of the three knives, so this particular set is just not my ideal choice.
3) Would I buy these as a gift? Possibly, depending on the culinary aptitude of the recipient. Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Soon after I had the thought that I needed some new, better knives than the dull, not-so-great ones I have, this (Victorinox Cutlery 3-Piece Chef's Set, Black Fibrox Handles) popped up for me to try. How serendipitous indeed! As soon as I got them, I was surprised at the size of these knives, which are much bigger than I'm used to. I generally use a little paring knife for many things and the paring knife in this set looks gigantic next to it. I'm still getting used to the knives but the quality is remarkable and I have been very impressed.
Pros
* The three knives included: 8" Chef's, 8" Slicer, and 4" Parer are a nice selection and very useful.
* Very sharp, which makes them slice with very little pressure. I may start to actually cut veggies the "proper" way by using the Chef's knife now.
* The grip feels nice in my hand and doesn't slip, so there's less chance for accidents.
* I have nerve problems in my wrist and arm, so it's helpful that these are ergonomically designed to minimize tension.
* As far as knives go they are attractive looking, though not the best looking I've seen, but they have both substance and looks, which is preferred.
* Price seems reasonable, though I'm no expert.
* According to the description the handles have been approved by the National Sanitation Foundation.
* Made by the same company that provides Swiss Army knives, so you know this is a quality product.
* Lifetime warranty. Always nice to have.
Cons
* Purely a preference but I'm a vegetarian so I'm not sure how useful the slicer will be in the long run. I'll probably mainly use it for vegetables and odd jobs. For the average person and cook though, I'd say this is a good selection and a decent price.
* As mentioned above, the paring knife is pretty big and while I'll use this for some functions, I'll also still use my other paring knife because it's easier for smaller tasks.
Overall, I'm happy with the product and think this is a nice addition to my kitchen. I believe I'll be using these for many years to come and may even try out other Victorinox knives in the future.
Buy Victorinox Cutlery 3-Piece Chef's Set, Black Fibrox Handles Now
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program Victorinox Cutlery 3-Piece Chef's Set, Black Fibrox HandlesYou know the expression "You don't know what you're missing"? Well, I think that's an appropriate feeling about my Victorinox 8" Chef's knife, which is part of this 3-piece set, including a 8" 'slicer' and a 4 3/4" utility knife. On the positive side, the 8-incher is the perfect shape for a chef's knife and comes relatively sharp right out of the box with a killer "Fibrox" handle. No way, your hands will slip with this baby!
BUT, here's what I mean about my opening reference: For a chef's knife, I really miss the lack of weight. If you've ever owned a high-quality, German-steel chef's knife, you'll immediately notice that the Victorinox is a lightweight. For those of you who might tire easily, when having to dice those six onions for your gourmet dinner, the light weight is good. If you ever want to dissect a hard butternut squash, I think having a knife with some weight really helps. Again, if you've never owned or used one of these, you won't know what you're missing.
The 4 3/4 inch utility knife is very sharp, and makes for a great paring knife. In this regard, the light weight of this knife might be a plus. Easy to wield when coring an apple, I like it a lot.
Sorry, but I just don't know what to do with the 8" 'slicer'. It's not a bread slicer, as the edge is straight. It's not a meat slicer because it doesn't have the indented sides and thinness of a real meat slicer. I wouldn't use it for dicing anything, as it doesn't have the height of a chef's knife. I think Victorinox just threw this one in to make you feel better about buying the set!
I think in general, Victorinox kitchen knives just can't be beat for the money! But if I was just starting out, and had a limited budget, here are the Victorinox knives I'd buy:
1. The 8" chef's knife. Even with it's light weight, it's a no-brainer for those on a budget.
2. The 4 3/4" utility knife. Might be a little long for a paring knife, but it definitely does the trick.
3. The 6" boning knife. This isn't part of the set, but this is one killer knife! If you ever plan on butchering a chicken, trimming fat off meat, or working with delicate fish fillets, this baby is the ticket!!
4. A honing steel, some kind of block for storage and a sharpener (NOT electric).
I recommend you forget about buying those 10-piece knife sets, as you'll find that at least half of them will look like new after a couple years. Why??? Because you'll never use them!
I'm not a professional chef, but I do cook a bit. If I only had the four items listed above, it would satisfy 98% of my cooking needs. I'd really like to give 3.5 stars but can't. So I'll raise it a half for the overall good quality.
