need help picking out knife set

[firedogut]

Ok here is the deal i am visiting my mom and dad and they want new knives. What i don't know is which ones. I know they don't want to spend more then 150-200.

I have a 5 piece Shun set which I love. but those are a little out of the price range. What i want is a good blade that stays sharp. nothing that won't cut after 5 months. something that would last. by no means are they chefs but they would like a nice set.

i am unsure about how these knives are

Chicago Cutlery

Henckels International

Emerilware by wustof

look at

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/stylePage....r_num=-1&RN=395

and

pick the best for less then 200.

[Octaveman]

What kinds of things do they use their knives for...general prep, slicing, boning?

It's not necessary to get a whole set as there are three knives that can do just about all of the work and I like to add one more for heavy duty work like boning chickens.

Tojiro DP 240mm Gyuto $60

Tojiro DP 120mm petty $33

MAC Superior: Bread/ Roast (SB-105) $55

Tojiro DP Honesuki (boning) $50

The above set is stainless and is the best bang for the buck in Japanese knives. The edge will last longer than a typical Euro branded knife and with average usage could easily last 5 months before needing sharpening. You will not need any other knife. Above total is $198. The gyuto could double as a slicer if you didn't get the MAC but hard crusted bread would be a problem for the knife and might cause it to chip.

My $0.02

Cheers

Edited January 15, 2007 by Octaveman (log)

[menon1971]

Mundial is not a bad brand for the money. It is German steel made in Brazil. The stamped Wusthof and Henckels are also pretty good, if you get the ones made in Germany. MAC's Original series are thin, but wickedly sharp. Check this set out: http://premiumknives.com/ShopSite/MAC_Kniv..._FK70_PK40.html

I have a couple of these that I picked up at a junk store for cheap. I put an edge on them and now they are my traveling knives. You could also get a small set of forged knives from Wusthof and Henckels for under $200. I purchased a set of three knives plus a steel of the latter while in grad school and was not disappointed.

[scubadoo97]

Octaveman knows his knives and his post is excellent advise. You might want to throw in a serrated knife for things like bread

Edited January 15, 2007 by scubadoo97 (log)

[firedogut]

what about a brand that does not need to be shipped? i know they would like the knives in the next day or so

thanks so much guys.

Edited January 15, 2007 by firedogut (log)

[Octaveman]

Firedogut, where do you live? There may be a shop that carries the knives I recommended above. It would be a shame for you to get substandard knives just so you can have them in 24-48 hours. If you order from THIS website, they will ship your knives today for $7 and they will arive most likely by Thursday or Friday...even from Japan...yes, I said $7. They use the EMS system that is shipped from Japan overnight air to the states and then delivered via US postal service once it clears customs. The USPS treats it like a high priority package and will stop at nothing to get it to you. The website obove doesn't carry the MAC slicer though but are sold at Knife Merchant dot com and they ship quickly too.

If you still want to get them something by tomorrow then the only brand I'd be willing to recommend that may be at local knife stores would be the Messermeister Meridian Elite but you will not get more than one or two knives on your budget.

I guess you need to make the decision to get mediocre knives by tomorrow or really good knives in 3-4 days.

Scubadoo, the MAC slicer is a serrated bread knife and a very good one to boot.

Good luck