Insignia2 Knife Block Set

Buy Cheap CulinHome Nouveaux Collection 8-Piece Stainless-Steel Knife Set

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An ultra sleek, modern knife block for the contemporary home. This set features an 8 Chef, 8 Bread, 8 Slicing, 8 Utility, 3.5 Paring, 6 Carving Fork, 8 Sharpening Steel. These professional blades are made of the highest quality stainless steel. Handles are ergonomically designed for a contoured grip with a unique seamless design to prevent bacteria accumulation. Each CulinHome knife is backed by a lifetime warranty.
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Technical Details

- 3-1/2-inch paring, 8-inch utility, 8-inch chef's, 8-inch bread, and 8-inch slicing knife
- Also includes 6-inch carving fork, 8-inch sharpening steel, and steel block
- Ergonomic handles provide a seamless design to prevent bacteria accumulation
- High-quality stainless-steel blades; washing by hand recommended
- Measures 10-1/2 by 4 by 12-1/2 inches; limited lifetime warranty
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Buy CulinHome Nouveaux Collection 8-Piece Stainless-Steel Knife Set Now

Buy Cheap Pinzon 8-Piece Pakka Wood Knife Set With Glass Block

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This wide assortment of Pinzon cutlery easily outfits any kitchen and offers high-quality performance and construction. The sleek set includes an 8-inch chef's knife, 8-inch bread knife, 6-inch boning knife, 5-inch utility knife, 3.5-inch paring knife, 8-inch slicer, sharpener, and storage block.

All of the Pinzon blades in this set are constructed of high-carbon, stainless-steel and have been forged from one piece of metal, then ground and polished for maximum strength and stain-resistance. They boast a full tang, which is triple-riveted to pakka wood handles that are both ergonomic and hygienic. Pakka wood, a treated hardwood, gives each handle a unique color and grain structure. Each knife also features a bolster, the thick junction between the handle and the knife blade, to protect knuckles and provide a counter-balance for better control. The two-tiered block, constructed of glass and rosewood, displays the set beautifully. Hand-washing is highly recommended. Pinzon cutlery is made in China.

What's in the Box
8-inch chef's, 8-inch bread, 6-inch boning, 5-inch utility, 3.5-inch paring knives; 8-inch slicer; sharpener; and block.
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Technical Details

- Includes 8-inch chef's, 8-inch bread, 6-inch boning, 5-inch utility, 3.5-inch paring knives; 8-inch slicer; sharpener; and wood block
- Blades forged from a single piece of high-carbon, stain-resistant steel
- Sturdy, steel bolsters; tang extends the full handle length for strength
- Ergonomically designed pakka wood handles with triple rivets
- Hand-washing recommended
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 "Knife block is okay" 2009-01-19
By Moscow Jon (Moscow, ID)
You certainly don't want to purchase this set for the knives, which are very low quality. The kife block is just okay but is unique enough to make it worth while.

 "Nice enough knife block, but read reviews & beware!" 2009-01-08
By gailcny
This is almost comical, really. I was looking for a knife block and only a couple of new knives. So after reading all the reviews of this set, and not finding any other knife blocks with this unusual design - except at a much higher price - I decided that I would buy this just for the knife block. Another thing that I thought would be worth keeping, however, was the honing steel. Well, guess what? It doesn't even fit into its little space! The diameter of the slot is just slightly smaller than it needs to be, so the steel sticks up at least 2 inches higher than it should, instead of fitting in all the way up to the handle!! I just had to laugh, since I went into this knowing pretty much what I was getting. It's certainly fixable, but I just had to share this.

 "For get a title, read the review" 2008-02-10
By M. S. Breeding (Springfield, Missouri USA)
I got these knives for my mom for Christmas, and she loves them. I've only used them once over there and think they are well made and comfortable. And the Glass block looks amazing! Beautiful way to show off your Steel.

 "Looks "sharp"" 2008-01-12
By tbelle (Harrison, Me)
The set looks great in my kitchen.I love the weight of the knives and how the blades continous through the handle. All in all a great value. Be sure and sharpen them before using.

