J.A. HENCKELS Four Star 8-Piece Knife Block Set

After about four months of daily use, I strongly recommend this knife set. It has proven to be a real set of knives, not a starter set, and it has handled everything we've asked of it. The set includes a 4-inch paring knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife, 5.5-inch prep knife, 8-inch chef's knife, 8-inch bread knife, honing steel, kitchen shears, and a hardwood block. We use these knives for a wide variety of cooking tasks, including cutting meat and vegetables, and we reach for many of them regularly, not just one or two. The knives were very sharp right out of the box. I tested them on a tomato and a sheet of paper, and they cut through both easily. They have held up well since. After four months of daily use, it's time to resharpen them, which seems reasonable. I also like knowing the angle the knives were sharpened to at the factory, so I can match it when I sharpen them. The 8-inch chef's knife feels best in the set to me. It is a quality knife that feels great in the hand. One caution: it is a little large for my wife, who prefers a smaller knife in the set. If you have smaller hands or like a lighter knife, keep that in mind. I have been happy with the rest of the set as well. The honing steel and shears seem good, and the block fits comfortably on our counter. My only wish is that we had purchased the matching steak knives, since they aren't part of this set. Compared with what we used before, this set is much better. The knives feel solid, the build quality is obvious, and I expect them to last a long time, though I can only personally vouch for four months.