Ginsu 7112 Chikara 12-Piece Stainless Steel Knife Set with Block

Reviews of Ginsu 7112 Chikara 12-Piece Stainless Steel Knife Set with Block

1.) The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Reviewed by: Keola Los Angeles, CA
Rating:
The Good:
Excellent knives for $119. Good weight and balance of handle and blade. It feels great in your hand. Razor sharp but sharpening is a must before each use (or at least every other use). It may not have the prestige presence of a Wusthof or Henckels set on the kitchen counter, but it DOES NOT look cheap. Its Japanese design and bamboo block make it more of a resemblance of a Shun knives set. And Shun is actually more expensive than the two more popular brands.

The Bad:
Handle's finish becomes very flat and dull after wash. Dab a little oil on a paper towel and rub it on the handle and it will look fantastic without being slippery.

The Ugly:
The Ginsu name seems to make it sounds like a cheap TV offer knives set. But believe me it looks and performs like a $500 set.

***Best knives set for your money. You will not find a better knives set for $120 unless you find a set of high end Shun, Wusthof or Henckels for 85% off at a closeout sale somewhere.

2.) Fantastic Deal
Reviewed by: Tom Cook New York, NY
Rating:
Don't let the name Ginsu fool you: This is a beautiful, professional-level knife set that screams quality--at an exceptionally low price (list price = $169.95). Ginsu has really upped its game (note that there are a lot of cheap knock-off knives out there that call themselves Ginsu, especially Ginsu 2000 and 3000, which are total junk). Several other points: 1. This set recently won a best in category Housewares Design Award; 2. The knives and block are made in China (just an fyi); 3. The company is actually owned by Berkshire Hathaway, i.e., Warren Buffet; 4. You should not run these through the dishwasher; 5. You will need to think about a sharpening system in addition to usual honing steel that comes with the set (I suggest the Edgemaker Pro system, which, if you search hard enough on the 'net, can be had for as little as $22.95 with free shipping). Shipping was very fast from this merchant.


3.) Ginsu Chikara a 10+
Reviewed by: J. Silletti
Rating:
Excellent product at a very good price. Have previously owned knives costing much, much more, and these are just as good--if not better. Definitely worth considering. Check out Consumer Reports--that's what gave me the idea. They compared very favorably with knives costing $100's more.

4.) Beautiful Knives
Reviewed by: Cooking Since Childhood Boston, MA
Rating:
I first bought just the santoku knive and absolutely fell in love with it, so I decided to buy the full set, figuring an extra santoku knife certainly couldn't hurt considering how useful it is.

First, if you are a fan of Japanese knives like Shun, these give you an equally handsome and *far, far less* expensive option. I am not saying the blades have the same beauty and quality of Shun Damascus steel, but they are sharp, keep their edges well, and are easily sharpened. More importantly, they work very well, so well that I have stopped using my other knives.

This set would also make an excellent graduation or wedding present. And the Ginsu name also gives a fun, kitsch quality.

5.) Excellent product at a great price!
Reviewed by: HappyGirl Orange County, CA
Rating:
The best set I've ever had! The knives are very sharp and well balanced. The only con would be the butcher block design does not allow for easy access as other slanted butcher blocks. But at this price, it is totally worth every penny.

6.) Great Deal & Price
Reviewed by: M. Lujan Santa Fe, NM
Rating:
All i have to say is WOW! These knifes really cut professionally and they look like they cost about $500 sitting in my kitchen. I think thses Knifes are the second best Ginsu has to offer and they are amazing. I used the biggest knife to cut up a watermelon seamlessly, and the smallest paring knife to make and orange "fall" apart. To get them for a lil over [...] is a steal. Well worth it and its actually fun to wash and take care of them!

7.) Great quality, great price!
Reviewed by: chefksm SC, USA
Rating:
I have been a professional chef for over twenty years and have always reserved my good quality knives for use at work. I have had a few budget sets for home use over the years (since I worked a lot I didn't do enough cooking at home to justify spending $200-$300 for a high quality block set for the house). When I saw this set on Amazon, I was very skeptical; and as a chef, I really didn't want a set of "Ginsu" knives sitting on my counter. So I researched these knives on several different sites and decided to give them a try.
I am extremely satisfied with the performance of these knives and I am recommending them to all of my aquaitances. I was truly shocked to get such a high quality set of knives with great such great weight, strength, and balance for under $120.
Buy these knives.

8.) Quite Simply the Best Knife Set I Have Had
Reviewed by: Cresence Gainesville, VA
Rating:
This is quite simply the best knife set I have ever had, and a great value. The chief problem I had with the knives is that they are SO sharp that I nearly sliced my thumb off while unpacking them.

9.) Ginsu Chikara - Great Purchase
Reviewed by: BrianR8702
Rating:
Recommended by CR and they are great knives. There are only 4 steaks knives so I ordered 4 more. It would have been nice if the bamboo knife block would have had room for the additional steak knives. I would recommend these over the much more expensive forged knives on the market.