 "Made to look good, not to use" 2007-03-19
By Naomi (Storm) (Texas)
I am very particular about my knives; I hate having other people use them or mistreat them, and I get very protective about things like how they're stored or cleaned and what they're used on. Living in a household with a roommate and her two children, I decided that instead of getting annoyed each time I found my Global or Henckels knives carelessly tossed into the sink, I would purchase a set of cheap knives for the children to use and therefore allow myself to horde my knives without feeling remorse.



I found these Pinzon knives on Amazon and unfortunately when I bought them there were only a couple of reviews, mostly pretty good. I purchased the set and awaited their delivery. Upon their arrival I checked them out, put them inside their little display case and didn't think too much about it.



When I was making dinner one day, I decided to try these knives out just to see what quality they were. The first thing that shocked me was the thickness of the blade. I never really thought I'd ever call a knife fat, but these were exactly that - these were fat knives. The edges were "ok," it was very obvious that they were roughly machine sharpened and not with a very fine grit. Unfortunately the thickness of the metal was actually obstructing the use of the knife - the knife was so thick that the blade could not cut in a downward slice in a straight line - the blade would actually veer off due to the differential thickness between the edge and the spine of the blade. Imagine taking an Idaho potato, putting the chef's knife at dead center, pushing downward and ending up with a diagonal cut which "leaned" right or left instead of going straight down the center - that's what you get with these knives.



If you're planning on doing some serious cooking with these knives, I would highly suggest saving your money and saving up for a single really good knife instead of this collection of really bad knives. Yes, I can say without a doubt that you will get far more use out of a single 8" chef's knife that costs $50-80 than out of this entire set of really bad knives.



If you only do moderate cooking, I would still say stay away from these knives - they are badly made to the point where I could consider them dangerous. You're not going to have the blade go flying off or shatter into a million pieces, but instead, you're getting a knife that will not cut straight, and that's about as dangerous as you can get.



If you're getting a set of knives that you want to look pretty on your counter, hey, this is a great set for that.


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Buy Pinzon 8-Piece Pakka Wood Knife Set With Glass Block Now

Buy Cheap Chicago Cutlery Forum 8-Piece Knife Block Set

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Chicago Cutlery Forum 8-Piece Block Set includes 1-Each 3-Inch peeler, 1-Each 3-1/2-Inch paring knife, 1-Each 5-Inch utility knife, 1-Each 8-Inch bread knife, 1-Each 8-Inch slicer knife, 1-Each 8-Inch chef knife, 1-Each 8-Inch sharpening steel, 1-Each hardwood block. Chicago Cutlery Forum collection is constructed of high-carbon stainless steel blades and features our exclusive Taper Grind edge technology which is extremely sharp and enables precision cutting. The forged bolster provides balance and safety while ergonomically designed stainless steel handles combine comfort and safety with sleek, contemporary styling.
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Technical Details

- 8-piece knife set: 8-inch chef's knife, 8-inch slicing knife, 8-inch bread knife, 5-inch utility knife, 3-1/2-inch paring knife, 3-inch peeler, 8-inch sharpening steel, and hardwood block
- High-carbon stainless-steel blades; designed to resist rust and stains
- Exclusive Taper Grind edges stay sharp and are easily re-sharpened
- Ergonomic, stainless-steel handles with sleek, contemporary styling; full, forged bolsters for balance
- Hand wash only; made in China; covered by lifetime warranty
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 "Nice Knives" 2009-09-16
By Priscilla (Orlando, FL)
This set is sleek and sturdy and made a perfect wedding gift. Excellent price for such good quality.

 "Great Value" 2009-09-06
By PSach (South)
I decided to get this set from Amazon after I saw them individually at Walmart. I previously had used Wusthof and Henckels knives. Wusthof knives are about the best mid priced knives I've used - well balanced, lightweight and sharp. Henckels (Twin Cuisine) are too large and heavy and although sharp they have a weird feeling when using them in my opinion. These Chicago Cutlery Forum knives are well made, balanced, lightweight, hold their edge and fit my hands perfectly. Futhermore, you get a whole set for the price of one Wusthof or Henckels Chef's Knife. I have no problem with them staining or rusting. I wipe them (with a solution of Tide With Bleach Laundry Detergent believe it or not) and rinse and dry them after each use. I never use the Sharpening Steel because you can actually dull your knives if you don't know exactly what you're doing; I use an inexpensive manual knife sharpener that I purchased at Walmart when I feel the knives starting to lose their edge.



