CalphalonClassic Self-Sharpening Cutlery Knife Block Set with SharpIN Technology 12-pc Silver Knife-EQ-44109271

BUYER: Please know what you are buying and NOT buying... You are NOT buying an impervious, undamagable stainless steel knife. Even stainless steel silverware will spot and discolor. An expensive Shun Knife, like these Calphalon knives, is also made from carbon steel—but with the Shun knife the blade is imixed with stainless steel for a higher quality metal amalgamation. It is the softer carbon steel that allows the knife blade to be honed to a sharp edge, yet will discolor, pit and rust. A less expensive Calphalon Knife is also made of carbon steel, amalgamated with “No stain steel” —likely a lesser quality of steel, hence the affordable price. The carbon steel in both knives is likely to stain and rust IF YOU DO NOT TAKE CARE OF THEM PROMPTLY AFTER USING!!! 1. NEVER PUT IN DISHWASHER: The strong DW detergent will literally “eat” the thin sharp edge of the knife, making it jagged. In the DW water sits on the knife blade, discoloring it and eventually rusting it. The dryer in your DW just can’t dry it quickly enough. 2. Wash and dry you knife well and immediately after each use: Especially dry the blade near the handle. Do not allow acidic foods, juices to sit on the blades— again, it will discolor and rust the soft carbon steel component in the blade. 3. Please don’t ruin the sharp edge on the blade by using the blade itself to scrape food off your cutting board— use the BACK SIDE of the knife to scrape food from your cutting board. 4. Use the right kind of cutting board— preferably plastic— not your granite countertop, or your ceramic dishes, or glass— it will ruin your knife edge, making it harder and harder to restore the sharp edge you had on your knife after first buying it.If these simple rules are followed, your knives will perform flawlessly for you— take an online tutorial— and last a long time. A knife that has been inadvertently put in the dishwasher and now has a jagged, pitted edge can be taken to a good, professional knife sharpener who can remove the jagged edge—albeit with the loss of some of the blade— and restore the sharp edge. In this Calphon Knife Set, they have, to a degree, idiot proofed the sharpening care of the knife, a great advantage for fast- paced living and cooking!

Nice knives, but it is not cool that the picture shows a bread knife, while in the detailed text it says that it includes a six inch serrated knife. When you open the box, the first thing you see is an advertisement to "complete your set" by purchasing the bread knife. There is an open slot in the block for the bread knife.

These knives are superior in every way to any knife block sets I have ever purchased. My previous choice being Henckle. This set far and away sets the benchmark way above even those. The Chef's knife is heavy, sharp and makes food prep a joy! The self sharpening block appears to 'lightly' sharpen when you take the knives out, so they are always ready when you are. Highly Recommend!

Some pros and cons:-> Pro - good quality metal used in the knives-> Pro - easy to hold and use-> Con - like most knives, putting them in the dishwasher will cause them to rust. Hand washing is better and use Barkeepers Friend to remove the rust easily.-> Con - built-in sharpener doesn't work the greatest but they never do (IMHO), so don't use that as a reason not to buy these knives. You can get simple (and great) knife sharpeners.I really like these knives, the variety of types and they are good value for the money when you consider they get used every day, multiple times a day.

These knives almost cut me! I was opening an avacado that is still hard and was rotating it like I always do and these are so sharp I didn't even feel it cut through the put and it came out the other side in my hand! Everyone in the house is obsessed with these knives. I will update in a year to see how they are holding up but as of now very impressed a month in.