This ten-piece block set in the Classic Chef pattern from Chicago Cutlery does not represent the best that China offers today. Out of this large assortment of imported standard kitchen knives, only the wooden knife block gets an honorable rating.

Serrated knives -- and all knives in this set are ...

Hamilton Beach's Carve 'n Set Electric Knife makes carving cooked meats and bread easy. You even get a carving fork and storage case to go along with this handy tool. Plug the cord into the wall outlet, squeeze the trigger switch, and twin reciprocating blades with durable serrated edges shear ...

Cold Steel intended the Voyager series to be both lighter and better than any of the competition. The Voyager does succeed in many ways -- getting used to a large knife this light may take a while. Even with a five-inch-long tanto blade of VG-1 high carbon stainless steel, the ...

This lightweight pocket clip folder is a little too military to be a great utility or camp knife, but the camouflage titanium coated tanto blade will still appeal to some. If you do need an emergency knife for a reasonable price, the Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops Serrated Tanto ...

MIU France offers this four-piece pakkawood steak knife set without providing much technical information or even a description of warranty terms. The design of the knives in the set is very rustic and won't be out of place at most table settings. Large handles and wide blades offer a ...

The Chef's Choice Commercial Model 2000 Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener evens the playing field when it comes to knife sharpening. You meet all sorts of people in restaurant kitchens -- people with skill and talent, and people who are just there for the pay check. Professional quality commercial kitchen equipment evens out ...

With coarse and fine honing plates, a secure hand grip, and several aids to accuracy, the Chef's Choice Multi-Edge Diamond Hone Knife Sharpener does a good job of restoring the edges of most kitchen knives. The system isn't foolproof and shouldn't be expected to match the work of a sharpening stone. For ...

Since I don't think that a good steak needs to be cut with a huge knife, this four knife set of high carbon stainless steel steak knives from J.A. Henckels appeals to me. Knives like this fit into a dinner service visually and don't give the impression that the food ...

The Wusthof Trident Classic Tomato Knife solves a consistently frustrating kitchen problem that only bothers some people. Tomato knives aren't essential tools unless you spend your days behind a deli counter making sandwiches. For the rest of us, they're a convenience. Some would even feel guilty for owning one, except that ...

Often mentioned positively in reviews of the Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse, this set of four rugged steak knives brings restaurant-quality cutlery to your own dining table. Built to handle any steak, tender or tough, these cowboy-sized steak knives feature solidly-built hardwood handles, ergonomically shaped and large enough for a ...

If you need a good reason to buy this survival knife, consider that Mission Knives has a knife built of the same titanium alloy that's been soaking in seawater for five years without a hint of corrosion. Ordinary stainless steel won't do that. A little rust on the blade isn't such ...

This stamped steel steak knife set from Calphalon of Germany keeps some of the features of the company's full sized forged blades but in a lighter one-size-fits-all handle style. The eight knives match the contemporary pattern of Calphalon's forged chef's cutlery, with changes appropriate to dining service.

Edges of these ...

The Global 6-inch serrated utility knife incorporates the best of modern design and modern materials, produced entirely from forged Cromova 18 stainless steel and balanced with a precise amount of sand in the sealed hollow handle. Movement of the sand during use is said to decrease fatigue, but I'd bet ...

The UTX-70 from Microtech tones down the size of this automatic tactical design without skimping on quality. Made to the same exacting standards as Microtech's larger combat knives, the UTX-70 offers fully-automatic opening and closing at the push of a button. With a 2.4-inch partially serrated blade of 154-CM high carbon stainless ...

I'm always skeptical when the knife gets reinvented -- knives have been around a very long time, and fundamental changes to the design are usually bad ideas. The Ginsu, represented here by the 8 Piece Stainless Steel Block Set, is marginally different, a product more famous for its flamboyant ...

This eight knife set from J. A. Henckels of Germany arrives in a well made wooden storage box every bit as good as the knives themselves. With proper care and reasonable expectations, this durable array of serrated full tang blades, with gap free polypropylene handle slabs, will last many years.

Without ...

With a handle pattern to match the theme of the Pfaltzgraff Summer Breeze tableware, this eight piece brings to mind all the beauty of a summer's day filled with forget-me-nots, soft yellow sunlight, and inexpensive steak knives.