Finally, the wood block is well made and of a good quality wood and a nice light clean color.



This set will look especially good in a kitchen with black and/or stainless motifs.

 "Replaced old Chicago Cutlery set" 2009-01-01
By S. Kelley (Tucson, AZ)
I purchased this set over a year ago to replace my 25 year old Chicago Cutlery set. I tested each knife with the corresponding knife from the old set. I could not tell the difference. I gave my old set to a young couple who were making due with misc. cheap(er) knives. They love them.



I purchased a paring knife in this style from Walmart to try it out before I purchased this set. I did notice staining on the knife but it worked so well I purchased the whole set from Amazon. Curiously, none of the new knives have stained. They all look like new.



I don't cook a lot but use at least one knife a day. I am still well satisfied with these knives.

 "EXTREMELY disappointed" 2007-10-16
By S. Tunney (Lockport, IL)
I've owned a set of Chicago Cutlery for 16 years (a wedding gift). They have served us very well. I decided the set needed replacing, not because the blades are bad, but because the wooden handles have dulled, and a couple have cracked. I purchased this set of Forum knives at Walmart, thinking I got a great deal. I mean, it's Chicago Cutlery. They make (made) great knives. They were sharp and beautiful out of the box. But now, it's only been two weeks, and the large chopping knife got some kind of foggy looking stains on it, and rust marks. One of the steak knives did also. I used soft scrub and even steel wool to try to buff it out, to no avail. Please note: I NEVER wash my knives in the dishwasher, always by hand. Needless to say, I'm returning them today and looking for a replacement brand. Shame on Chicago Cutlery!

 "Terrific product" 2007-02-13
By Gabriel Rodriguez
Excellent product. This is not the very best cutlery set for a professional chef, but it is outstanding for the chef aficionado.


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Buy Chicago Cutlery Forum 8-Piece Knife Block Set Now

Buy Cheap Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro S Stainless-Steel 8-Piece Knife Set with Block

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Professional S 9 piece block set includes: 2 3/4-inch parer, 4-inch parer utility, 5-inch hollow-edge santoku, 6-inch utility sandwich, 8-inch chef's, kitchen shears, 9-inch steel, hardwood block with steak slots
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Technical Details

- Friodur ice-hardened blades; high-carbon stainless steel; long-lasting edges; easy to resharpen
- Full-tang blades for balance and strength; precision-honed; stain-resistant
- Hand washing recommended for fine cutlery
- Made in Germany
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Buy Zwilling J.A. Henckels Pro S Stainless-Steel 8-Piece Knife Set with Block Now

Buy Cheap Victorinox 8-Piece Knife Block set

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In 1884 Master Cutler Karl Elsner started his cutlery factory in Ibach, Switzerland and in 1897 he crafted the Victorinox Original Swiss Army Knife. Since that time the Elsner family has continued to craft tools of percision, durability and quality. Victorinox is one of the largest producers of cutlery in the world. Victorinox cutlery has been distributed in the United States since 1884 to culinary professionals under the brand name R.H. Forschner. Each blade is stamped from a single sheet of metal. The blade is then hardened, tempered, ground, polished, etched and finished. Straight grain oak block offers slanted design for easy access and 9 slots. Included are 4-inch Parer, 6-inch Boning, 8-inch Bread, 8-inch Chef's, 10-inch Slicer, 10-inch Sharpening steel and Kitchen Shears
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Technical Details

- Dishwasher-safe
- Stamped blade with polypropylene handle for excellent grip
- 9-slot oak block
- 4-inch parer, 6-inch boning, 8-inch bread, 8-inch chef's
- 10-inch slicer, 10-inch sharpening steel and shears
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 "Knives." 2008-10-24
By Brian Lange (Chicago, IL)
Not razor sharp out of the box, like some reviewers have attested to... but sharp enough.



