The SP2k and SG4k would be for the carbon steel right? And continue to finish the wusthof on the 1k?
What other knives would you get?
So basically high carbon means stainless? Lol. Good to know. Thank you
Knife block set
- Thread starter hibbs00
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What other knives would you get?
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Not exactly. It's built to withstand all kind of abuse. For marketing reasons and easy production they now come with finer straight edges than the steel takes or hold. Older ones had a far more conservative, man-made convex edge. The steel is very tough. All you can say about it in positive terms. The profile is made for tall people behind to low a board. They are far too expensive. Marketing isn't cheap.
Jovidah
I'll make you a sponsor offer you can't refuse...
NO! 'High carbon' means NOTHING AT ALL. It's just a useless marketing term that doesn't tell you anything.
Stainless at least means there is a chromium content above a certain minimum level (I can't remember the exact percentage, something like >12%?)... but there's no relationship with the amount of carbon present in the alloy.
As I said before, you have steels in all kinds of compositions, so the level of carbon tells you nothing about the level of chromium, and vice versa.
I have one if the older ones. It's served me great. This new carbon steel knife is way sharper though
Jovidah
I'll make you a sponsor offer you can't refuse...
It's entirely possible he was simply 'paid in stock options' for his endorsement. So instead of getting paid in cash, they just paid him with part of the company.
Non-stick pans are generally a waste of money, regardless of who endorses it or owns the company.
The simplest and cheapest 'decent'option is something like a Victorinox 6 inch boning knife. If you also do fish I like the Mora filleting knife as a cheap option.
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Any carbon will get sharper. Krupp's 4116 chromium carbides are wide of 3 to 4 micron. Some 4 times the width of a perfectly common apex. How can expect such a steel to deliver a sharp edge?
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But you gave it a straight 15 degree bevel IIRC.
Does victorinox have good knives all around our just this one? If I'm ever looking for more.
Yeah plus the micro bevel but still, only because they now say 14 degrees or something. Until last month I was giving it like a 25 degree angle at the microbevel if not higher. I used to sharpen with way too much of an angle on all knives. Now I learned for 20 degrees 1/3 of the length from edge to spine is about how high the spine should be raised off the stone. 15 degrees is about 1/4 the height and 12 degrees is about 1/5
That has helped me quite a bit
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A convex edge would make more sense with these Wüsthof, and make deburring far easier.
I'll give it a try next time. It's still razor sharp right now
DoYoon Kim
Senior Member
It appears to be getting quite complicated here. Shun Sora's and Miyabi Koh's make perfectly pretty and great knives.
Just don't get a Cutco plz....
Just don't get a Cutco plz....
I'll check those out. Thank you!!
Those are really nice, really expensive too
DoYoon Kim
Senior Member
I think you can get a shun sora set for 300 bucks or less. Miyabi might cost more, but maybe there could be a good sale at some point.
Matt Jacobs
Senior Member
Couple of thoughts here. I cook every night, I think knife sets are a waste. I use a chef knife, sometimes a petty, almost never a bread knife. The other knives in the block are not needed in my opinion. I would also argue that AEB-L is as easy or easier to sharpen than most carbon steels and gets as sharp or sharper. Same for Ginsan. Personally not a fan of putting carbon steel in a knife block where it could rust without me knowing.
If $300.00 were my all in budget, I would make a magnetic knife block. Buy a +/- $200.00 chef knife, a +/- $60.00 petty and a bread knife from Goodwill. I started my knife journey with a Wustoff block set. The breadknife and steak knives are in a drawer and I dont know where the rest is.
DoYoon Kim
Senior Member
BTW I agree with this above 100%, but again @hibbs00 you seem set on a block set. Sometimes you gotta scratch an itch and try before realizing. Just how life is.
I'm willing to build on what I already have. I just think it looks weird having 7 different brands of knives displayed where a set just looks nicer. That's all
A whole set may be more aesthetically pleasing to some but you’ll get a lot more joy from purchasing a few quality knives like others have spoke about. Lots of knives in cabinets and on a magnet, but still regularly use the Amazon knife block which consists of Yoshikane 240/210/180, Takamura 210, fibrox chef/santoku, and steak knives. All are regularly used. When I visit friends/family members with a block there’s usually a set that consists of 1 usable chef knife and 7 other odd sizes/shapes that don’t get touched.
If aesthetics of the block are all you care about then I understand where you’re coming from, but a curated block is much more impressive. Please don’t fall for marketing.
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Where have you heard that magnetic knife blocks "kind of suck"? Many of us have mag strips or mag blocks and they work fine. On what are you basing your opinion?
The problem with your request for recommendations is that you seem to be (a) highly influenced by celebrity chefs/TV shows/marketing, (b) more concerned with the visual appeal of a matched knife set with a tailor-made storage block, and (c) a desire for "high carbon" even though you don't seem to understand some of the basic issues that make some metals more suitable than others for particular uses. The problem is that the vast majority of members here don't really value (or even care about) those things, and the strong preference here is for purchasing individual knives that meet particular needs.
Wait guys we could sell him on rehandling all the things
tostadas
Hobbyist / Craftsman
I was going to ask if the OP actually needs all of the overlapping knives that typically come with the block, but then thinking about it, many of us here have like a dozen similar spec'd gyutos sitting in a closet somewhere.
But in all seriousness, if budget is $300 for all (including the block itself), a set of many knives is probably not the most efficient use of funds as you will be compromising quality for quantity.
But in all seriousness, if budget is $300 for all (including the block itself), a set of many knives is probably not the most efficient use of funds as you will be compromising quality for quantity.
bahamaroot
Idiot Savant
No it doesn't. Most any quality knife is going to be "high carbon," it's the alloys added to the steel to keep it from rusting that makes it "stainless." Most people have no idea what high carbon means, they just see it and think it means higher quality because of the way it is used in marketing. If a knife has to be advertised as high carbon it is usually a cheap knife that they are trying to make sound like it's more than it is.
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Matt Jacobs
Senior Member
@hibbs00 that actually makes a lot of sense. I think we are all trying to share what we think is a better way to go but I can totally understand aesthesis. Wish I could be more help to you!!!
I never said I want a 30 piece set with all the features. I just wanted something that looks nice with everything I need so I don't have to shop around for 5 different knives. Not a massive set like most of you are thinking. You know what happens when you assume, right?
Jovidah
I'll make you a sponsor offer you can't refuse...
Victorinox is great performance and bang for the buck, but you can definitly get better performance if you're willing to spend more (on the right knife).
But they're great for filling out the niche roles like boning knives, filleting knives etc, and for when you just want something non-glamorous that just does the job, like a bread knife.
So usually when buying knives you try to figure out what your priorities are and put most of your money into what you use the most (usually your chef knife).
Jovidah
I'll make you a sponsor offer you can't refuse...
The problem is that even shopping around for 5 different knives is exactly what you should be doing.
That's just how you get the best bang for buck, and could actually get you a decently balanced collection within your budget.
And it's not just us saying that.... other big names like ATK have said similar things. If you care that much about the aesthethics, you can also consider a drawer storage solution.
You have been awesome and helped a ton. I appreciate it. I have it figured out now. Thank you my friend
riba
Senior Member
Guess people were just trying to help you given your answer?
https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/threads/knife-block-set.70425/#post-1084678
Anyway, happy to hear you got something you're happy with
I can see that. My thinking was good knives aren't cheap so maybe I can get 3 or 4 at budget. Kind of like when you buy bulk at the store you save money vs buying separately, I figured I could get at least the most important ones
