Victorinox 3-Piece Chef's Knife Set in Gift Box

• 3-knife set made with stamped, high-carbon, stainless-steel blades
• Includes 4-inch parer, 8-inch carving, and 10-inch chef's knife
• Razor-sharp tempered edges, hand-finished in Switzerland, can be re-sharpened
• Hygienic, molded black Fibrox handles provide a sure grip
• Dishwasher-safe; lifetime warranty

Amazon.com Review:
An excellent choice for a cook setting up a kitchen, this gift-boxed set of three knives from Victorinox consists of a 4-inch parer for everyday peeling and cutting; an 8-inch carving knife for slicing meats; and an extra-large 10-inch chef's knife that tackles all chopping, dicing, and mincing tasks. Because the blades are stamped rather than forged the price is kept reasonable, yet the high-carbon, stainless steel is extremely durable and is ground to a razor-sharp edge that can be re-sharpened repeatedly. The molded Fibrox handles provides a sure grip, have no grooves or rivets to harbor bacteria, and are dishwasher-safe. All in all, the knives are lightweight and very utilitarian. Started in 1884 in Switzerland, Victorinox is perhaps best known as the manufacturer of the Original Swiss Army Knife. Today Victorinox by R.H. Forschner makes everyday cutlery for the home as well as professional forged cutlery and multi-purpose tools. Hand-finished in Switzerland, the three-piece chef's set (model 89892) is covered by a lifetime warranty against defects. --Ann Bieri

Top value:
I'm a knife junkie, having owned several fine European- and Japanese-made Chef's knives and while these may not be the absoulte very best (my favorites are various knives in the Global, Kershaw-Shun, and MAC lines) they are by far the best value. The steel takes and holds a very good edge. Blades are thin, allowing knives to slide through big hard squash and melons more easily than thicker forged knives, but are still plenty strong. I use my 10" Chef to split cooked chickens and it's held up well. Ergonomics are generally excellent. My only complaint is that the handle on the Chef's is a little bit on the large side - I like to hold my Chef's knives by pinching the blade between thumb and forefinger, and the smaller handles on the Global are better for that. But if you like to hold your knife by the handle and especially if you have larger hands these knives are tough to beat, at any price. This selection is also excellent. I like the bigger-than-average 10" Chef for better rocking motion when chopping, also handy for splitting big melons and squash. The 4" parer is big enough to use for boning and as a general-purpose knife; the large nonslip handle (much bigger than on most parers) makes for a more secure grip. I wish they included a 10" carver/slicer but the 8" is adequate (and won't scare your guests if you carve at the table). Add the Victorinox Super Slicer (or another serrated knife) and you have pretty much every knife you'll ever really need....for less than the price of _one_ "premium" knife.

Sharp, solid and balanced.:
Great deal on a set of knives that you'll have for a LONG time. Handles might seem a bit wonky, but actually seem to work better than the more attractive, traditional versions on other knives.

Best knife set there is.:
This is the best set of knives you will ever own. Very sharp and handles well. Great looking too. Gift box is a joke though.

Set of knives:
The order was received in excellent condition and within the promised time period. It was exactly as described and what I wanted. It was the top rated knife in Cooks Illustrated and I trusted that.

Huge!:
Great knives. Bought three sets (two as gifts, one for myself). The 10" Chef's knife is HUGE, but great for larger jobs. All three knives have the same -also large- handle, which makes them easy to control. The handles may be slightly too big for small hands, but for most people this should not be an issue.