Knife Set

[CB07]

In short, my Brother in Law is turning 30 and is a keen home cook, thus I wanted to get him some kitchen knives/knife. Budget about £100. He doesn't own a house but certainly plans to soon so hopefully he can use whatever I buy him for years to come.

I don't have anything flash at home myself, as mine get lobbed in dishwasher and generally are well used. I have stumbled across this set in our local Costco.

https://cangshancutlery.com/en/cangshan-s-series-1...

Are they total carp or will they be any good? Am I better off just buying him one nice knife. I know its always much more fun to open big boxes on your birthday, so looking for some decent impact!

Cheers,

CB

[JKRolling]

It’s hard to buy knives for someone unless you know what they want because of the weight and feel etc.

But if that’s what you want, I would stretch the budget and get these;

https://www.procook.co.uk/product/procook-professi...

[DoubleD]

If he hasnt currently got any knives then a set would be a good idea as it will get him started.

Another option is to see if there are any knife skill lessons that he can do. A nice knife wont make your food any better, but knife skills can.

[bonerp]

I've been looking at knives at Procook for a while but they are expensive even with their offers - they're like DFS always a sale.

Try www.knivesandtools.co.uk

They were much better priced than Procook. I got 5 damascus steel knives and a block with a sharepener same quality for over £120 less. Took 2 days to arrive. Based in Germany or Netherlands. Seriously good knives and a great 25 year warranty. My previous set were Jamie Oliver crap and fell to pieces in 3 years.

[CB07]

DoubleD said:

If he hasnt currently got any knives then a set would be a good idea as it will get him started.

Another option is to see if there are any knife skill lessons that he can do. A nice knife wont make your food any better, but knife skills can.

One of his other gifts is a Leith's voucher so he can choose what takes his fancy, funnily enough one of which is knife skills! However I strongly suspect he will choose the pasta course. I have done a butchery course and they used plastic handled 'D I C K' knives, (hope that gets thru the swear filter) Eye opening stuff. Since that point it became obvious the sort of knife blocks you get on a special are generally more for show.

He doesn't own really anything really kitchen related at all, so did think a nice block would be a good start to his hobby, even if as pointed out not quite as personal an item as buying individual knives.

[JKRolling]

bonerp said:

I've been looking at knives at Procook for a while but they are expensive even with their offers - they're like DFS always a sale.

Try www.knivesandtools.co.uk

They were much better priced than Procook. I got 5 damascus steel knives and a block with a sharepener same quality for over £120 less. Took 2 days to arrive. Based in Germany or Netherlands. Seriously good knives and a great 25 year warranty. My previous set were Jamie Oliver crap and fell to pieces in 3 years.

I’m not sure I understand you? Knives and tools always have a sale on plus their equivalent to procook is 2-3 times the price? Could you link to a set that compares to the one I posted above? I’m actually looking to by something similar as a gift myself (sorry to hijack the thread!) I was going to order tonight but if I can get a 5 plus piece quality knife set and block for a lot less I will get that instead.

[CB07]

JKRolling said:

I’m not sure I understand you? Knives and tools always have a sale on plus their equivalent to procook is 2-3 times the price? Could you link to a set that compares to the one I posted above? I’m actually looking to by something similar as a gift myself (sorry to hijack the thread!) I was going to order tonight but if I can get a 5 plus piece quality knife set and block for a lot less I will get that instead.

The Costco one is 17 pieces, similar steel specs (by the looks of it) and is 120 quid. So bang on the same price as the pro cook, but with a LOT more shiny things in it! Hence my initial question.. is it total carp? :-)

[bonerp]

JKRolling said:

I’m not sure I understand you? Knives and tools always have a sale on plus their equivalent to procook is 2-3 times the price? Could you link to a set that compares to the one I posted above? I’m actually looking to by something similar as a gift myself (sorry to hijack the thread!) I was going to order tonight but if I can get a 5 plus piece quality knife set and block for a lot less I will get that instead.

My damast steel set with block plus a paring knife was £214.25. Procook was £340+. The are called Eden Classic Damast 6 piece, plus paring knife. Just checked the receipt. They are seriously nice knives. Well weighted.

Sticking knives in the dishwasher destroys them too.

Edited by bonerp on Monday 1st June 16:13

Edited by bonerp on Monday 1st June 16:14

[JKRolling]

That does look decent, but it’s not available.

Speaking as an engineer that specialises in cutting tools I would say that the Costco one is crap. I couldn’t buy the steel at that price let alone manufacture it! It strikes me as the sort of thing the “book man” that used to come around factories on our estate selling tat. 200 piece cutlery set in a brief case for 50 quid etc!

Also, as a 30 year old amateur wanna be chef is who you’re buying for I think that the looks factor in quite a bit. The procook is what I’m going for as a wedding present to my cousin who’s a similar age. Partly for that reason!

[hotchy]

CB07 said:

In short, my Brother in Law is turning 30 and is a keen home cook, thus I wanted to get him some kitchen knives/knife. Budget about £100. He doesn't own a house but certainly plans to soon so hopefully he can use whatever I buy him for years to come.

I don't have anything flash at home myself, as mine get lobbed in dishwasher and generally are well used. I have stumbled across this set in our local Costco.

https://cangshancutlery.com/en/cangshan-s-series-1...

