Cutlery Reviews

I'm the one who wrote the "disposable wusthof" review below.

After more than a year of steady use, the the bird's beak parer just snapped in half in my hand, right where the tang ends in the handle.

Full tangs strengthen the handle, but I figured for a paring knife (that never hit a cutting board) a 3/4 tang was good enough. I was wrong - cheap knives are cheap knives. I'm buying the Classic version to replace this.

I sure got a nasty surprise when I cut the cheese. A piece of one of the blades went flying across the room.

These knives are almost identical in materials and profile to the equivalent knives in the Wusthof Classic line.

The difference is in the construction: these knive's blades are cut, not forged, are much thinner, have no bolster, and are 3/4-tanged. The handles are molded onto the blades, and have two rivets, not three (though larger Emerilware knives have three rivets). The result is a very inexpensive knife that can sit next to your Wusthof Classic Chef's knife and carver, and still look like it belongs to the same set.

If you're used to forged Wusthof or Henkel knives, picking up one of these for the first time is a shock - because of the thinner, 3/4th-tanged blade, the knives weigh about half as much as you expect. This doesn't effect their performance, however - the blade steel is still just as sharp, and the handle feels about the same in the hand. I would never buy a chef's knife from this line, but for uses where weight doesn't matter, these are a definite win.

The birds-beak parer is just the right thing for trimming mushrooms or fine herbs (any place where the cutting surface is the curve of your thumb, not a board). The tapered point is a slightly more disposable version of the Classic (I put it in the dishwasher without cringing).

The serrated blade is the blade that lost the set a star; the edge is of good quality, and would be just the right thing for tomatoes, grapefruit, and bread loaves if it were just an inch longer. As it is, I can cut supermarket tomatoes but not heirloom, small grapefruit but not large ones or large navel oranges, and using it for bread is a lost cause. (If you want a smooth drop-point, buy the Wusthof Gourmet set, which is the same line without the signature).

The Amazon[.com] price is about what this set is worth. If the serrated blade were longer, I might even have been willing to pay the list price.

I've been reading a bunch of reviews on these knives on Amazon..., and they're either really high ratings or really poor ones. I think that part of the confusion is that these are SABATIER Laguiole steak knives (as marked on the blade) *not* Laguiole steak knives (which will have just that Laguiole name and no Sabatier). Seems that these have a thinner blade than the Laguiole ones, and from the pix - the blade looks different as well (has a different edge finish).

I think these are the ones that are being rated lower *NOT* the Laguiole ones (Laguiole - not Sabatier - makes their own Advantage range; these are the dishwasher safe ones that look similar to these BUT w/a huge price difference!). ...I don't know why/how Sabatier ended up having a Laguiole line of steak knives/tableware.

Also - FYI for some of the reviews that I have read elsewhere criticizing the funny shape of these knives... French knives are NOT designed like German knives (like Wusthof)! This is much more true of kitchen knives than steak knives, but French knives are usually much more sleek and triangular than their German counerparts. For the kitchen knives, it means you use a different motion to cut (you slice rather than rock) b/c the bolster is different and you can cut higher up on the blade (use more length). B/c of that, it also means that when you sharpen the French knives, you will be sharpening the entire length of the knife. If you talk to a professional cutlery expert, you can get more clarification.

As such for these knives, Sabatier makes good knives (esp. if you buy the Thiers-Issard ones of theirs (a few hundred of $$ for a set of 6) and Laguiole make killer knives. However, these aren't either one of them...

I bought these knives through another source and while they certainly aren't "Wusthof quality", they are durable and very sharp. They are serrated and that is not my preference. However, my Chef's Choice sharpener keeps them razor sharp. I would not put them in a dishwasher - as is true of all my knives. A good value - in my opinion.