This is a pretty good set, it comes with a small variety of knives that should prove efficient enough for any intermediate chef. I typically consider myself a pretty well versed cook, I usually just cook for myself and friends during social gatherings at my house. One doesn't *need* a million different knives in order to cook a good meal, but it's really nice to have different options. I feel that this set is just about right for the cook at home chef.



My set was complete, the block is in great condition- with a couple extra slots for more knives- and the Victorinox logo was intact (raised button-like logo)... that's what you're paying for, right? The logo!



Though the knives are not forged from tip to handle, the grip and handles of the knives seem to be very sturdy and well made. The handles do have a pleasant feel to them, slicing dicing and slashing has never been more fun.



Like I said, I am not a big knife connoisseur, I received these knives as a gift... but I do like them a great deal. They're definitely an improvement on the $20 set you might buy at your local Sears. But I'd venture to say you could probably find a set just as nice for a little bit cheaper. Company loyalty prevents me from saying anything too negative about Victorinox. But in my experience they have a good reputation for making long lasting products.

 "rip off.." 2008-09-05
By T. Dimitrova (New York,NY)
We received these knifes from our wedding registry and I feel sorry for the person who bought them for us,because they wasted their money. First of all the set was in a box without any brochure, or instructions for care.Second, the wood block is not only not the original(with the Victorinox logo), but it's bigger and has slots for more knives than there are in the actual set.At first I thought there were knives missing..Not to mention that the slots are all different sizes than the knives included in the set and they don't fit properly.AND the pair of scissors is NOT victorinox at all....Very disappointed..

 "average knifes.not as heavy steel as the single i had purchased earlier" 2008-08-27
By S. Wuthrich (edmonton.canada)
not bad set ,but i had bought the set with the knowledge of the product but i had already purchased a knife from a chefs store and that knife was of heavier gauge yet still the same stock number? go figure,also the block was not the same as on the outside of the box. kinda disappointing since i have a long and proud swiss heritage

 "Flour Lady" 2008-08-12
By Melodee Costanzo (Alton, IL)
I am just an average person cooking day to day meals for my family.So I can not give a executive view point on these knives. But if you are more like me you will find these knives wonderful. It is like slicing air. The handles make for a nice grip and easier to control. Investing in GOOD knives has to be a good choice for us. I feel I made a good choice with these knives. You won't regret buying this set.

 "Don't let the plastic handles fool you..." 2008-07-04
By R. Rowan (Dallas, TX)
I received this set for my birthday, as a present from my girlfriend who knows nothing about cooking and less about knives. Upon inspecting the set, I was rather dubious. The plastic handles seemed cheap looking. The blades were obviously stamped, not forged. And they were lightweight, almost flimsy-feeling. However, she told me that she had learned about them from reading a rave review in an issue of my Cook's magazine, which I hold in high regard. So I put my doubts on hold until I tried the knives myself.



These are the best knives I've ever used at any price. The plastic handles are ergonomic: comfortable, non-slip, sanitary handles that fit right into your hand. The stamped blades are razor sharp. Literally: I could shave whiskers with my chef's knife (not recommended). And, yes, they are light, but not flimsy, when you choose the right knife for the job. The chef's knife makes quick work of squash with no flexing, while the boning knife has just the right amount of give for cutting the filet off a T-bone.



In short, they aren't trophy knives. They're workhorses. I appreciate also that the wood block comes with a couple extra slots so you can customize your collection. I just added a 7" santoku to mine.



Conclusion: buy these knives.


