A kitchen knife set from a knife company is a different animal than one from a kitchenware brand. Our sets come from makers who grind blades for a living. That means Shun Japanese sets, Microtech steak knives, Victorinox blocks trusted by professional chefs, and Benchmade travel kits. Sizes run from a two piece starter to a 15 piece knife block. Building your own? Our kitchen knives carry the individual blades.
Shun sets are handcrafted in Seki City, Japan. Classic and Premier blades use a VG-MAX core, a high carbon stainless steel, clad in layered Damascus with pakkawood handles. Block sets run from five piece starters to the eight piece Premier Professional and nine piece Classic Chef's Choice. Two and three piece starter sets are the easy way in. Kanso and Sora sets cover other styles and budgets, and the Demko San Mai five piece set brings a knife maker's take on Japanese style.
Steak knives are where a knife maker shows off. Microtech's 4.5 inch steak knife set runs M390MK steel with G-10 handles in seven colors. DLC builds add bronze titanium bolsters, with plain or serrated edges. Shun's Classic, Premier, and Shima four piece sets cover the traditional table. Our steak knives carry more.
Three blades do most of the work. A chef knife handles prep, a paring knife handles detail, and a serrated bread knife handles crusty loaves and tomatoes. That is why two and three piece starter sets punch above their size. A full knife block adds carving, utility, and shears. Full tang construction and high quality steel matter more than piece count. Cut on wood or plastic cutting boards, never glass or stone, and your edges will last. Our kitchen knife buying guide breaks down every piece.
Shun's BBQ set and the Swiss Army seven piece BBQ kits pack for the smoker and tailgate. Benchmade's three piece travel sets put CPM 154 in a roll for cooks who refuse hotel knives. Opinel's olivewood trio and beech Essential set suit the picnic table. The Victorinox field dressing set carries kitchen sharpness into hunting camp. For home cooks who want one complete block, the Kershaw K6BLOCK and Case nine piece set round out the case.