Knife Block Reviews

I bought these knives and I love them. They are a joy to use. Top quality. Check the model #8243 on the Wusthof web site and you'll see they are the real deal. I got them on Amazon when the price was at $239.99. What a steal!

I read once that the best is the cheapest and I find that to be certainly true. These are the best knives ever! They will last a lifetime and save you a lifetime's worth of constantly buying one 20 dollar knife after another. The knives I use time and time again are probably the chef's knife (which I used to find intimidating but no longer) and the 5.5 inch sandwich knife. I love the sharpness, the feel and the weight. It makes cooking and prepping so much faster and easier. I chose the GrandPrix over the traditional styled Classic because of the way the rounded handles felt in my hands and the textured grip makes for never having to stop to dry my hands in between kitchen prep duties. After you have been dicing and slicing for more than 15 minutes, the GP handle doesn't give me the cramped hand feeling that the traditional handles give me. Some people say that the handles easily get scratches but I have had mine for 3 years and don't notice any but I always handwash mine (wonder if that makes a difference) and besides, I consider them tools and workhorses not decoration. I think they say you're supposed to sharpen high quality knives each time before you use them. Yeah right! I never sharpen my knives because they can keep the edge sharp for so long plus I'm plain lazy. My husband does that for me once every 3 months and I notice the difference. But even "dulled" after 3 months with no sharpening, I haven't met a slab of meat or veggie my knives couldn't make quick work out of.

I own the 8 piece classic set; which came with the following: an 8"Chefs,Carving,& Bread knife; 4 1/2" utility, 3 1/2 inch paring, sharpening steel, take apart shears, a well made deluxe oak block which also has room for 6 steak knifes. I also purchased 4 Classic Mignon steak knifes, a Santoku knife, a serrated tomato knife & that still left room for 2 extra knifes.
These are the best investment I ever made in a set of kitchen knifes. They are very well balanced and cut like a dream & hold an extremely sharp edge! I put most of my other kitchen knifes into retirement except for an electric knife on holidays when visiting, and a few special ones. A lifetime guarantee comes with each Wusthof plus I consider it a lifetime investment unless you happen to lose one.
Once you use a Wusthof for a short while, you will appreciate what a well made knife is! (Rated #1 by Consumer Reports magazine.)

If Tim Allen got into cooking and cutlery the way he salivates after handyman tools, he'd be grunting his "can't-wait-to-get-my-hands-on-it" love song. This thing's a monster. Big. Beautiful. Solid. Just like your knives. The only way to go if you can't bring yourself to give up counterspace for a knife block, or prefer the open slide of a knife drawer to getting fallen crumbs, hidden dust, and possibly grime (ugh!) out of those narrow knife block slots.

One of the most practical things you'll ever purchase -- even if it seems like a "luxury" item now or something you'll "eventually" get (uh-huh) -- paying for good knives but failing to pay for proper storage (I discovered the hard way) is like buying a good bicycle then leaving it outside to rust. At this affordable price, consider it a "knife" purchase -- one you don't have but can't do without. Even if you're just discovering the value of high quality cutlery, this knife drawer is not only a good investment for all subsequent purchases, but also it lets you know how many you do and don't have, keeps them all together, and, if need be, you can put everything in one place with a child-proof mechanism. It makes a great gift when you'd like to give something unique but practical and affordably priced.

Another advantage is the opening for the knife hone:It's centered and can act as a dividing mark. If you're a "two knife set" household like we are (knives are like shoes -- they tend to wear and adjust to the user), each person can have one half of the tray (3 short, 3 long slots each). The depth of the slots keep the handles easy to grasp without too much wiggle room, the color of the wood is as pictured, there are no rough edges or splinters, and the double (not single) Henckels logo appears prominently on the base.

Before you buy, however, *measure* the place you intend to put it, including any offset space you have to account for in sliding it into the drawer; if you're going to place it on a shelf, make sure your cupboard door will close. (See measurements in product description).

Keep it well-maintained according to manufacturer's directions and the feeling of sliding open a drawer and seeing this finely crafted object safely cradling your finely crafted full-tang fully-forged bolstered collection, well, .... it's just everything you hoped it "wood" be. With free shipping, you can't go wrong.

I purchased this knife tray for my mother a few years ago, because she used to throw her knives in the drawer. It keeps them protected and neat; and I don't have to worry about her fingers getting sliced. I recently went back to the store I originally bought them at to purchase one for myself, but much to my disappointment they no longer carry it. I was thrilled to find out that Amazon.com has them in stock.

