Ginsu 04817 International Traditions 14-Piece Knife Set with Block, Natural
by Ginsu
List Price:
Our Price: $27.60
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Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: GinsuBrand: Ginsu
Model: 04817
Product features:
- Set includes 7 kitchen knives, 6 steak knives, and natural colored hardwood block
- Symmetrically-cut, two-dimensional serrated edges for precision slicing
- Stainless-steel blades never needs sharpening
- Full tangs triple-riveted to bakelite handles
- For left- or right-handed use; limited lifetime guarantee
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- 4 Piece Bakelite Steak Knife Set
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Ginsu 04817 International Traditions 14-Piece Knife Set with Block, Natural
Customer Review: These knives have a shelf life
Summary: 3 Stars
I assume that most of these five-star reviews are written by people reviewing them within the first year of purchase. Depending on use, I'd give them between one and three years. But do you want to be the kind of person who buys stuff made in China just to throw it into a landfill somewhere? Also, consider whether you really need a whole knife block or just a couple of knives.
I used to cook professionally and I own a few knives. Yet for some reason, someone gave me these as a gift for our cabin which we stay at and rent out regularly. So we use them there and leave them for renters.
"Sharp" isn't really the right word for a Ginsu edge. It's really more of a sawing action. They did have a defined edge when they arrived, which most people would define as "sharp." I found them odd to use after my habit with a regular chef's knife, and after a couple of stays at the cabin added a $10 IKEA chef's knife to the kitchen set.
The telling thing was that after 2 1/2 years in our rental cabin, the edges have lost their definition and thus don't cut well anymore. In fact, the chef's knife hacks more than cuts. They also started to rust a bit on the edges and the handles have faded. We have large signs up asking people not to put them in the dishwasher, but I presume that a couple people have done it over time.
Meanwhile, the IKEA chef's knife still works great. I just paid $2 to have it sharpened at a place near the cabin and it's sharper than ever.
I asked a friend who owns a knife sharpening business if it's possible to sharpen Ginsu knives and he said not really. It's difficult to do knives with fine serration but especially difficult with the ginsu due to the type of steel used, the dual serration and the thinness of the steel. He said that should say they "can never be sharpened" not never needs sharpening.
A good knife doesn't have to be expensive. It just has to be able to take and hold a sharp edge. Really, most people just need a chef's knife, a bread knife and a paring knife. Most professional cooks I know only own those kinds of knives and nothing else.
Having said all of that, I recommend the steak knives, though. You won't use them as often so they'll keep their edge longer. Just be sure not to put them in the dishwasher.
More Ginsu 04817 International Traditions 14-Piece Knife Set with Block, Natural reviews:
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Description of Ginsu 04817 International Traditions 14-Piece Knife Set with Block, Natural
Many associate Ginsu knives with the product?s kitschy infomercial from the ?70s that begins with a karate kick to a watermelon and proceeds with a demo of these knives cutting through just about anything in the house. Like the original product, Ginsu?s International Traditions is designed for the home cook who is not attuned to the maintenance required of a more high-end knife. However, this line is an improvement on the original, offering the weight, balance, and style of a commercial-quality knife, while meeting current design trends and performance expectations.This 14-piece set stocks a kitchen with most cutlery needs, and packs all knives in a contemporary black hardwood storage block. The set includes: an 8-inch chef?s knife, an 8-inch slicer, a 7-inch santoku knife, a 5-1/2-inch boning knife, a 5-inch utility knife, a 3-1/2-inch paring knife, and six 4-1/2-inch steak knives, plus a pair of shears.
Ginsu blades are constructed from stainless steel and feature a two-dimensional serrated edge that is symmetrically cut on either side for more accurate slicing and for either right- or left-handed use. Edges are still as low-maintenance as ever and never require sharpening. The blades have full tangs that extend through lightweight bakelite handles and are triple-riveted for strength. Ginsu covers these International Traditions knives under a limited, lifetime warranty and recommends manual cleaning with hot, soapy water to keep them in top shape.
What?s in the Box
3-1/2-inch paring knife, 5-inch utility knife, 5-1/2-inch boning knife, 7-inch santoku knife, 8-inch slicer, 8-inch chef?s knife, six 4-1/2-inch steak knives, shears, hardwood block
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