I think that the word "France" is misleading. It is a Chinese brand and Chinese made. The quality is fine and the value is good.I plan to grind the fillet knife to 6 and 1/2 inches to make the nife more adaquate for filleting fish. The current lenght 8 inches make the knife too flexable to be a good fillet knife. 6/12 to 7 inches in lenght would make the current 8 inch knife more stiff.
MIU France Stainless Steel Fillet Knife, 8-Inch
I think that the word "France" is misleading. It is a Chinese brand and Chinese made. The quality is fine and the value is good.I plan to grind the fillet knife to 6 and 1/2 inches to make the nife more adaquate for filleting fish. The current lenght 8 inches make the knife too flexable to be a good fillet knife. 6/12 to 7 inches in lenght would make the current 8 inch knife more stiff.
Oneida Dover 20-Piece Stainless Flatware Set, Service for 4 with Bamboo Drawer Organizer
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Mizuyama Fine Grain Sharpening Stone - #3000
Victorinox Cutlery 3-Piece Chef's Set, Black Fibrox Handles
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.
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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.Global GSF-46 - 3 inch, 8cm Paring Knife
I'd describe the handles as being about the same width as a butter knife or letter opener. That is not to say it's bad, just thinner than expected. Smaller hands may especially like this feature. The pictures don't convey this aspect at all and as normal, most Global descriptions focus on how Global knives are different from other makers, rather than the attributes of a particular knife.
Since we just started using it I'm remaining open minded to the new handle style (compared to the relatively cylindric regular handles). After using it to peel a wide variety of fruits and vegetables I am getting used to the new style, and may very well end up liking it better this the larger handles of the competitors conventional knives.
Most importantly, the blade is sharp and holds an edge like all other forged Globals. I am confident I'll have no problems sharpening it with the Global ceramic rod.
Overall, great little knife that easily usurped several of our lower quality paring knives in one fell swoop. I look forward to many years of dependable service.Okay, it is small and you won't want to use it for big things. But, given what it was designed for, it does the job well.
I love this little knife. I've had it for years.
Buy Global GSF-46 - 3 inch, 8cm Paring Knife Now
I buy one new knife a year and get closer and closer to the complete set. As usual, this addition didn't let me down. Fantastic quality and excellent knife feel. I am very happy with my purchase.Read Best Reviews of Global GSF-46 - 3 inch, 8cm Paring Knife Here
I find Global has the best product in this price point....I can see the reason that super chefs choose this brand!This knife fits the hand nicely and is easy to maneuver. Being one piece, there are no hard to clean nooks. Also, it's very sharp and holds its edge. Might be the perfect paring knife if it cost less.Wusthof Gourmet 26-Piece Block Set
French Laguiole 3-piece Cheese Knife Set Rosewood & Stainless in Wood Drawer Tray
Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star 6-Inch Stainless-Steel Slicing Knife
I have yet found reason or purpose to buy beyond the following edge products (all Henckel but bread knife excluded):
-10" chef's knife
-6" chef's knife
-6" utility knife
-3.5" paring knife
-boning knife (not filet)
-take apart shears
-Granton edge carving knife and fork
+Forschner-Victorinox bread knife (sorry, Henckel)
Ok I did succumb to buying a matching fork, but when you have guests over for dinner, it looks nicer and the fork won't wear out. Anything beyond the regular handle is higher profit for the knife company; if you are holding you knife correctly, you won't need the higher cost handles.
I use both a smooth metal honing rod and a 1200 grit ceramic honing rod ($30 from Edge Pro unless you feel like paying someone more). I use the smooth metal prior to each use; ceramic once in a while, Edge Pro once every 3-6 months and even then only the two ceramic stones (unless the edge became bent on something).
Don't put in dishwasher...stuff bumps together, other dishware thrown on top of the knife, and could damage the edge.
Use only end grain cutting boards...I have truly found that it does not degrade the edge as much as plastic resin, or other types of wood cutting boards...Amazon has very good prices on Catskill brand. Read up on for more on cutting boards and try different ones out for yourself as have I.