Are they total carp or will they be any good? Am I better off just buying him one nice knife. I know its always much more fun to open big boxes on your birthday, so looking for some decent impact!

Cheers,

CB

I own these with the white handle. In costco and was reduced to clear in time for black handles. Bargain.

Comes razor sharp, sharpest iv ever had. My mum got them aswel and then my sister used them cutting a brussel sprout and lost the tip of her finger lol

My mum likes them better than the global knives the block replaced.

Edited by hotchy on Monday 1st June 16:42

[CB07]

JKRolling said:

That does look decent, but it’s not available.

Speaking as an engineer that specialises in cutting tools I would say that the Costco one is crap. I couldn’t buy the steel at that price let alone manufacture it! It strikes me as the sort of thing the “book man” that used to come around factories on our estate selling tat. 200 piece cutlery set in a brief case for 50 quid etc!

Also, as a 30 year old amateur wanna be chef is who you’re buying for I think that the looks factor in quite a bit. The procook is what I’m going for as a wedding present to my cousin who’s a similar age. Partly for that reason!

The Cangshan does have that general heir about it doesn't it! However as I pointed out, its identical steel to the procook, which to me seem equally market stall! So someone is either lying or its all essentially the same average junk turned out in a factory in China? :-)

[CB07]

hotchy said:

I own these with the white handle. Comes razor sharp, sharpest iv ever had. My mum got them aswel and then my sister used them cutting a brussel sprout and lost the tip of her finger lol

My mum likes them better than the global knives the block replaced.

I make that 1-1!

Incidentally, the sharpest knife I have is a Tojeiro Senkou chefs knife. Which cost roughly double the entire Costco set! Second up is a Chinese mild steel cleaver, which I inherited from his late grandfather, but that takes some sharpening, and probably cost all of a tenner. So I am aware that it is not going to be quite as stellar as those two, but sharp and shiny and somewhere in between is good!

[Petrolism]

We swear on Japanese "Global" knives; my wife and I both like cooking.
Have had them for years and we usually give them to people as presents too.
Everybody loves these. Hard to beat Japanese for quality cutting tools.

https://global-knife.com/

You can find them on www.amazon.co.jp

The GS3 (or GS-35) & G2 (or G46) are probably the most useful. We use the bread knife (G9) daily too.
GSS-01 ceramic sharpener keeps them, er, super sharp!

Edited by Petrolism on Tuesday 2nd June 01:24

[21TonyK]

OP, do a search on here and you will find endless comparisons and recommendations.

FWIW I would suggest one decent chefs knife, 8.5". Lots of options, you mention DICK, thats my normal form home and work despite having racks of globals, wusthof, opinel, porsche etc etc

80-90 on a knife and £20 on steel to keep it honed. it won;t resharpen it but any decent cook shop can get that done once a year for him for a few quid.

[Radec]

Victorinox who make Swiss Army Knives do quite a bit of cutlery.
Sharp and gets really good reviews.
The 5 pcs sets about £55 down from £80 on Amazon
Really good vfm set.
They do a lot of higher end sets too on their website.

[PrinceRupert]

Why would anyone need seventeen different knives? One decent big one (chef's knife), one decent small one (paring) imo. And a serrated knife.

[CB07]

PrinceRupert said:

Why would anyone need seventeen different knives? One decent big one (chef's knife), one decent small one (paring) imo. And a serrated knife.

Well yes, and no, I can/did see the appeal as a budding amateur cooking enthusiast, indeed the knife block was a staple of ones kitchen worktop for many years! Even if they didn't get used the more the better!

Seems to be the case though that my latter option of a single knife is winning now by some margin! Also there is something quite nice about being able to lightly rib him that I bought him a knife with his name on it! (If I chose a Dick)

[Imad]

Petrolism said:

We swear on Japanese "Global" knives; my wife and I both like cooking.
Have had them for years and we usually give them to people as presents too.
Everybody loves these. Hard to beat Japanese for quality cutting tools.

https://global-knife.com/

You can find them on www.amazon.co.jp

The GS-35 & G46 are probably the most useful. We use the bread knife daily too.
GSS-01 ceramic sharpener keeps them, er, sharp!

Plus 1 on this. We bought ours years ago and absolutely swear by them. Expensive, but you only buy them once. Have since bought them as wedding and house warming gifts.

https://www.kitchenknives.co.uk/by-brand/global-kn...

Set of 3 for £150 Can’t go wrong - I know a little over budget though. If you can only buy 1, then buy 1 rather than a set of cheaper knives.

[PrinceRupert]

CB07 said:

Well yes, and no, I can/did see the appeal as a budding amateur cooking enthusiast, indeed the knife block was a staple of ones kitchen worktop for many years! Even if they didn't get used the more the better!

Seems to be the case though that my latter option of a single knife is winning now by some margin! Also there is something quite nice about being able to lightly rib him that I bought him a knife with his name on it! (If I chose a Dick)

I'm sure he would use three knives all the time and fourteen knives very rarely! Rather three good knives than seventeen average ones.

[21TonyK]

Buy a magnetic rack as well. That way you know if you do go for a single decent knife it will stay sharp most of the time.

That way he/you/anyone can always add to a growing collection for Xmas, birthdays etc etc