10.) Ginsu Chikara 12-stainless steel knife set
Reviewed by:
Rating:
Christmas gift. Great knives! First set of Ginsu knives and was very impressed with the weight balance.

11.) Sharp.
Reviewed by: cindawg Northern Ca.
Rating:
We love this knife set. They feel good in your hand and they are SHARP. great quality product for the price.

12.) Ginsu Chikara 12-Piece Stainless Steel Knife Set with Block
Reviewed by: untitled Los Angeles, CA US
Rating:
Ok, this knife set is excellent, in this price range it's almost impossible to find anything better. Very sharp like a razor, very good quality, beautyful design, well balanced. Worth every penny. Make sure to read the manual, you beautiful not leave them in the water overnight or they will rust, I actually done that they did rust just a little. Well just a little care for your goods is always a good choice. I love this set a lot. I would give it 10 stars if I could:)

13.) Great knife set
Reviewed by: K. Kang Providence, RI United States
Rating:
The pro:
1) They are really sharp. I have a 8" Wusthof classic chef knife which is a great knife. But in terms of sharpness, the chef knife from this set exceeds my Wusthof.
2) The balance of the knives are also excellent.
3) The whole set looks beautiful on the countertop.

The con:
1) the material and detail finish of the handle is not top quality and the color is dull
2) the vertical opening of the knife block is not convenient in the limited space between kitchen cabinet and countertop.


Overall, it is a great buy in its price range especially for those who focus on the knife functionalities.



14.) As good as it get....factor in the price. Excellent!
Reviewed by: H. Yang HB, CA USA
Rating:
The knive set is as good as it comes. I bought this as a recommendation from consumer report. I just have one thing to say, consumer report has yet fail me for over 20 years. The knife set is sharp, well balanced and easy to use. The only draw back is that they are not dish washer safe.

Take care of your knife sets and it will take care of you for a long time.

Enjoy!!

15.) Great Kitchen Knives
Reviewed by: RobinG Massachusetts, USA
Rating:
I got these knives to replace my older Farberware knives. I love them. I realize that in the days past, Ginsu knives were a source of humor and known as the TV giveaway knives, but I really think they took that to heart and came back with a terrific set of knives. These knives are razor sharp. look very nice and I am very pleased with my choice. I am not a gourmet chef and I'm sure there are other higher end knives out there, but for the money I like these better than my Farberware. I'm a Ginsu fan now.

16.) They should rebrand
Reviewed by: Damuri
Rating:
I grew up with Ginsu knife commercials on TV (you know the one where they cut through a tin can and then slice tomatoes). So I mentally associated these the brand with cheap mass produced products. Now I associate the brand with relatively high quality cheap mass produced products. The only downside to these knives is the Ginsu logo on the side.

17.) great product
Reviewed by: Harley4
Rating:
The Chikara knife set is a quality product and you can't beat the price.Would recomend to any one.

18.) Best Deal for a VERY good set of knives
Reviewed by: K. Mackay OK
Rating:
WOW!

I have had these knives in my cart for at least a year. The price would vary between $90 - $120. After seeing my wife use a woefully inadequate knife one night I made the decision to buy a good set of knives for the family to use. A review of Consumer Reports and I was convinced and immediately ordered the Ginsu Chikara set for $90.

I was very impressed when I opened them. They are sharp, precise, and very nice tools to handle. I have made sure everyone know not to put them in the dishwasher. So far I have been ecstatic with my purchase. And will probably buy additional steak knives.

19.) Amazing knives
Reviewed by: Arlisa L Blackwell BROOKLYN, NY, US
Rating:
I love these knives. I love how they look, how they feel, and the small amount of space they take up.Also you can't go wrong with the fact that Consumer Reports rated them a best buy.

20.) Sharp and smooth cutting
Reviewed by: S. Green Saint Helen, MI
Rating:
These knives are sharp and smooth cutting. They cut my counter. Now I have to use a cutting board. The only thing is Im not sure what knive is to cut what.
Consumer reports recommended them and I love them. I would recomment them to anyone. The price is right too.

21.) Sharp Knives
Reviewed by: k_lub New Jersey
Rating:
I hear these knives are extremely sharp...After hearing the disastrous story of S. Green's knives cutting his counter and having to purchase something called a "cutting board" I decided just to go ahead and purchase a different set of knives that will not harm my counters and cause me to purchase this cutting board...

22.) Great knives for the price
Reviewed by: Colo3
Rating:
These were least expensive of the highly rated knives in Consumer Reports. So far they've been great: very sharp and easy to handle. These forged knives just have a different, more substantial feel than the more common stamped ones. The only complaint is that the large knives in the set are a bit shorter that the ones I'm used to, and perhaps require a bit more work to complete the heavier tasks. Nonetheless, I'd buy them again!

