Chicago Cutlery Insignia Steel 12-Piece Knife Block Set
by Chicago Cutlery
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Our Price: $83.47
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Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: Chicago CutleryBrand: Chicago Cutlery
Release Date: 2005-05-01
Model: Insignia Steel
Color: Stainless Steel
Product features:
- 12-pc Set includes: 3" Peeler, 3" Paring Knife, (2) 5" Utility Knives, 8" Chef Knife, 9" Scalloped Bread Knife, 8" Sharpening Steel, four 4" Steak Knives, and Wood Block
- High-carbon stainless-steel blades; designed to resist stains and rust; Taper Grind edges stay extremely sharp and are easy to re-sharpen
- Forged full tang and bolster assemblies offer balance and strength; elegant satin finish
- Ergonomic, stainless-steel, triple-riveted handles with sleek, contemporary styling
- Hand wash only; made in China; covered by lifetime warranty
- Chicago Cutlery Insignia Steel 2-Piece Knife Set
- Chicago Cutlery Insignia Steel 4-Piece Steak Knife Set
- Chicago Cutlery Insignia Steel 8-Inch Chef's Knife
- Chicago Cutlery Insignia Steel 3-1/4-Inch Paring Knife
- Chicago Cutlery 8-Pc. Block Set - Polished Stainless Steel Handles 1064531
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Chicago Cutlery Insignia Steel 12-Piece Knife Block Set
Customer Review: Great Mix of Knives, Good for Apartment Living
Summary: 5 Stars
Firstly and obviously, these aren't high end German or Japanese knives (which I've used quite often and also given as gifts). I'm also normally an advocate of defaulting to a simple/quality/no-frills product over something more "full featured" that sacrifices quality/performance. With the above out of the way, I can say that I purchased this set with the following considerations in mind:
(1) I was moving in with a friend.
Although we had no problem noting care instructions for our shared belongings, I also realized that it might be beyond practical control for everyone visiting our apartment to abide by the standards of normal knife care. Sure, this isn't an excuse for someone's irresponsible behavior. However, as a practical matter, I'd rather have this cheap cutlery set "at risk" than a Wusthof set that I was also considering at the time. Incidentally, none of my knives were mistreated but I don't regret going with this cheaper set as a temporary measure (that I am still using without complaint 3 years later).
(2) The set includes usable steak knives.
Sure, the knives are serrated (in contrast of a nice forged set of higher end knives) but they perform adequately. For the intended purpose of apartment living, it was nice to have all of my kitchen knives in one block. Considering that I can only seat 4 people at my apartment table, this set fit the bill and conserved kitchen space that would otherwise be consumed with an independent set of steak knives.
(3) The set includes a bread knife.
At the time I shopped for this set a few years ago, it seemed that a bread knife (at least for sets of a passable quality standard) only came in larger knife sets. I use a bread knife often and this set was one of the few that included a bread knife while being above the "1.0mm thick stamped blade chef knife" quality level.
In all regards, the knives have really performed at least as well as expected. I have no recollection of my knives ever being run through the dishwasher but it could have happened at one time or another (no rust in either case as some other reviewers experienced). The cutting edge of these knives is perfectly usable for a non-expert cooking enthusiast like myself, though I have used higher end knives that keep an edge longer (based on my non-scientific impressions).
Ultimately, I purchased this set as a stop gap measure for use in a small 2 bedroom apartment until I moved out and/or felt compelled to buy something nicer. The set hasn't let me down for durability or cutting performance and left me without the urge to shop for something higher end some years later. I'm sure that I'll buy a better knife set at some point, but this set lets me wait for the right deal or product rather than shopping for high end set out of compulsion or need.
I am sure that some people advocate buying one of the high end "2 kife starter" kits from Wusthof, Zwilling, Shun, etc for similar money (while arguing that you can build around the set later). Though I understand the theoretical logic behind this philosophy, I think it's both unrealistic and less practical for many people:
(1) The statement strikes me as too rigid and generally bad advice. As an analogy, I'd agree that it's undesirable to pay car loan interest - However, I wouldn't talk someone out of taking a loan on a vehicle that gets him/her to work for several years reliably (even if loan terms were suboptimal and the car was of only passable quality). I think the thought of investing in fewer higher quality knives is formed in a similar vacuum and comes with a similar (relative) degree of opportunity cost.
(2) Would you really be better off without the rest of this (reasonably basic) kit just to have 2 knives of decent quality that won't need replaced later? I'd speculate that the answer is "no" for better than 90% of buyers. Although prep/cooking cutting can be done reasonably with a 2 piece starter kit, you'd still have to buy cheap steak knives, probably a honing steel, etc just to get by. Adding these "throw away" pieces seems contrary to the "buy quality first and once" philosophy advocated by some.
(3) If you aspire to a high end set anyway, you'll save significant money buying a larger SET rather than buying individual knives to compliment the "2pc starter" kit that you may have purchased to start your collection. Although the option to build a set over time exists, the savings inherent in buying a block set later is quite significant (and is foregone with the piece-by-piece approach).
My bottom line:
Buy this set without regrets until you feel the compulsion to buy some real professional instruments (whatever your brand preference may be). I have given this product 5 stars, though this rating considers "value". As for pure cutting performance, I'd rate this set as 4/5 against a "classic" Wusthof/Zwilling product.
Description of Chicago Cutlery Insignia Steel 12-Piece Knife Block Set
Chicago Cutlery Insignia Steel, 12-pc Set includes: 3" Peeler, 3" Paring Knife, (2) 5" Utility Knives, 8" Chef Knife, 9" Scalloped Bread Knife, 8" Sharpening Steel, four 4" Steak Knives, and Wood 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.This comprehensive 12-piece set contains almost every knife needed for everyday use, including a 3-1/2 inch paring knife for trimming, peeling, and dicing fruits and vegetables; a 5-inch utility knife for cutting sandwiches and slicing meats; an 8-inch slicer for carving roasts; and an eight-inch chef?s knife for everyday tasks from mincing garlic to chopping vegetables. Also included are Four 4 inch steak knives, an 8-inch sharpening steel and an attractive, 11-slot wooden block to store and protect knives.
Durable, well-made, and moderate in price, Chicago Cutlery?s Insignia Steel line is ideal for cooks who are looking to step up to higher-performing cutlery but don?t want to break the bank for a set of famous-name German knives. Made from high-quality stainless steel with carbon for edge retention and chromium for rust and stain resistance, they feature a contemporary satin finish that lends an elegant look to any kitchen. The true test of any knife, however, is its blade, and Chicago?s heavy-duty forged version makes the cut. Its exclusive Taper Grind edge produces impressively precise slices and retains sharpness well over time. Because the handles are hollow to reduce overall weight, Insignia Steel knives might not feel as perfectly-weighted as knives twice their price, but a full tang, forged bolster, and the ergonomic design offset any imbalance. Triple rivets secure the handle to the blade for increased stability, and the seamless, one-piece construction cleans up easily and quickly for long-lasting beauty. Chicago Cutlery covers their knives with a lifetime guarantee; they recommend hand-washing and drying for best results. --Mary Park
What?s in the Box
12-pc Set includes: 3" Peeler, 3" Paring Knife, (2) 5" Utility Knives, 8" Chef Knife, 9" Scalloped Bread Knife, 8" Sharpening Steel, four 4" Steak Knives, and Wood Block
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