In the restaurants and kitchens in which I have worked, I've never seen anyone sharpen a ...

The Spyderco Byrd Wings G-10 tackles one of the most common modern knife problems and finds a good answer. The 4 3/4" handle enclosed two blades, not one, returning to the style of a traditional gentleman's pocketknife but with modern blade choices and perks.

Both blades are knife quality high ...

The smallest of Spyderco's folders, the Ladybug packs the same versatility and solid construction as the big boys in the line. With this small package, only 2 7/16" closed and 4 3/8" open and locked, you get a V10 knife quality stainless steel serrated blade a hair under 2" long, ...

Okay, so you want nice looking steak knives, you don't want to pay a lot, and you won't really use the set very often so quality is not a big deal to you. I think I have something in mind: J.A. Henckels International set of eight steak knives with ...

There are a lot of rescue knives out there. There are some with all the bells and whistles - oxygen tank wrench and torque bits and special seat belt cutters.. There are some no bells and whistles - just a serrated blade and that's it, which hardly makes a ...

Spyderco's Rescue 93mm knife is great, if you've got hands big enough to match the 4 5/8-inch handle. For those with smaller hands, there is the incredibly similar Rescue 79mm, which equals to a 3 1/8-inch blade and a handle length just over 4-inches. Spyderco claims that "for every design ...

This classic Ka-Bar military design has been only slightly modified from the original version, the mainstay fixed blade instrument of American military forces since WWII. The partially serrated blade makes rope cutting efficient and less dependent upon the sharpening skills of the user. That can be a bit of ...

The last electric knife we posted was the Black and Decker SlimGrip. Since the SlimGrip leaves something to be desired, we thought we'd offer a different option for your holiday carving needs: the Sonic Blade 7865.

The knife's biggest feature is the fact that it's cordless and comes with a recharging ...

Available with either a 4" stainless steel serrated edge or plain edge blade, this lightweight and simple fixed blade could be a good choice if weight is a concern. The total weight including sheath and lanyard is only 3.7 ounces. The Kraton textured handle offers a secure and ...

Yikes. An easily concealed belt knife created by John Benner of the Tactical Defense Institute, this small pistol-grip weapon is intended for law enforcement use, as a "last option" knife. The downward style of the wide 2 5/8" stainless steel blade makes this knife very limited in ...

If you're a serious collector of fixed blade knives, certainly you've heard of the Gerber Mark II. First produced in 1966, the MK II was designed by retired Army Captain Bud Holzman, who used the pattern of Gladiator swords for his inspiration. And there could be no greater ...

For over a century, Wenger was fierce competition for the better known Swiss Army brand, Victorinox. In 2005, when Victorinox took control of the Wenger name, both brands continued to provide Swiss Army products - Victorinox as the "Original Swiss Army Knife" and Wenger as the "Genuine Swiss Army Knife."

What's the ...

There's no denying the fact that the Komachi knives offered by KAI, the makers of the well regarded Shun knives look a bit whimsical, if not a little silly. There are few knives on the market which bear significant resemblance to these knives.

Although a pro cook might well ...

A sunny day. A large, comfy blanket. Some eating utensils, paper plates, napkins, and a wicker basket filled with sandwiches, fruit, cheeses, wine, and something for dessert. This, and your Victorinox Picnicker, is all you will need to pull off a wonderful afternoon outing.

The Picnicker has everything that you ...

When you're on a backpacking trip, the last thing you want is a pocket knife buried at the bottom of your pack. And, carrying a knife in your pocket can become unpleasant as the long miles add up. That's why carabiner knives are great - hook one onto strap, vest, ...

A good choice for the ultra light backpacker (full weight of this knife is only 1.2 ounces) this also is a solid favorite as a pocket knife choice for everyday urban users. The 2 5/16 inch stainless steel blade and serrated edge serves well for the usual tasks (opening mail, opening boxes, ...

Knives have been around so long we have racial memories of how to use them. If you are skeptical that something so ancient can be improved, take a look at Spyderco, creators of knives for the modern urban jungle.

At 8 1/2" overall with a 3 3/4" blade, the Endura ...