(An aside: they may be of "Japanese steel", but they're made in China. What isn't?)

23.) Great hi-carbon knives
Reviewed by: Russell Hougham Boston, MA USA
Rating:
Great knives, but NEVER PUT IN THE DISHWASHER! Hi-grade, low carbon steels are designed to be hard and therefore used to retain a sharper edge longer than the softer, more ductile steels. However, the lower carbon levels means there is more iron and therefore knives will rust if left in damp, humid conditions such as a dishwasher. Look after them and they will look after you.

24.) Knives
Reviewed by: Bill
Rating:
The knives appear to be very good.
They are rated high by Consumer's Reports Magazine, which is the reason I purchased them

25.) Japanese Steel? Made in China
Reviewed by: Richard T. Whalen
Rating:
Very nice looking and very sharp. The knives seem to be well made (very solid feel to them). Not that is matters much, but I was very amused as the knives are advertized as Japanese Steel and that is stamped on each blade. But when you turn the knife over you read the word "China" on the other side.

26.) Good set for the price, but not my last set of knives
Reviewed by: R. Michelle Ihnot
Rating:
I found a deal on Slickdeals.net and got this set with a bonus 2 knives(4" santoku and pairing) for $119 free shipping. A fair price for this set. The blades are sharp, and seem to be of durable quality steel. My handles arrived the dull gray color that some have seen happen after dishwasher cleaning. After the first dishwasher cleaning, we had rust spots on them. The rust came off with a scouring pad, but it happened again after the second washing as well. The weight of the knife is excellent (in it's category). Well balanced, making the cutting work easier. The block is awkward for me, as you pull the knife straight up rather than at an angle, and we have limited counter space (with cabinets over them). Overall, it's a good value, but it isn't the last set of knives for an everyday cook. Only time will tell.

27.) Sharp but rusty
Reviewed by: JT Spring Texas
Rating:
They are very nice, sharp knives, however they will rust when you wash them in the dishwasher. Some of the stains do not come off. I would think this should be a non-issue with kitchen utensils in this day.

28.) Would have been good knives if it weren't for the rust
Reviewed by: Home Birth Goddess Naperville, IL
Rating:
I was excited to order these knives for they were rated well in a popular consumer magazine that compares quality of products. I also read the reviews online and trusted in them enough to not only order a set for my household, but also for a friend's 40th birthday gift. I'm was bummed that in less than one month rust started to appear on the blades and on the decorative metal ends. They were only hand-washed--never placed in the dishwasher. I returned mine and called my friend to do the same. The knives cut decent, and so now I'm on a mission to find another set of quality knives.

29.) Japanese knives made in China???
Reviewed by: Ann Lee Pittsburgh PA
Rating:
I bought this knife set as a Christmas gift, but due to some unexpected circumstances ended up keeping them.

I'm glad...because I would have been embarassed if these had been a gift. They cut well, but I wonder for how long. My last set of knives lasted over 20 years without a sign of rust. This set showed signs of rust with in a month or so. And they are not put in the dishwasher, nor are they left to soak in dish water. They are not used excessively either. The first sign of rust was on the screw in the scissors. Now the knife blades are showing signs of rust. The black handles have also faded.

These cost a lot more Dollar Store knives but in a short time they LOOK like Dollar Store knives. Disappointing.

30.) Good set, very sharp, with some problems
Reviewed by: AMM
Rating:
This was consumer reports best buy. The knives are indeed sharp. First day, I almost lost a finger while cleaning the chef knife. It barely touch my finger but I ended up with stitches. My recommendation, be very very careful with these knives. They are indeed sharp. I'd say too sharp. I'd recommend you use the dishwasher. Amazon's page says they are dishwasher safe, but the manufacturer does not recommend it. If you put them in the dishwasher the knives will oxidize. But, it's not worth the risk with hand washing. If you have children, put these in a secured place.

The set if very complete. It has all you need and more. The scissors do not cut very well. All in all, this is a reasonable set for the price. They will not last if you use the dishwasher, but you should anyway.

Features of Ginsu 7112 Chikara 12-Piece Stainless Steel Knife Set with Block

Ginsu 07112 12-Piece Traditional Japanese Style handle, Stainless Steel Knife Blade and Bamboo Block Set. Stain and Rust resistant Stainless Steel.

1.) 12-piece set includes 8-inch chef, 7-inch Santoku, 5-inch serrated utility, 3.5-inch paring, four steak knives, kitchen shears, sharpening rod;
2.) High-carbon, stain-resistant Japanese stainless steel blade for a longer lasting edge;
3.) Japanese steel tang extends through the entire handle and fits smoothly in your hand;
4.) Traditional Japanese style handles are made of heat and water resistant resin;
5.) Dishwasher safe, handwashing recommended; backed by limited lifetime warranty; made in Japan;

Package Height x Length x Width: 14.6 in. x 14.6 in. x 10.7 in.
Package Weight: 8.25 lbs.