Since I mentioned names, neither I nor my family have any financial interest or exchange with any of the companies referred to above. Just a well-informed consumer who continues to improve culinary skills by education and practice.We bought this knife several years ago, and since then we have been buying other Four Star knives from open stock. This particular one is our favorite knife. We use it daily, usually several times. It keeps an edge, looks good, is comfortable in the hand, and is just the right size for most of our kitchen tasks. Very handy.
Some time ago we accidentally left it too near a burner on our electric range, and the handle melted horribly. Even so, we still use it in preference to any of our other knives including any of our other Henckel's knives. Guess what my wife will get for the next gift I buy her? Yep, this knife. Highly recommended.
Buy Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star 6-Inch Stainless-Steel Slicing Knife Now
OK, I have other Henckels knives, and like them all, but this is the knife that quickly became the one that I turn to first for all but the biggest slicing/chopping tasks. The size of this knife is just right. The blade is a good length for so many garden variety kitchen tasks, and the handle and heft just feel good and solid in the hand. The superior sharpness has been easy to maintain with an occasional swipe on the steel--even after much use. I like and use it so much that I have started giving it as a gift item. Everyone loves it.Read Best Reviews of Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star 6-Inch Stainless-Steel Slicing Knife Here
This is the knife my wife and I use the most. Comfortable grip and well balanced. It is easily sharpened (I've used the Wüsthof 2-Stage Knife Sharpener). We've been using this knife for four years now with no complaints.Want Zwilling J.A. Henckels Four Star 6-Inch Stainless-Steel Slicing Knife Discount?
Absolutely perfect, goes through anything like butter. Perfect addition to the 8 pc set I bought, so sharp it cuts cheese with no effort.Zero complaints.
Non-serrated. Need to get TWO more.
Mr. Bar-B-Q 5-Piece Stainless Handle Barbeque Tool Set
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These work great on the grill and are very well made.Think of these more as Bar-B-Q tools for a 300lb 6'6" Football player.I think they could be also be very useful for self defense weapons given the size and weight of each of these tools.They do make you feel safe when holding one or two.Seriously a very nice large set of Barbecue tools.Read Best Reviews of Mr. Bar-B-Q 5-Piece Stainless Handle Barbeque Tool Set Here
Great product. Heavy duty. Handles won't crack like the wooden ones. Long handles help prevent burns.Want Mr. Bar-B-Q 5-Piece Stainless Handle Barbeque Tool Set Discount?
Wow isn't it nice when some packages are bigger than they appear? Even after reading the other reviews, I wasn't expecting these tools to be so big and long. They feel great in my hand and I'm sure they are just what's needed to get the job done this weekend!Fifth Avenue Crystal Estate Knife and Cake Server Set
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This set is very pretty. It looks elegant and the crystal is really nice. I love that these are very light. the set was also reasonably priced. I love that the knife and server would go well with any wedding color. This set can be used not only for weddings, but for any event.Read Best Reviews of Fifth Avenue Crystal Estate Knife and Cake Server Set Here
I purchased this set for my wedding. When it arrived, it looked quite nice and the 2 pieces felt decently solid. We used it to cut the cake and fortunately it did not break then. Once we went home and used it for the FIRST time after the wedding, the handles from both the server and the knife came off and I could tell from the construction that it is of very poor quality. The "crystal" is cheap glass, so don't expect much. Bottom line, if you want something that looks decent from far away and don't care about tossing it in the trash right after the wedding, then the $15 is not a bad investment. Otherwise, do yourself a favor, spend $20 or so dollars more for a set that you can actually continue using down the road.Want Fifth Avenue Crystal Estate Knife and Cake Server Set Discount?
I have searched for the perfect knife and cake server set for my wedding. I wanted crystal and could not find one that was not overpriced. This is just a beautiful set. The weight is good and is is stunning. It will be the perfect set for my wedding to cut the cake with! Love Amazon and the great deals.Sasaki Drama 45-Piece Flatware Set, Service for 8
Also, if you are looking for the modern/contemporary sleek look you will definitely find it with this set but keep in mind that they are actually quite large pieces. I would probably use the salad fork for everyday use and not the dinner fork. The serving set included with the flatware set is also just as stunning.The set is dramatic looking, but horrible to use. The spoons are actually as deep as they look and do not fit your mouth well. They are shaped more like measuring spoons. I considered returning them, but will just donate them to charity instead.