Read Best Reviews of Victorinox Cutlery 3-Piece Chef's Set, Black Fibrox Handles Here
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program You're trying to chop something large and hard--an onion, a potato, in my case it was a turnip--and your knife gets stuck. Like an axe in a tree, you can't finish chopping and you can't even pull it out! What I remember is that I had bruises in my palms for days after that turnip chopping incident. That's when you know that you need newer knives, better knives.Now, I would not describe these Victorinox knives as top of the line products, but they are head and shoulders above what I've been using. I'm a serious cook, but live on a budget. Fine knives are not in that budget. This three-piece set that includes an 8-inch chef's knife for chopping, an 8-inch slicer for cutting and slicing, and a 4-inch utility knife for paring and other smaller jobs is an excellent and surprisingly affordable option.
The blades are sharp and so far seem to be keeping their edge well. The knives are thin and light-weight, which Victorinox considers a selling point. I'm not so sure about that. If anything, they feel a bit TOO light for my liking. The Fibrox handles are comfortable and easy to grip, but they have a sort of cheap, plasticy feeling that I don't particularly like. But other than that, no complaints.
These knives have a lot of bang for the buck. They're a good option for a home chef on a budget.
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I have owned these knives for several years now. They stay sharp readily, are the right weight for my taste (lighter than some of the other professional knives), and cut like a dream. I have bought them as gifts for friends because I love them so much. Why spend more? To me these are high quality at a great price.Deba-Style Flexible Thai Knife (#171), Kiwi
I read about Kiwi knives on Reddit and then various blogs and decided to try a couple out. They're phenomenal... especially for the price! But the price here, (as of this writing, $13.89 + $6.25 shipping), is a lot more than you need to pay. Look for a Vietnamese grocery store in your area (or Thai or Chinese, probably, too) and you will find a variety of Kiwi knives available for sale. I paid $6 for this knife at a Vietnamese grocery store in Fort Worth, Texas.Kiwi knives are known for both their effectiveness and their affordability. While they tend to dull rather quickly (depending on what type of work you are doing, and how often,) they can be sharpened just as easily. As a sushi chef, I (as well as many/most cooks and chefs in any given restaurant,) use this style of Kiwi knife for a lot of daily prep and various odd jobs, and they have always held up well.Having said that, I wouldn't bother buying them on here, as this price (listed as $18.99 with Prime,) is quite literally ten times what I have paid for this type of knife at my local Asian markets. You can get them from other distributors on here for $13.89, but that's still far too much for what I've known for them to cost. So, while I highly recommend them, I would only purchase them here if you have no other options regarding availability.
Buy Deba-Style Flexible Thai Knife (#171), Kiwi Now
I'm a professional cook and I own knives that cost way way more than this knife, but I have a great fondness for Kiwi knives. Their thin metal takes an edge very well and holds it relatively well depending on what you use it on. This is strictly for vegetable or boneless meat and fish cutting. I have no experience with their cleaver-type knives, but the chef's style and the "vegetable cleaver" (flat edge, thin blade) are one of the best ways to get the job done. I purchased it online for convenience, but Kiwi knives are easily obtainable for several dollars less in your local Asian kitchen and/or food shop.This is exactly what you should buy if you want an excellent value knife. Instead of picking up a whole set of heavy, dull, thunkers in plastic packaging in a superstore, get one of these and a cheap paring knife. Sharpen if if you know how or want to learn. This is the perfect knife to learn how to use a whetstone with. Throw it out and buy a new one if that's too intimidating.
Read Best Reviews of Deba-Style Flexible Thai Knife (#171), Kiwi Here
One of the best knives you can get. It cuts and cuts. If you straighten the blade before every use, you will never go wrong with this knife. I would not use this knife to chop through bones (especially chicken bone) because the blade is really thin, but it will cut through cartilage without a problem.This knife is my favorite, Cuts tomatoes, baguettes and fresh soft bread without squashing it, trims meat, cuts spare ribs, great for lettuce cabbage, fruit, everything. I does not hold an edge very well but you can easily restore the edge with a whet stone, or knife sharpener that usually comes in a carving set (don't know how it works with knife sharpening wheels or other gizmos). I give it as housewarming gifts. So do yourself a favor and try one, you will be happy and save money.Wolfgang Puck 14-Piece Knife Set
Hampton Forge Picasso Frost 46-Piece Flatware Set
This flatware not only looks great -I love the pattern -it also feels great. It is substantial enough to not be heavy but does not feel chintzy or cheap. It goes into the dishwasher without a problem. Very elegant for everyday use, and good enough for company.I recommnend this to everyone looking for beautiful, strong tableware.
