Henckels Forged Synergy 3-pc Starter Knife Set

I originally purchased this knife set for our ski house as my old Wurstoff Grand Prix set (30 years old) came up missing when a seasonal tenant moved out. I like the Henkel's name and quality. The steel is German made and the knife is made in China, keeping the price affordable. I was delighted with the balance, sharpness, and ability to hold an edge and kept using it after our older set turned up. Since I have brought it home and have been testing it head to head with my 15 year old Shun santoku knife. They are comparable in performance although I paid $140 for the Shun in 2008 and obviously much less the the Henkel's santoku. Both are very sharp and hold an edge well. The difference is in feel and balance; they are very different. The Henkel's is a tad heavier (7.5 oz v 7.1 oz) and the handle tilts down slightly. The Shun handle is level but feels slightly pointed up. The result is that the Henkel's has more authority if you are cutting into something more fibrous. While the Shun is lighter and a tad quicker. So, both are excellent and may be used for most of your kitchen chopping and cutting needs. I always hand rinse/clean and wipe my knives frequently during use and after. I have found I can use a small amount of Bar Keepers Friend (a SS cleaner) to keep the knife blade fresh. Incredible quality for the price. One caution: look for Henkel's Premio. There is a seller passing off much cheaper Henkel's knives as "Premium." This is a deliberate attempt to mislead. Do not be fooled!

I love every knife in this set! They came sharp, but I still gave them a couple passes over my ceramic rod before first use. The edges hold up nicely and they cut great through most everything I throw at them. I retired my old Ikea damascus chef's knife and all my others. I have since bought most of the other knives I need from the Forged Synergy line and I am very happy with all of them. They look beautiful together and with a little care when washing and a nice dry, they stay shiny and spotless. These are the nicest knives I have ever owned. I have a real hard time spending hard earned money on kitchen utensils as I am not a chef, I don't even play one on TV. I do however cook...every day, and having a decent set of knives has made it even more enjoyable than it already was. I wish they made a carving fork and cleaver in the Forged Synergy line but I have been able to find ones that complement them well anyways.

I have not owned them for very long, but they seem to be of good quality.I've previously owned knife sets, from chef's knives to very cheap ($7) sets. They all cut, and most of them can be kept sharp with a sharpener. What I usually do not like about the more professional knives is that they are too heavy (and not well balanced), and too stiff, and they can feel a little cumbersome to work with. While the cheaper knifes are often not stiff enough, and often have bad or even unsafe ergonomics/design.This set is actually pretty good in terms of weight, stiffness, and ergonomics. They are very well balanced, so when you work with them they feel light and very easy to work with. The curve is also excellent on these, cutting (in the chef's way) is easy and natural. They are also not too stiff, offering a tiny bit of flexibility, but enough stiffness to feel safe and secure that the knife will go where you want it to go. The handle offers good grip and the hand is safe from any sharp edges.In short; well designed, well balanced. Hopefully they will last long.

These are very sharp and seem to last.

Great knives, great price. Even impressed my professional chef daughter.

I purchased these knives over two years ago, and I am still loving them! As soon as I opened the box I was impressed with how well balanced they are, and how sharp they are. And although other reviews have some complaints about the fact that these Henckels knives are made in China rather than the more expensive ones made in Germany, I have had no problems. They have remained super sharp over the years (yet to be sharpened a single time) and although they have been put into the dishwasher (against both the Mfr recommendation and my own wishes) I have not seen any rust spots as other reviews have mentioned.They are still excellent and I much prefer them over the cutco brand because of how well balanced they are. My only complaint is that I wish I would have purchased a larger set with a block back in the beginning because I now know how high quality they are. I want the bread knife, santoku, and steak knives to match at a minimum, but to purchase them individually is similar in price to purchasing a set, and I feel like purchasing the full set would be a waste (since I already have these three). What I am saying, is they truly are high quality--go ahead and buy the full set if you need them!

Amazing product that holds an edge like no other knife. Blades are stiff and therefore easy to control when carving.

great knives