Icel Steak Knife, 4-1/4" Wavy-Edge Blade, Green Plastic Handle
Kuhn Rikon Colori Art Chef's and Paring Knife, Red Damask
Linden Sweden Cutting Board
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I keep two of these small cutting boards propped up against the wall behind my dish rack. It's the perfect size for that and keeps it within easy reach for quick and small chops.I store it behind my faucet so I can get to it easily. It is easy to clean and the material does not dull the knife blades like some lucite does.I love these daloplast boards owning 3 of them currently in addition to my bamboo boards. I plan on looking for more in different sizes as well. Love the purple and it goes well in matching other items in my kitchen.Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Cermax 7-Inch Santoku Knife, Black
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I was a bit skeptical at the price but the Cermax line of knives are very sharp!I have a bunch of other Henckel knives including the Twin Four Star II line and the Cermax makes the others seem dull!
Highly recommended!
Read Best Reviews of Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Cermax 7-Inch Santoku Knife, Black Here
I have a Henckles 5 Star Santoku and this is several classes better. The steel is ZPD-189 which is a new super steel that can get to a hardness of 67-69 vs about 58 for the 5 star. That means it can hold a much steeper angle and therefore be sharper, it will stay sharp longer too. It's difficult to sharpen but not impossible. The handle for me is comfortable. The only negative is you can get the Miyabi 700MC a lot cheaper. It is the same blade (owned my Henckles, makes the blade for this Twin Cermax) with a different handle.Want Zwilling J.A. Henckels Twin Cermax 7-Inch Santoku Knife, Black Discount?
We have always been a fan of Henckel knives. When my husbands birthday was coming around I knew I wnated to get him a new knife. I started looking at new Henckels and found this one I am glad I did. I have never used a knife in my own home that is this sharp, easy to hold, and balanced. I can barely keep it clean because we are using it all of the time.Paderno World Cuisine 11 7/8" Skewers, Stainless Steel, Set of Ten
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CADDIE VEGETABLE KNIFE 6" BLADE
My old Caddie knife Is still in excellent shape after almost 30 years of everyday use. The handle has a few scratches, but is attached as solidly as when It was new. I use a honing rod to keep the blade sharp. I will confess I have used my Caddie occasionally as a pancake turner and have even used the blunt end of the blade to scrape the bottom of a crusty pan. Like I said, it's a versatile tool!
I wash the Caddie by hand most of the time and rarely put it in the dish washer.
One drawback of the Caddie is that it does not have a sharp point.
Totally Bamboo Martinique, Bamboo Cutting Board
Update International WDS-36 Stainless Steel Dough Scraper with Wood Handle, 6-Inch
More words, more words, more words. Stupid word requirement.I LOVE USING THIS IT IS VERY HANDY IN THE KITCHEN WHEN CUTTING VEGIES AND PUTTING IN THE COOKING POT. GAVE ONE TO EACH OF MY 2 DAUGHTERS.
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for the price is the best i buy many before i buy this bud for thr price is the best i never used beforeJ.A. Henckels International Classic Stainless-Steel Meat Fork
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Don't be confused fork is not made in Spain as advertised. henckels does not make forks in Spain only knives. The fork is cheap tongs are not sturdy and steel uneven. Not worth the money made in China.Read Best Reviews of J.A. Henckels International Classic Stainless-Steel Meat Fork Here
It is a very thin stamped metal fork. I can flex the tines with one finger. It is definitely not a lifting fork. It is NOT one of J.A. Henckels better quality products. I would keep looking.Recommendation 08-10-2012:
I purchased the Mercer M21046 Genesis Fork from the WEBstaurant Store, one of Amazon's partners. The Mercer fork is made of forged German steel and the price was slightly cheaper. It is everything I was looking for in a fork. It may be described as being 12 inches, but that is the overall length including the handle. It is actually the same size as the Henckels fork. Very nice fork made from forged steel.
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This product is so poor quality, I hesitate to use it for fear of safety. A standard salad or dinner fork is stronger and safer to use. Henckels was a good vendor in my book until I bought this.