Arcos Forged Riviera 7 Pcs Beechwood Knife Set
These knives arrived beautifully packaged in an elegant Arcos box, shouting out 'quality' from the start. It looked so smart that I almost wanted to leave them in the box. The set itself has also more than lived up to my expectations. The smart Beechwood block houses a truely exquisite set of knives, with one to meet my every need from an everyday paring knife to a ham/salmon knife (which is a real luxury). I love that it even includes a sharpening steel, and I now have to learn how to use this properly. The knives are very well balanced and their ergonomic handles make them very comfortable to use. The blades are razor sharp and simply glide through everything they meet a real pleasure to use.Compared to other high end knife block sets on the market, I feel that this offers exceptional value for money. Definately worth it if you are looking for a top notch set that will probably out last you!
Ginsu Essential Open Stock Series 9-InchJapanese 420J2 Stainless Steel Slicer with Triple Riveted F
this is a great buy for the price. I would buy another one when needed. I got this for a chrismas gift.I had this type in the 80's and it got lost this is a fantastic knife and would recomend to everybodyOK, here it is. I had 3 ginsu knives that all came up missing after I moved. Thats why I ordered 2 more of them. I have had them since the 1980s. Seen them at the state fair being demonstrated. Believe me they have performed exactly as they claimed they would. I have sliced frozen meat with them many times and yes, they will slice a thin tomato perfectly after slicing the frozen meat. I am 66 years old and will have one till I die. They are worth every penny I have spent on them. We still have our original Ginsu set from the 80's which includes this slicer. I Think it has sliced 1,798,326 slices of bread, 965,231 slices of tomatoe and 3,569,212 slices of celery. It still looks like new, is sharp and gets plenty of use. Who would have thunk that this gimmicky, inexpensive knife was for real back then?... I didn't.Wonderful knife, they are the best on the planet. Do yourself a favor and get one.Schmidt Brothers Cutlery, SCIDBSS, Downtown Block, Wood Display Block with Metal Base
Arrived with broken plexyglass. Magnet is weak and does not hold the knives fast.Thinner profile ones retreat into the bowing, thin glass and the entire assembly has to be eptied and turned around. Terrible.I bought this knife block for my Dad who just redid his kitchen. It looked like good quality, and especially for the price! When he opened it on his birthday, the plexiglass on one corner had a crack where it was screwed together. He said he can use it and just turn it around, but I think I'm going to return it.Buy Schmidt Brothers Cutlery, SCIDBSS, Downtown Block, Wood Display Block with Metal Base Now
I'm not sure about the quality of the block, but it's interesting that the one I just bought (which was used from Amazon Warehouse) that said the condition was good came with the plexiglass corner by the screw cracked off. I'm thinking the review above me that described the same situation resulted in the buyer returning it and then they resold it to me!! I'm returning it today, the day I received it. So disappointing because it seemed so attractive and a good knife solution for a tight ledge in my kitchen.This a nice looking, sturdy knife rack of an unusual design. When I received the package I was very pleased with the design, but very disappointed in the assembly quality. The two plastic sides are meant to parallel the central wood block, but on mine they were bowed out in the center, the anchoring screws were askew and some were not screwed tight.I was so disappointed that I returned the block for a replacement, only to find the same problem with the second. I again returned it and when the third arrived, it too was poorly assembled. I gave up.
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I bought this would block thinking it would be a nice edition to my kitchen, but when the first one arrived, it was cracked by one of the screws. I gave the brand the benefit of doubt and exchanged it for a 2nd one which arrived not cracked. However, a few weeks later, the plastic sides started to warp out. At that point, I had threw out all the packaging and figured I can deal with the warping. It's now been 7 months and the magnetic wooden center is actually losing its metal attraction, so parts of it can't even hold up the knifes I have in there. I don't recommend this product to anyone. I'm very upset to have wasted so much money on this product.Shun DMS400 Classic 4-Piece Steak-Knife Set
These knives are fantastic but beware of the company shipping them. The Knife Store is company that ships this particular item (for Amazon) right now and they no longer carry these knives. Instead, when you order the classic knives you get the identical ones with the stainless steel handles... If these are the first Shun knives you're ordering... no biggie... but if you're trying to complete a collection just be aware that they won't contact you before shipping the wrong knives so you'll have to deal with the return process if you want to fix it.The knives are five star all the way. Shun makes amazing knives.But if you paid for a wood handle set and get a steel handle set, you HAVE BEEN CHEATED. Search for:
shun stainless handle steak knives
...and you will see that many places offer the stainless handel set for as little as $199. Wood handle sets cost way more, and if you paid for the wood handle set and got stainless steel, absolutely get your money back and raise hell with the merchant.
