Product Description

Chicago Cutlery Insignia Matte 12-Piece Block Set includes 1-Each 3-1/2-Inch paring knife, 1-Each 5-Inch utility knife, 6-Each 4-1/2-Inch steak knives, 1-Each 8-Inch bread knife, 1-Each 8-Inch chef knife, 1-Each 8-Inch sharpening steel, and 1-Each hardwood block. Chicago Cutlery Insignia Matte collection is constructed of high-carbon stainless steel blades featuring our exclusive Taper Grind edge which is extremely sharp and enables precision cutting. The forged bolster provides balance and safety while ergonomically designed stainless steel handles combine comfort and safety with sleek, contemporary styling. Bead-Blast matte finish provides non-slip grip feature and adds an elegant appearance.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #133012 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Color: Stainless Steel
• Brand: Chicago Cutlery
• Model: Insignia Matte
• Released on: 2005-05-01
• Dimensions: 14.00" h x 6.00" w x 13.00" l,

Features

• 12-piece knife set: 8-inch chef's knife, 8-inch bread knife, 5-inch utility knife, six 4-1/2-inch steak knives, 3-1/2-inch paring knife, 8-inch sharpening steel, and hardwood block
• High-carbon stainless-steel blades; designed to resist stains and rust; Taper Grind edges stay extremely sharp and are easy to re-sharpen
• Bead-Blast matte finish provides non-slip grip and an elegant, brushed look
• Ergonomic, stainless-steel handles with sleek, contemporary styling; forged full bolsters offer balance and strength
• Hand wash only; made in China; covered by lifetime warranty

Customer Reviews

Great knives, great price, for home chefs!
For the $100, you could buy a single Wusthof grand prix chefs knife. Ask yourself, how many hours a day will you be using your knives? These knives are well made, sharp, and hold their edge well. They look very similar to those expensive knives that so few of us can afford. The balance is not as good as the pricey competition, but at one third to one half the price this set does admirably. They are a bit heavy, as are most knives in this price range, but they feel solid in the hand. Steak knives are wonderful and go well with my stainless flatwear. I am a casual cook and sometimes gourmet who admits these knives are a lot of bang for the buck.

A great set at an even greater price
I've used this set for several years now and have been very pleased with the overall cutting ability of these knives. Even though I also own Global and Shun kitchen knives, I find myself being drawn to the Insignia knives when I am in a hurry or in the middle of a large project. Although both the Global and the Shun have sharper edges, their price difference doesn't equate directly to the increased level of sharpness that you get. That is to say, yes Global and Shun knives are sharper, but they are not three to four hundred percent sharper all though their price difference certainly would suggest that.

Using my Insignia knives, I am able to quickly dice, cut, and slice through onions, carrots, chicken, roasts, etc. That said, there are several cavets that need to be stated. First, don't wash these knives in a dishwasher. It has nothing to do with the quality of the steel. I wouldn't wash my Ken Onion Shun Chef's knife in the dishwasher and that one knife costs as much as two whole sets of the Insignia. Second, these knives need to be honed regularly. A few strokes after every use makes a real difference. Third, after owning the knives for almost two years, I sharpened each of the knives on oil stones. These knives, like all knives will need to be resharpened from time to time. The good news is that they resharpened quite nicely, a tribute to their quality. Since resharpening, they have continued to hold their edges.

Last, the balance of these knives is more than adequate. I also own the matching sanduko and have found it to be the best of the series. All though I am a bit of a knife snob, and although I would love to purchase a block set of either the Shun or the Globals, I can't justify it given that the Insignia's cut so well. My wife would really give me no end of grief if I threw out a perfectly good set of knives. And a good set of knives these are.

Excellent set
I bought this set to replace a really cheap set we had. This one is perfect for what we needed them for. We needed something that was sharp & sturdy. Our other set would bend when trying to slice things and it would crush soft items like bread before you even got through cutting it. I also like the weight of these knives and the feel of them. They also go really well with my stainless steel cutlery.

If you are looking for an upgrade to a cheap set of knives then this is the set to purchase. I highly recommend them. Just remember...as with anything else...you have to get used to how these feel compared to what you are used to using. There is always a breaking in period but once you get through that you'll love these.