Frees counter space by putting knives into a drawer, while protecting fingers from sharp edges...a great idea in a quality-built product. Knives drop horizontally into the slots, which I find easier than sticking them pin-cushion style into a counter block. Enough room here for all your kitchen and steak knives.

Our old knives were hand-me-down stainless no-name junk. These are real knives, nice weight and very sharp. I like the classic style handles that are absolutely smooth and comfortable. I'm keeping the old knives for my wife who is afraid of sharp knives and tends to use them for prying, scraping, etc...

This time of year (late summer/fall) in the northeast is tomato time. The 6" utility knife and the parer are tremendous with tomatoes and they just slide through slippery onion and pepper skins. Makes me feel like I know what I'm doing.

Can't wait to cut up a pineapple, or to cut the skin and fat off of a chicken breast with these knives when doing the same with my old knives was a harrowing experience.

Different kitchenware sites recommend using a magnetic strip to hold knives and we've used one for years, but I bought a Henckels block for these knives so that they wouldn't scratch.

I have found that they do show scratches easilly, like when using the scouring side of a two sided sponge (some light scratches on the parer). This in no way effects thier utility, but I'll be careful in the future. You really should use a soft cloth to wash them (as recommended).

For the holidays (it's my job to carve the turkey), I plan on buying the carver.

Although some people reported poor quality control for the handles and tops of these knives, I do not agree. The set I recently received is flawless. The blades are sharp and the handle finish is smooth and even. When in use, these knives have perfect balance and work better than any I have used.

If you want the BEST in a quality knife set, you can't go wrong with these. I look forward to adding additional pieces to my collection and won't hesitate to buy the Pro S.

These Knifes come sharp as Razors a little Honeing and you can shave Your Beard with them Perfect Balance for My wife I would of Rather had the 12 inch instead of the 10 inch but these are HER Knife's Not going to fight with her about her beloved Knifes! OUCHThese are used every day Just wash clean by Hand Cloth and Soap, Put them back in the block and they are ready again! Great Knifes High Priced but worth it because of the knifes being so well balanced..........Great Items as a Starter set!!!!!!!!!

I was a commited fan of Henkels, Trident, and Sabatier until Global knives were recomended by a professional I trust. I'd been battling carpal tunnel syndrome and many of my knives were just too heavy and unbalanced for steady use. I began with two of the vegetable cleavers/knives and continued to buy more. They are as sharp as razors and hold an edge beautifully. The edge is very different from that of European cutlery, so you must learn a different sharpening technique, but that comes quickly. If you are thinking of buying premium knives, be sure you try Global.

Global knives are always tops for reliability and durability, and they are the only knives I use. This particular set gives pretty much all the average household will need, and they require little maintanence.

The two knives I found most useful are the Chef's knife, which is the one you will use the most, and the bread knife. The Chef's knife is lightweight and razor sharp, and can be used for anything, from cutting tough meats to finely chopping viggies. The bread knife is excellent because it doesn't dull as quickly as most bread knives tend to. Nothing kills me more than a fresh loaf of bread getting crushed because the knife wasn't sharp enough to cut from the top.

The other knives in the set, such as the carving and paring knives, are also very useful, depending on what you are cooking. All knives in the set come with Global's trademark handel grip, which makes gripping the knife easy, and there is less chance of the knife slipping, possibly lopping off a finger. You can't beat that.

For the price, this is quite possibly the best knife set you can buy. The knives are top quality, and will require only the occasional sharpening. For someone who is considering a career as a professional chef, this set is indespensible. But for any household, this is also a great and practical investment.

Not a pro or anything, but I love these knives. . . got them after having a Chicago Cutlerey set, and these are vastly superior - work great, look great. But another great benefit -- for kitchen clutzes like me, no wooden handles to get trashed from soakings or dishwashers, and no plastic to accidentally melt on stove burners, etc. The all steel construction is the way to go. I also highly recommend getting a magnet bar to show them off in the kitchen :)

In June of 2003, I wrote a blurb praising this starter set. My opinion from then hasn't changed, except the last part where I wrote that I couldn't justify Wusthof's price for those knive you don't use every day. Well, I lied. Since then I have replaced virtually every knife I had then with a Wusthof. Whether I was dicing veggies, carving a roast, or simply cutting up a chicken, I just got to the point where I could no longer tolerate using an inferior knife for the job; so I upgraded as I went along. All my old knives went into my camping box (you're supposed to be "roughing it" when camping, right?).