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Buy Victorinox 8-Piece Knife Block set Now

Buy Cheap Shun Classic 8-Piece Knife Set with Bamboo Block

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Stunningly beautiful line of cutlery features the look and benefits of Damascus steel, yet without it's rusting problems. The Damascus-look blade profile reduces sticking and results in less damage to the food being cut and faster prep times. Storage block is made from bamboo; an abundant, renewable resource.
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Technical Details

- Includes 4-inch paring knife, 6-inch tomato knife, 7-inch santoku knife, 8-inch offset bread knife, 6-inch boning knife, shears, bamboo block, and sharpening steel
- Made from VG-10 stainless steel clad with 16 layers of high-carbon stainless steel on each side
- Patterned, layered surface; stunning look of Damascus steel with added rust resistance
- D-shaped PakkaWood handle; stainless-steel end cap; ergonomic offset stainless-steel bolster
- limited lifetime warranty; made in Seki City, Japan
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 "Great set that doesn't include a Chef's Knife (buy the 10-inch at Amazon)" 2009-02-26
By BTrain (Pioneer Square)
I've had these knives for over three years and I love them. One of the key things about this set is that it does not include a chef's knife. I personally recommend buying the 10-inch knife separately and did a lengthy review of that product there...please read that one. You can get it here: Shun Classic 10-Inch Chef's Knife This set is perfect for suppluing other knives for those times when you need something like a paring knife or a boning knife.



Why is this set so good?

The knives are super-sharp when you get them. Which is a plus for a short-term, but you will also find that it is easy to maintain a sharp edge, or resharpen them later. Maintaining the edge is important. You get a honing steel as part of the set...use it! You use the honing steel basically whenever you are going to use the knives...I don't, I use it about every other time usually cause I am lazy and the knife is still very sharp. Once in awhile you will need to sharpen the blades. This is technically different from maintaining and you need to use a wet-stone to do this yourself (again Amazon sells one that works well). If like me you are into cooking you could pay a professional to sharpen the knives periodically. Before you think that is added cost, know that in three years of heavy use I've done this once and only for one knife in this set, the santoku due to heavy use. (Note that the tomato knife kicks but but is serrated...for serrated blades you can't maintain them or sharpen them. That being said, the tomtato knife hasn't gotten any duller in three years (and I'm part Italian so I eat a lot of tomatoes.)



One potential con for some people. Like all good knives, these are not stainless steel. Stainless is harder to sharpen and maintain so good knives are made out of some sort of softer, mild steel. This is why the knives are so great. One thing you need to take care of is that these are not dishwasher safe and you can not let them air dry or it will get rusty. You have to dry them off after you wash them to prevent that. To me that's not a big deal.



Negatives:

I'm not a fan of knife blocks since you can't really see what is in the block like mold or dust or something icky...you also can't see the blades and have to either remember which slot you put something in or spend a couple of seconds digging through them. Instead try to keep it out somewhere, I recommend a magnetic wall holder (oh yeah, guess what, I bought mine at Amazon and it is awesome). This shows you all the blades and you have quick, easy access to all of them.



One very minor flaw is that the scissors(shears) included in the set are stainless steel and the handles are a soft plastic almost a hard rubber. I've actually had them bend on me a few times, but they always go back to normal right away. They are some killer scissors though, just not as killer as the rest of the set...but I didn't but the set just for the scissors I bought it as a cheap way to fill out the rest of my knife set and it did that wonderfully.

 "Beware of the dishwasher" 2007-11-18
By Kenneith Wires (WA)
The knives are the best knives that I have purchased. I have the 22pc. set. The only problem and it is not the knives, but the dishwasher will fade the handles. If you value your investment "Hand Wash" you Shuns! I have to purchase more steak knives.

 "Shun Knives are Beautiful, Elegant, and the Sharpest around" 2005-11-27
By Vyshtia (CA, USA)
Shun knives are beautiful creations period. Since I'm Asian, I love the tradition look and feel of this Japanese knife. I love the beauty of the blade and the dark, polished, Pakkawood handle. The unique "D"-shaped, Wood handles are preferable. The shape fits my hand perfectly, and the wood does not get slippery when wet - providing a very secure hold. The steel is of utmost quality and sharpness. Do not put this blade into any old electric knife sharpener! Electric knife sharpeners are made to put one angle on any blade. These blades come with a 16 degree angle and you don't want to be changing that angle. There are electric knife sharpeners that can sharpen these knives, but you'll have to do some research and find out which ones can be a fit with these knives. I prefer to hone with a sharpening steel and manually sharpen with a stone if necessary (and I don't see it being necessary to touch it to a stone any time soon). The blade is sharp straight off the factory and as Alton Brown says - it's the sharpest straight out of the factory edge as he's ever seen.