These new knives for us, are not only gorgeous, but work remarkable well. The reason we say that is due to the reviews these knives in previous reviews. We have found no problems, either with the looks, and especially their cutting performance! Using these knives on steak is a breeze, not to mention any other of the fine meats we have cooked. But the best feature, besides working like a charm, is the looks compared to our former Cutco wonders! They are FAR more elegant, and are far above the cutting expectations we hoped for. A fine product for everyday use, as well as special occasions!! ENJOY!

These are described as stainless steel, but they rusted dramatically after being washed once. They are so badly stained at this point, that we don't even use them. The only useful part of this product is the wooden storage tray, if you have other knives that will fit.

Seem to be a quality set of knives for a good price. They are sharp enough, solid construction, and they haven't rusted in the dishwasher on me yet.

These steak knives are absolutely beautiful, and a pleasure to use. Most steak knives are bulky with huge handles. These have slender handles, but just the right amoung of weight. They are exactly as long as the table knife in an oversize or European style flatware set. This knife looks great with stainless flatware, and some people might prefer to use the steak knife more often than or instead of the table knife. The knives are sharp and cut through meat easily, as you should expect. At this price, these knives are an incredible deal.

The carousel did not look as nice as it did in the photo, the knife handles were kelly green (in the photo they appeared black or hunter green) and I felt the handles had a very plastic look to them. The cutting surfaces seemed good. The gadgets fall off the holders. I am not pleased with the set

I THINK IT IS A GREAT VALUE. ESPECIALLY FOR POEPLE STARTING TO EQUIP THEIR KITCHEN WITH A LIMITED BUDGET. I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER TWO MORE SETS BUT I WOULD LIKE BLACK OR WHITE?

I was most pleased with this choice, and how quickly I received my order.

However, upon opening the packages for placement upon their proper pegs around and in the carousel, one (1) item was discovered to be broken in transit.

I found nowhere in the "help" menu to inquire how I might get a replacement for the 1-TBSP measuring spoon. I do NOT wish to return the whole of the order for this small item.

Please direct me to whom I should write to get a replacement for the 1-TBSP measuring spoon.

Thank you for your prompt response.

For all stainless knives these are very good quality. They ship sharp and ready to use. As with most forged steel knives (even high end ones!) they do need to be sharpened occasionally with the included steel. What would be nice is if the hilt had a bit more heft to them to balance the blade. They seem to be "hollow". I wonder why that is. But otherwise they perform flawlessly. A good buy!

We've had these for a few months now, so we've had a chance to use them. They look great and all but one were very sharp when they arrived. The part that says they never need sharping is wrong and should be corrected. They are very comfortable to hold. The block looks fine. They are very good knives and a good value.

Actually, a sharpening steel is not for sharpening at all; it is for honing. To hone a blade is to re-straighten the edge of the blade--a blade's edge can get bent over by use. Sharpening, on the other hand, is to create a new blade edge. I assume that the "never needs sharpening" of these knives means that with regular honing via the "sharpening" steel will eliminate the need to sharpen the blades in the proper sense of the word.

Usually I love Henkel, but this one I must say, the tip bent while in the sink the first time I washed it and when I tried to straighten it - it just plain broke off.

I purchased this knife, and when it arrived, the package said, "Not recommended for left-handers." If Henckels chooses to design only for right-handed people, that's their right, but they should disclose it clearly. Second, [Amazon.com] should include such information in their editorial review. I'm left-handed, and I'll add this to my can opener and vegetable peeler as one-way kitchen gadgets.

I have purchased this as a 3 pc set
The rest of the knives are good but this utility knife is very bad. foe example: if u cut an onion it not at all cuts straight. even the cutting experience is not smooth. i just returned to ja henckels.

These rip a steak apart rather than cut. If I'm ever in need of a saw I can always use these

Need extra steak knives? You can't go wrong with these. I was surprised at the weight and feel of these functional steak knives. At this price I expected them to be much lighter. As for function (that is what we buy them for!) these knives are sharp and sturdy, and cut through steak easily. At this price I suggest you buy extras before they run out.