The knives in this set are superb. The problem is that after using them, you are liable to do as I did and spend lots of money later. Be warned.

I highly recommend this as a good starter set for Wusthof knifes are a high quality made knife, well balanced, hold a good edge,a lifetime guarantee,& #1 rated by Consumer Reports. I feel the 4 1/2" utility knife is a very good companion to these 2 also.Just make sure to feel the difference of each style for yourself; for some like the Grand Prix but I prefer the Classic. They cut through stuff like butter & make cutting alot less of a chore!

A great pair of knives. I use them daily and wouldn't trade them for any other knife I have ever touched. The balance and weight are perfect. Take care of them, and they will last forever.

I love these knives. They are extremely sharp, cut well, and have a very comfortable grip. This particular style is more of a pistol grip handle. These are extremely comparable to the Henkle set, both are high quality knives, the deciding factor for me was the grip of the knife. These keep an edge quite well, and do hold a blade that is most excellent. In a years time of extremely heavy use the blade still holds very well. These knives actually making cutting very easy. I honestly grab a knife now when I used to grab the food processor. These by far are the indespensible kitchen appliance in my kitchen.

I own and have tried a number of knives from the standard cheapo's to designer hand-made French knives, and these fill a large general purpose niche. These knives are very sharp (especially after using the sharpening tool) and approach the sharpness of my Kyocera Ceramic knives. Ceramic knives are extremely sharp and hard, but suffer from brittleness and need custom resharpening efforts. The Wusthof knives are well made German "tools" that will hold-up to a certain amount of abuse. For more abuse, I resort to my cheapo knives to cut open packages of food, wine bottle foil, etc.. They are handsome and do have a high-tech appeal but do not approach the beauty of some French knives. The French knives have inlaid wood handles and have a "mirror" finish (which will scratch even with a plastic scrubber), but are limited to tableware use only.
You must be extremely careful not to get ripped-off with a "imitation" German knife. Most knives use a brand-name, but are really made in China. The descriptions and inflated prices can be very misleading. Even with all my research, I was not sure that I had made a wise choice until I looked at these knives and started to use them. Please do the same, since things change all the time and "outsourcing" is all the rage!
Anyway, in summary, these knives are great...so get them before they don't exist!

I have had a set of Wusthof Grand Prix knives for about four years now and I could not be more pleased with their performance, durability, and quality. From the professional chef to the home cook looking for quality to last a lifetime; these knives accentuate the way in which you will prepare meals for a lifetime. The folded stainless steel is of the highest quality available in the industry, and it shows in how long they keep their edge. As with all straight edge knives; never put in a dishwasher, cut on stone or metal surfaces and they will stay in top form.

The look is stunning, the blade quality is very high and the weight is much lighter than other knives. But the handle is not so ergonomic as some other knives (I like the twin select from Henckels) and gets quickly uncomfortably warm when I use it. I would recommend this knife to women due to its lightness and, of course, to design-lovers.

The only thing better than the way the Global knives cut is the way they look. I have been a diehard user of Wusthof Trident Gran Prix knives, but since I bought this set, I have stuck my Wusthofs in the drawer.

The edge on the blades is phenomonal, and I have yet to use the ceramic stone I got with this set. I have decided to replace all of my old knives over the next few months.

We already had a Global Chef Knife when we got this 3 piece set last Christmas. We tried Global after buying a dissappointing Henkel. We are now diehard Global fans. When I visit people's homes and they have dull knives, I am further in love with my Global. It makes such a difference to have a good knife when cooking! Pay bon marche bon!

There are really two main competitors in the high-end mainstream kitchen knife market: Henckels and Wusthof. Those who have used both usually have a preference. My preference (and therefore bias you should know about) is for the Wusthofs.

The Wusthof Classic line is the more conservative counterpart to the Grand Prix line. The only difference, however, is the handle style. I personally prefer the Grand Prix, but this is an issue of personal preference. The balance and grip of these knives are as close to perfect as I have found. For those wondering what benefits a higher priced knife provides, one benefit is that the blade (or tang) is one piece all the way through the handle. This makes the blade much stronger, and less likely to snap.