These knives are more expensive than most, but I think it's definitely worth it. To have the sharpest, most beautiful knife around - it's no contest. If you are on a budget, build your collection slowly. It's been said that there are only 3 knives that are the absolute basics for any kitchen: A 8" Chef's Knife (or some kind of similar, large-ish chef's knife), a Paring Knife, and a Long Serrated blade for cutting bread and larger items. I would add a thin utility knife and a boning knife to that list next. Then I would add those "in-between" sizes as I get more money flow in. Now if you're buying a whole set like this, you'll get it all in one shot and it becomes a better deal than pieceing your collection together, one-by-one.



If you plan on spending any time in the kitchen, good kitchen knives are a definite must. Preparation is the bulk of cooking and when you have good knives, it cuts down on the danger of cutting yourself, it adds pleasure to the work, and it cuts down on prep time. Knives are also a very personal choice and it's best to at least go to a store and try it out for yourself first. Shun Knives are designed by the Japanese, so remember - it's designed for small hands. This makes it fit most women's hands perfectly, but I've heard of guys with larger hands not like it so much and going back to the German knives. So definitely try it out. It's a personal thing, it needs to fit you.



Why spend so much money on a knife? Well, if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and you almost always have to bust out a knife to prep a meal from scratch - why not use the best? Why spend that time with items that you love and brings you pleasure to use? Many times, it's the small things that brings us the most pleasure in life, and I consider my Shun knives as one of those things. Having something so beautiful and yet so sharp and perfect - it makes my time cooking just that much more enjoyable.



Another good thing to know is that although the Shun Knives are usually offered for right-handers, you can get these knives for left-handers. You just need to find the guys who stock and sell those ones as they are less known, and less common.

 "Bulletproof...but" 2005-11-22
By Kenneth R. Brown (Seattle/Mill Creek, WA)
These knives are great and should last for a lifetime plus a 1000 years. However, they are quite expensive. Their best virtue is their unique and stunning appearance. The layered blades were made by an obviously labor intensive process said to be similar to the best Samurai blades.



If you're looking for a visually stunning gift that has a very high level of quality (and price is no object), these would be a good choice.


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Buy Shun Classic 8-Piece Knife Set with Bamboo Block Now

Buy Cheap Ginsu 4875 8-Piece Stainless Steel Block Set

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Ginsu knives have commercial quality, high carbon, Japanese stainless steel blades. Stainless Steel handles are built for extreem strength and durability. Hardwood storage blocks keep your knives organized, safe and ready to use. This set includes a 8-inch Chef's Knife, 8-inch Bread knife, 7-inch Santoku Knife, 5-inch Boning knife 4-1/2-inch Utility Knife, 3-1/2-inch Paring Knife, Shears and a Hardwood Black block.
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Technical Details

- Unique double edge blade for precision cutting
- Serrated knives never need sharpening for strength and durability
- Commercial Quality
- Convenient hardwood storage block keeps your knives organized, safe and ready to use
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
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 "Ginsu knives" 2009-09-08
By R. Mosley (Little Rock, AR)
The knives are attractive and sharp with a substantial feeling in terms of weight. We have noticed a couple of spots on one of them that look like rust. It won't wash off or wipe off. It doesn't affect the utility of the knife...more cosmetic. We will be watching as time goes on to see if other spots appear or these get worse. Thus our "they're OK" rating for the time being.

 "Wonderful" 2009-04-29
By G. Heredia (FLA)
I got these for my mother. They are super sharp, I would keep them in the block they came in so you won't get cut trying to grab them from a draw. They cut just like a sword does with little to no effort.

 "excellent quality" 2009-03-31
By Virginia Perez (Miami, Florida United States)
I was very pleased when I got to use my new set of knives, they are very sharp and also have a perfect weight, that makes them very easy to handle. I love cooking and this tool is a plus for me... I highly recommend it....