Wonderful steak knives. Love the serrated edge that stays sharp, the beautiful handles, and they do well in the dishwasher. Can't find these anymore (for the price of $6.99 per 4-pc that I originally paid). My friends (Chef & his wife) wished they could have "found" this buy.

I just wrote a review but it was for a different Chicago Cutlery knife set and I mistakenly reviewed this one.

When we bought our summer cabin some six years ago we also invested in what we considered to be economical linens, kitchen ware, etc., to be left at the cabin so it wasn't a major move at the beginning and end of each season.

We chose a set of four steak knives by Chicago Cutlery made by World Kitchens. These knives have outlasted most of the other original purchases for our kitchen and dining. We couldn't be more pleased with the price we paid or the performance of the knives.

It's nice that Chicago Cutlery offers a lifetime warranty for the life of their products, but we certainly don't need it!

- Gail Cooke

I have been eating my way to slimness. This involves cutting a LOT of fruit and vegtables. These walnut knives with the SpyderCo tri-angle sharpener makes these knives the sharpest I have EVER used.

My initial reaction, when I received the Sabatier Loire 14 piece Knife Block Set, was both negative and positive. Negative: the name Sabatier Loire is misleading. This knife set is not French, it is made in China (it has no connection with France or French Sabatier cutlery that I can see). Positive: the knives certainly look as attractive as in the Amazon.com illustration, they appear carefully made and very well finished.
So, how do they work in the kitchen?
The problem is: as cutting instruments, they don't come anywhere near top-quality European knives. I am used to Wusthof Classic kitchen knives, which slice through things effortlessly. The 'Sabatier Loire' knives feel relatively blunt. Sharpening the 'Sabatier' blades with a Wusthof steel didn't make much difference (perhaps because the blades of the 'Sabatier Loire' knives seem thicker than Wusthof's, they don't sharpen well). Wusthof knives slice through celery and other plants instantly and easily, while 'Sabatier Loire' require applying pressure and sawing away. My no-name slicing knife (bought for $6 at Zabar's in Manhattan) cuts carrots with a fraction of the effort.
The bread knife doesn't compare with Wusthof's.
So, I have an attractive-looking, large kitchen paperweight (it's not worth returning the set). The Chinese maker deserves an 'E' for effort, which has not been spared in producing a very nicely finished product. But they have yet to learn the techniques of shaping a knife blade, and sharpening it, which makes real French Sabatier cutlery (and Wusthof cutlery) so superior.

I bought a set of sabatier knives from Amazon for about 30 bucks about three months ago. While they are worth that amount, the suggested retail price of something over $300 was VERY misleading. I paid for what I got, but not much more. They cut OK and they have worked fine for a person who uses them about once every blue moon, but to suggest they are quality knives at an unbelievable price is false advertising. I have always been happy with Amazon, and I wonder on what grounds they are able to make such a claim. Additionally, the set I was sent was missing a knife, but not worth the hastle to return in order to receive another set in its entirity. Sp, buy them if you want cheap knives...cheaply...don't if you're looking for a killer deal.

I have another set of Sabatier knives that I got for about $20 less than this set.. which is basically the same exact knives, just simpler handles! This set is nice - don't get me wrong. The knives themselves work very well and are simple to clean. I do think you can find a set just as nice for a LOT less money.

I thought Sabatier was a French Company with excellent product. However, this set is made in China for Excel and not the quality that I expected. In this case, you get what you pay for

this set is a great deal. The knife holds and cuts well. The set will probably last a while if proper care is taken (proper drying, regular sharpening, etc..). However, don't expect to impress the French cuisine afficionado; it is made in China!

I bought these because of the name and the price. The name I associated with quality cutlery and the price, well... just couldn't be beat! This was a total impulse buy, I didn't need them, I haven't used them either but they came packaged so nicely and they have weight and style... I plan to keep them on hand for gift giving or at least until I need them myself. They may be hard to part with. Great item.