Once again I stress that the knives themselves -whether stainless handle or wood -deserve five stars
But ONLY if that is what you paid for.
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No doubt beautiful set of knives. Only beef I have is that the received item does not match the product description. The photos and the product description clearly state that the knives are accompanied by a wooden gift box. Unfortunately, neither my original or replacement set came with the box. I've since spoken to Amazon and they will make changes to the product description.Read Best Reviews of Shun DMS400 Classic 4-Piece Steak-Knife Set Here
Normally I don't write reviews, but I was so impressed by these knives. Every time you cut something it feels like you're cutting into butter, its that sharp. I would definitely recommend these to all my friends and family.These are everything I expected. Beautiful, impressive, and cut through meat like butter. Hands down the best steak knives I've used.Joseph Joseph Big Foot Reversible Non-Slip Chopping Board
I heard a lot of raves about Joseph Joseph products so I was happy to find this on Amazon.It looks great and the colour is fantastic.
However after just two uses as a cutting board, which it is, it is showing white cut marks already.
I will keep using it and it is better for keeping your knife from getting dull.
I guess the best part about this item is once the one side gets too shabby looking from knife cuts I can turn it over and start again.
So kind of a two for one cutting board.
Maybe when you have guests and you want your kitchen to look good turn it over. When you want to use it turn it back.I chose this cutting board after seeing people complain about the flatness and springiness of thinner 1/2" thick plastic cutting boards. This one is a little thicker than 3/4" and is quite sturdy. The concern expressed by another reviewer of knives leaving white marks on the board is not a problem for the white version of this cutting board. Only complaint I have is that the board did not sit flat on the counter when I first took it out of the box, but I rearranged the rubber feet and it sits just fine. The board certainly isn't cheap given that it's just a big chunk of plastic. But it's nice and sturdy and I can just toss it in the dishwasher and that's what I was looking for.
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I bought this because I have grey counters and needed something to leave out for my husband dto use to keep him from cutting on the counter and ruining my knives!! It works nicely and so far, a few knife marks but not bad!Read Best Reviews of Joseph Joseph Big Foot Reversible Non-Slip Chopping Board Here
I really like this cutting board, very thick and sturdy on the counter and the legs keep it well stationed. Also, it's nice that the legs pop out and can be put on the other way, making the board reversible. Definitely won't regret this buy, this is my favorite cutting board. Which is a weird thing to say, I never thought I could actually like a cutting board enough to call it my favorite...Want Joseph Joseph Big Foot Reversible Non-Slip Chopping Board Discount?
I found mines at a closeout sale for 4.99. Honestly, I had never heard of these products before but was immediately attracted to the heft and sturdy construction of this product. Immediately I wanted to use it and take it home. Now I am surprised at how much it really costs at full retail and I am hoping it will live up to its price tag!Godinger WOODEN HANDLED CAKE SERVER
Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star II 2-Piece Carving Set
Received this as a gift to add to my existing set of Henckels Four Star II knives. Have used it to carve turkey, ham, pork, and beef. It's the best carving knife I've used. Good weight and easy to grip also.I was shopping for a a nice carving fork, and carving knife and not a set. This set popped up in my search and it didn't have any negative reviews. All glowing reviews and the price was reasonable at $135. The first thing I carved with this knife was a pork tenderloin, and it didn't slice thru the 1.5 pound lean, long, marinated tenderloin with one swipe. I washed, and dried it and honed it on my steel. Gave it another try with the same results. I had my husband give it a go when I cooked a rump roast and he asked if I got the knife at good will. We went shopping at W-S at the mall to purchase a better knife, and ended up getting the Wusthof Classic Ikon Carving Knife Wusthof Classic Ikon 8-Inch Carving Knife, Black plus some other goodies.After running this Henckles Carving knife thru my new Wusthof knife sharpener, it did bring a new edge to it and make it much more useful. It's still far behind in quality compared to the Ikon.
I love the fork that came with the set. Holds the roast securely for carving and is also useful for turning steaks. Sold, sturdy and easy to clean.
I guess it's possible I got a bad knife.