 "Very sharp and attractive set!" 2007-08-15
By Jesse Adkins (North East, MD)
I haven't mounted them under the cabinets yet but for the money I don't think this set can be beat! They are extremely sharp and cut like no other! You won't be disappointed and I am thinking about getting two more sets as Christmas gifts. After all of these years of seeing the commercials I am a believer!


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Buy Ginsu 4875 8-Piece Stainless Steel Block Set Now

Buy Cheap Calphalon Katana Stainless-Steel 8-Piece Knife Block Set

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Named for the sacred sword carried by Japan's Samurai warriors, Calphalon Katana Series cutlery has its roots in a centuries-old tradition of superior cutlery craftsmanship. Like the awe-inspiring swords wielded by the Samurai, Calphalon Katana Series cutlery is crafted using a time-honored layering process that creates a Damascus style blade, clad with 33 stainless steel layers. This unique series of cutlery uses VG Japanese steel, which provides exceptional sharpness and ultimate edge retention. These knives also feature a patented integrated bolster design and an ergonomically designed poly-resign handle. This 8 piece Katana series set is an ideal combination for the kitchen. The set includes: a 3.5" Parer, 5" Santoku, 5.5" Serrated Utility, 6" Utility, 8" Chef's, Kitchen Shears, Bamboo Knife Block and a Diamond Steel.
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Technical Details

- 8-piece Katana knife set by Calphalon
- Includes 3-1/2-inch paring knife, 5-inch Santoku, 5-1/2-inch serrated utility, 6-inch utility, 8-inch chef's knife, kitchen shears, bamboo knife block, and diamond steel
- Crafted from 33 layers of VG Japanese stainless steel; Damascus-style blade
- Integrated bolster design and ergonomic poly-resin handles
- Hand washing and prompt drying recommended; lifetime warranty
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 "Terrific Knife Set" 2009-09-09
By J. Richards
Really enjoying this knife set. The selection and sizes of knifes are good for home cooking. Have owned these for about 8 weeks now and they knives seem to be holding there sharpness well. I particularly like the Santuko knives and use those the most. And I found cleanup of the knives to be simple and easy. They fit well in my hand and feel very comfortable. They also seem well made and high quality.



While I'm not a chef myself a couple people I work with are and they showed me a bunch of different manufacturers knives. They told me they rather liked the Calphalon knives and suggested I check them out. I bought the 7" Santuko by itself prior to buying the set. I liked it so much that I decided to invest into a set. No regrets at all. A set of knives like this will last me for many years to come.

 "RUST, PITTING and CHIPPING WARNING!!!" 2009-01-12
By Driscoll Kent Bell (Venice, CA)
These blades are NOT stainless steel - the damascus style outer metal is stainless but the knife edge itself and the center "core" of the blade is actually high carbon tool steel and rusts, pits and even chips away VERY easily. Anyone who owns high-end knives knows that this is completely unacceptable for any knife marketed to the general public.



I own several Hinkels, Wosthofs, and even two Shun "classics" and received the 5" Santoku knife as a gift. I very much enjoyed the knife - from the unconventiaonal look to the fierce quality of the blade. It was great until one fateful day when I was lazy after a dinner party and left the blade alone in a slightly wet sink. The next morning, you wouldn't believe how badly the knife edge splintered and rusted after only 12 hours! It was completely ruined!



Every one has been warned!



Do NOT purchase these knives.

 "A comparison to Shun Knives" 2008-10-18
By Tcubed (Phoenix, AZ USA)
Have now had Calphalon Katana's for almost two years; may initial reactions was what great looking knives, but I've found the beauty is somewhat skin deep. The knives are initially very sharp but they don't hold a edge as well as my (much more expensive Shun knives). But my biggest gripe is that if they are NOT cleaned and dried right away they tend to rust, most annoying. I've been very careful about this, but when others use them the problems persists; and if the rust develops close to the edge, the edge tends to pit. This can and has been corrected but I don't know why it should be a problem. I care these knives the same as I do with a few Shun knives that I have and I don't have the same problem with them. Probably a different type of steel used, but both have the beautiful layered blades. The Shuns are 3 to 4 times more expensive than the Calphalon Katana's, they are sharper and stay sharper longer and are a little lighter. The Kantana's are a good value for what you get, the Shun's are an investment.