This set includes an 8 inch chef's knife, a 3 ½ inch paring knife, a 6 inch sandwich knife, 7 inch bread, a sharpening steel, and an oak block

The 8 inch chef's knife is a great knife. Wusthof offers four sizes of chef's knives in the Classic line, 5, 6, 8 and 10 inch. For most home cooks, I think the 8 inch knife is the best choice. The 5 and 6 inch are a bit small for bigger jobs, but the 10 inch is too big for most jobs. While the 8 inch isn't perfect for all uses, if you are only buying one size chef's knife (and most people only buy one), this is the one I would recommend.

As for the 3 ½ inch paring knife, this knife falls into the category of overkill for me. Most cooks will get by just fine with the 4 ½ inch utility knife. There is really no notable difference in size for the vast majority of applications between the 3 ½ inch paring knife and the 4 ½ inch utility knife. I prefer the 4 ½ inch utility knife, but the 3 ½ inch paring knife will do the trick.

I have found very few uses for the 6 inch sandwich knife. I prefer the larger size of the chef's knife or the smaller 4 ½ inch utility knife. This knife is just the wrong width and length for most tasks, and falls into the overkill department, except when part of a set.

The bread knife, is a great knife. Many people think tomatoes are the hardest food items to clearly cut. I think bread is much more difficult; but this knife makes the task seem easy. However, this particular bread knife, at 7 inches, is probably too short. I prefer the 9 inch knife.

When it comes to sharpening steels, I have found very little difference between Henckels and Wusthof. As long as you buy a high end steel, you really won't go wrong. Therefore, I shop for this item on price, and Henckels has a price advantage. However as the steel comes with the set, you won't go wrong with this steel.

This set is a good deal as far as price. However, keep in mind you really only get 4 knives, two of which I think are the wrong selections, and one of which I think is too short.

I actually purchased the 6 knife starter set... The only difference is it did not come with the bread knife (good to have), although I will probably purchase one in the future. I use the 6 inch serated knife for bread, bagels and tomatoes. I think this is a good bargain because I don't feel you need all the knives in the 10 piece set. The block is good to have in order to keep your knives protected and handy. I tried both the Henckels and the Wustoffs and I prefer the fit and feel of the Wusthoffs. I highly recomend these knives.

Finally we purchased a set of fine knives. What a difference! I can't really compare these to other fine knives, but I can't imagine better quality.

The 6 inch sandwich knife and the 8 inch chef's knife are great. The handles are smooth and the cutting is effortless. My favorite, however, is the 3 1/2 inch paring knife. It is balanced and cuts so smoothly.

I love this set of knives.

I ordered this set a few weeks ago and used the super saver shipping. Received them pretty quick - within four days. The knives are pretty good quality and are actually thicker and heavier than I would have thought for the price. They are also well balanced and feel good in my hand. The finish (urethane)on the block that came with the set was not applied properly and probably should not have passed QC. Other than that I'm very happy with the knives.

I bought a Farberware forged set from a department store at Christmas and paid twice this much. Frankly I was surprised by the quality of a Farberware set, but for those of you not familiar the fact that this is forged makes quite a positive difference. The knives are heavy and well balanced. Like all cutlery they need to be sharpened with a steel after every few uses, and although these claim to be dishwasher safe you should never wash your cutlery in the dishwasher, and should always hand dry. This is a good purchase and worth 5 stars for the price.

It is a great set and I haven't had any rust problems as some earlier comments. Maybe its b/c I don't put them into the DishWasher. The scissors alone are worth the 30 bucks in my opinion. Definetely a good buy. I bought two sets for future gifts...

Just to clarify on those who commented that the "bread knife" in the set is too short. Technically, it's a serrated utility knife, not a bread knife and is fabulous for cutting tomatoes. The bread knife is also serrated, but is much larger...I have one myself and it's great for cutting big loaves of bread.

This is a great knife set. The knives are high quality and well balanced. The utility knife is great. After using this set for almost two years, I only have two complaints. The paring knife is a little small to cover all potential uses. Another 1/2 inch and it would be perfect. Also, the bread knife is almost useless. In addition to the fact it is the least used knife in the set, it is too short to be effective on all types of breads (varying loaf sizes, etc.). Add a longer paring knife and a carving or boning knife instead of the bread knife and this set would get five stars.

The Henckels 4 star knives are wonderful. I am able to get such a good grip on these. Very happy with the set. The only difference between this 4 star set and the 5 star set is the handles. I personally liked how my hand contoured to these handles. Previously owned the famous and expensive cutco knives. These are just as well balanced. Highly recommend.