Product Not as described
I just received this knife set and although I've not yet used the knives, the product description stated that it would include a bonus 3-inch Silverpoint paring knife that was NOT included in the box. I have just notified Customer Service and sincerely hope that Amazon will make good on this item.
The knifes are great but one is missing
The set I recieved is missing either a trimming knife or a 2-3/4-inch paring knife:
According to the label on the box, the set should include a trimming knife, cook's knife, tomato knife, sandwich knife, sheers, sharpening steel, block set.
According to the item description on Amazon site, the set should include: 8-inch chef's knife, 6-inch sandwich knife, 5-inch tomato knife, 2-3/4-inch paring knife, 7-inch sharpening steel, kitchen shears, 9-slot storage block, and bonus 3-inch Silverpoint paring knife.
Neither trimming knife nor 2-3/4-inch paring knife came with the set.
Superb investment for life
I'm by no means a professional at cooking. In the past year, I've been wanting to teach myself better culinary skills, and the old set of knives I was given was a total of $20. They were generic cutlery, and after having done my research, I've discovered what I needed and should look for. When I saw this deal for these set of knives, I jumped on it immediately, knowing what I know now.
With the old set of knives, I literally had to hack through vegetables and meats. I exerted so much force, that my cutting board would get deep welts into them, and when I was cutting anything tough like carrots, you'd hear loud chopping sounds from the other side of the house as I had to brute-force my way through the carrot.
So when I got these knives, I compared the two cutting onions, carrots, and a whole chicken. The difference between my old set and the Wusthof was clearly night and day. No longer do you hear loud chops from across the house, as these knives oozes through most food like warm butter. No more deep welts in the cutting board. Even the toughest acorn squash gave way easily to the Wusthof.
Not to mention I've gained a great amount of confidence using these knives. Nothing is worse than an unsure blade in your hands as you're cutting up vegetables and meats. I was also able to cut with more precise movements and get the exact cuts and shapes I want, due to the superb sharpness and balance of these knives. This means thinly sliced food, better presentation, and easier dicing.
The weight of the knives, to me, are absolutely perfect. Not too heavy, not too light, just balanced. I've heard some prefer the Grand Prix handle design over the Classic series, as it has a more textured grip, which should come in handy if your hands get moist/wet. My old knife had a shiny wooden handle, and slip it did when my hand got wet, usually when cutting a tomato.
I cannot express the amount of joy these knives give me, and the satisfaction that I'll have them for a long time, given the proper care. I'll cherish them, and I'm sure anyone that enjoys my cooking, will in due course, appreciate them too. Especially now that I want to cook more often thanks to these knives making my job a lot easier and fun.
Best knives in the world
I have had this set of knives for 5 years. I love all the Wusthof knives, especially the comfort of the Grand Prix series. I used to have a 10" chefs knife, 12" steel, 8" utility knife and a pairing knife that I used professionally in a previous career-life as a cook. Unfortuantly someone else loved these knives too and broke into my car and stole them, leaving some cash, my CD player and hundreds of CDs. They obviously recognized their value.
I purchased this knife block set after I 'retired' from professional cooking to use in my home kitchen. They have worn extremely well. Like any good knife they do need to be taken care of. I recommend getting a good sharpening stone and learning how to use it so you can keep the knives in tip-top shape. Depending on how often you use them you'll need to run them accross the stone. I use mine daily and sharpen them on the stone about once a month. Before I use them, and after I clean them when I am finished, I generally run them over the steel about 5 or 10 times. Lastly, I never, ever, put them in the dishwasher, I only hand-wash them.
If you buy these knives and follow these tips this set is the only cutting instruments you'll ever need in your kitchen.