 "An Excellent Set for Home Cooks" 2007-10-23
By Jessica Tok (Lincoln, NE United States)
Pros:

These knives are pretty, with a rounded black handle, and a layered damascus-style blade. This means the blade, while relatively smooth, has a wavy-layered look to it. The Amazon picture is accurate to what you will receive in your set. Out of the box, each knife is quite sharp; enough to shear paper, but not hair.



I have smaller hands, and have some trouble wielding the 8" chef's knife, but find that the 5" Santoku is excellent for chopping vegetables. The 6" utility knife is also very useful for thinly slicing meats. I do use a different paring knife (Pampered Chef) as I find the Katana paring knife a little too sharp and rigid for say, lopping the ends off string beans in my hand. We also made the additional purchase of the 9" bread knife to complete the set. The bamboo block is attractive, and the slots are wide and deep enough to put other wide-bladed/long knives in. However, note that if you get the bread knife, that only leaves 3 empty slots (i.e. no dedicated steak knife slots).



Cons:

Two slight cons about this set: (1) The diamond-sharpener looks too coarse to use on these blades, and; (2) The shears in this set are lackluster. While they are relatively heavy-duty, they do not come apart for cleaning, and the handles are a little large and unwieldy. I prefer a smaller-handled set of kitchen shears that come apart for cleaning (when I decide to cut meat instead of slicing it, a la Alton Brown). But in their defense, they do cut cleanly.



Comparisons:

We love our Katanas, and they make ordinary chopping/slicing a much more endurable chore with their sharpness and ease. If you are "stepping up" from an ordinary consumer-grade set, you will definitely feel the difference. For example, I had a $90, 10-piece Kitchenaid set. The Katana Santoku knife is definitely more balanced, and the garlics/onions slide right off the Katana's grooves, whereas sometimes foods would stick on the Kitchenaid. I do find that the Kitchenaid chef's knife is slightly easier to handle, due to the longer curve (better rocking-chopping motion), and the slightly reduced weight, but the Katana is sharper, more rigid, cleaner-cutting, and therefore faster. The Kitchenaid shears were lighter (easier to wield) but flimsier. Unlike the KitchenAid shears, don't expect the Katanas to make a scissor-like snipping noise, they are entirely silent. The Katanas do require slightly care than your run-of-the-mill knife set, but simply wash them shortly after you're done using them and dry them prior to putting them back into the block.



Personal Opinion:

I don't know what "Professional Chefs" think, and I'm just an average cook. Thus, these knives went above and beyond my expectations by reducing my prep time, and adding an attractive focal point to the counter. Granted, they don't come out of the block making a lovely ringing steel noise like our Shun steak knives, but for the foreseeable future on a limited budget, the Katanas are a worthy investment.



Some Miscellaneous Notes:

These knives are made from VG-Japanese steel, but they are manufactured in China. We found this set (1st Quality) at more than 50% off in one of the big box stores, which made it a steal. However, if we had paid full-price, we probably would have done a comparison with a Shun knife set instead.



[Edit - July 2008] Since purchasing these knives, we have noticed the following: (1) do not leave them overnight in water - as they will rust badly, (2) the 5" Santoku has inexplicably developed two hairline fractures in the blade. It was my favorite knife, was not used on inappropriate objects/materials (not used for chopping bones or anything), and was always used on a cutting board, so this development within a year has been very disappointing. I still like the set, but the rusting and the fracturing make me a little less pleased with them. I would drop the star-quality to 3.0-3.5.

 "Really excellent knives" 2007-05-14
By Stephanie A. Schnapp (San Francisco, CA)
Given the bargain price for this set, I think the knives are beautiful and super sharp. That shape of the handle was the huge attraction for me. You can't go wrong.


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