Update:
We purchased the J.A. Henckels Professional "S" 10" Hollow Edge Slicer and my husband just had to have the Shun DM0720 Classic Hollow-Ground Slicing Knife, 9-Inch. Of course it's a no contest with the surgical, razor sharp edge of the Shun. But most large Shun knives make me nervous. Their bread knives and pairing knives I adore. The Henckels 10" Slicer does a beautiful job making thin slices of roast beef, prime rib, ham, pork roast and tenderloins and even hard salami and pastrami. Our neighbor turned us on to this slicing knife and I love it.
The Wusthof Classic Ikon Carving Knife is still my preference for poultry...my husband uses the Shun of course.
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Observed some visible scratches upon opening the box/packaging. Otherwise, excellent product. Very sharp and elegant looking. We are very happy with this purchase!Read Best Reviews of Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star II 2-Piece Carving Set Here
This is the kind of thing that you'll wish you had every time you have a roast to carve. I bought it along with the full knife set. Seems to be very nicely made.Want Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star II 2-Piece Carving Set Discount?
Great carving set as expected. Carving the Christmas Turkey this year was a real pleasure. I would highly recommend this product to anyone who wants a great carving knife set (I have had the rest of the Four Star II block set for a couple of years and they have been great to work with).LeBrun 24-Piece Bistro Cutlery Set, Gray
International Classic 4 Piece Steak Knife Set
Fox Run Grapefruit Spoon, Set of 2
The spoon is a tiny bit flexible but so far has gotten several jobs done well, including scraping out winter squashes.I love the shape of these spoons, and the serrated edges make it much easier to eat my morning grapefruit. I didn't give it five stars because I would prefer a little heavier metal, but for the price it's still a great product. I intend to order another set.Buy Fox Run Grapefruit Spoon, Set of 2 Now
These spoons are inexpensive but not cheaply made. They are a great width for entering great fruit sections and have just enough serration to make the job easy. I'm used to having to precut the sections with a knife, but with these spoons that isn't necessary.Read Best Reviews of Fox Run Grapefruit Spoon, Set of 2 Here
These are well made and very handy for eating grapefruit! What more can one ask for in a grapefruit spoon?These cool little spoons make eating a grapefruit so much easier with it's serrated edges. They are well made, durable and a good price. Buy them, you won't be disappointed.Norpro Citrus Peeler
My boyfriend gave me one of these originally, and after I used it a few times I wondered how I managed without it. I eat a lot of oranges, and it's so much easier to peel them with this. I make a circumference around the top, and then slice down from there to the base all around the orange. Then I use the end without the tiny plastic blade to pry the peel away from the flesh to start each peel. My fingers and fingernails never get overwhelmed with pith now. Not only does it make the job easier, but it's fun to use too, and I love its pleasing little orange shape and the way it easily fits on my finger when I'm using it. My boyfriend has one that is several years old, and the one he gave me is two years old now, and they still cut into the peel easily and are still in use. I ordered 10 of them so I could have another at work and extras to give away to family, friends and coworkers who were attracted to it when they'd see me use it, and several of them have told me how much they love it too. I've never tried any other kind of peeler, but I totally love and recommend this one.I have tried many different types of citrus peelers over the years, and this by far has always been my favorite. They are long lasting, and I have yet to have one break. I usually lose them or they are borrowed and not returned. They fit in any size lunch bag. The last time I purchased this peeler was over 10 years ago from a cookingware store. I am finally down to my last one, and was happy to find they are still available. The cutting point does wear down with time, but is still able to cut. The rounded edge is similar to your finger nail and will help remove the peel as well as the white stuff. No more getting orange peel under your nails. I have small hands, and this tool works great for me. I highly recommend it.This is a wonderful gadget! Put it in your lunch box or picnic basket and you have a no mess peeler.Progressus Zig Zag Knife
I was looking for one of these for a long time! This is perfect for all the canning, dehydrationg, and preserving I do; slices up spuds' and pickles perfectly and is nice and small for out of the way storage.love it. works great for my veggies. blade is sharp enough, so you can easily cut fruits and vegetables. I recommend it, for who want wave fruits and vegetables.Use this on cheese, veggies to add a little flare. Great knife, perfect size! Seems solid, good quality and good price for what you get.Fish Scaler #TS249
They sent me a completely different scaler, and not a good one. Literally a waste of money. I threw the thing in the trash the first use because it is absolutely worthless.This is a simple but effective fish scaler. It is made of heavy aluminum body on a wooden handle. The edges are sharp and quickly scales salmon without problem. It does not have a built-in receptacle and so the scales tend to fly all over the kitchen counter. It was my prefered scaler until I bought Stainless Steel Fish Scaler 9-1/2". It is inexpensive and thus a great buy.