It slices! It dices! It cuts through tin cans and still effortlessly cuts a tomato! If that sounds at all familiar, you must have been watching TV back in the seventies when the Ginsu knives first hit the market.

Although no one will ever mistake these for ...

If you've ever tried to eat a grapefruit with an ordinary knife, chances are you might have gotten a little frustrated. Unless, of course, your grapefruits are always perfectly ripe, or you just happen to be one lucky son of a gun who gets everything right the first time.

But that's not a ...

If you don't like getting all that pulp and juice underneath your fingernails while you're peeling an orange, you'll probably want to keep an orange peeler handy in your kitchen drawer. Most traditional peelers have a small hook on one end and a peel lifter on the other. But this ...

Well, Norpro listed this handy tool as a bagel knife. And while it might do a fantastic job at slicing bagels, we'd like to point out that it's not the only function or purpose for this knife. Because what if you're not an avid consumer of bagels? That would warrant ...

There is an old adage in paddling sports that ropes and water do not mix, at least not without the eventual problems, and as any serious rafter, kayaker, or canoe enthusiast knows, a dependable knife is a much needed tool. Gerber Legendary Blades, based outside of Portland, Oregon, has come ...

I like the way this dive knife looks. It's important to have reliable gear, but let's face it, scuba diving is a lot about style -- especially for the casual scuba enthusiast. Why else would there be a selection of snorkel and mask colors, or different styles of fin? For ...

U.S. Divers is one of America's oldest dive companies and has been equipping scuba divers, snorkelers, and skin divers with their gear for over fifty years. They know the business of serious diving. This full tang, titanium, clip point, 5-inch straight-blade dive knife keeps with their long tradition: ...

The Cold Steel Urban Pal punch dagger is one of a number of new and questionable knife designs targeted for the urban self defense market. Its one and a half inch blade, even with the serrated edge, is not enough to be an effective visible threat. Legally it's ...

Before reading this review, you may want to check out the SwissTool Spirit. The "Plus" version has a ruler and the bit driver for adding screwdrivers, corkscrews, etc. That bit driver is an awesome feature, but it does add some bulk to your pouch and adds some cost to the tool.

The Spirit ...

For those who like the idea of a Swiss Army keychain combined with the ergonomic grips of an SOG multitool, here's a pocketknife by Wenger that should fit the bill.

Wenger, in addition to Victorinox, is one of only two officially-licensed producers of Swiss Army Knives. Vic gets all the ...

The SlimGrip from Black and Decker will either be the best electric knife you've ever owned, or a complete waste of money. It all depends on what you're going to use it for.

Say, for instance, if you want a smaller, contoured grip to hold, and will be using an electric knife ...

It's rare to find a Swiss Army knife with locking blades. In fact, only three of Victorinox's pocketknives feature locking mechanisms... and the Trekker is one of them.

Only two of the Trekker's twelve accessories lock into place, but they're the most important to contain this feature: a large screwdriver, and ...

Despite the fact that F. Dick is best known for their honing steels, their knives have long been well regarded amongst professionals.

Although this "Z Knife" or "Offset Sandwich Knife" isn't amongst their respected upper tier of forged knives, it doesn't need to be. Like many other companies who offer "lower grade" knives meant ...

Here's a bigger, badder Barracuda! OK, it's technically not any bigger in size than the stainless steel Barracuda by ProMate, but it's much stronger, and boasts a higher quality than its sibling.

That's because it has a 5-inch blade made from solid titanium, and that's about the best you'll find in a ...

The Delica lineup is closing in on an impressive 20-year history as one of the frontrunners in lightweight, one-handed pocketknives. It's one of Spyderco's best-selling knives, along with the Endura product line.

This is the fourth knife in the Delica refining process, and it's better than ever before. The most noticeable upgrade ...

While this may not be the strongest or sturdiest diving knife available, it's certainly not a bad deal, or a bad product for that matter. The Barracuda would be an acceptable choice to carry with you on your next scuba excursion, no question.

If you're looking for something a bit sturdier and ...

Ever since the birth of the Wave, Leatherman has created a standard in the sporting goods industry. After establishing their household-name status, we've been seeing all sorts of spinoff products like the Juice and the Squirt aimed at more specific target markets. The Crunch is yet another spinoff, and this time ...