A great gift, this seven-piece set equips a cook with five essential kitchen knives, a 9-inch sharpening steel to keep blade edges aligned, and a hardwood block to store knives and steel on the counter. The knives are a 3-1/2-inch paring knife, a 5-3/4-inch utility knife, an 8-inch carving knife, an 8-inch bread knife to slice crusty loaves, and an 8-inch chef's knife for rocking through chopping and mincing tasks. The knives don't have bolsters and are stamped, not forged from stainless steel. The steel is of lesser quality than Henckels' premier lines. Handles are also formed of stainless steel, and their satin finish contrasts stylishly with the blades. The knives are dishwasher-safe and carry a lifetime warranty against defects. --Fred Brack

What's in the Box


• 3-1/2-inch parer


• 5-3/4-inch utility


• 8-inch slicer


• 8-inch chef's knife


• 8-inch bread knife


• 9-inch steel


• hardwood block