Sword of Heroes....or just great knives :)
We needed new kitchen knives after moving, and I wanted something a little better than the old Chicago Cutlery set I had previously (good intro set, but I was ready for more professional knives). After considering the expensive options, I came across this Cangshan set: German steel, ultra high carbon, sleek look, and no unnecessary "filler knives" that I would probably never really use. I read the reviews, tried to find more info on the internet (not much there), and finally decided to take the plunge after weighing up all the pros and cons I could think of. So glad I did. These knives are absolutely magickal. They are very solid in the hand and heavy, and even better, they are so well balanced! The old knives I had were handle-heavy - all the bulk was in the handle and the business end of the knife was quite light. The Cangshan knives distribute their weight, which helps immensely when cutting awkward and heavy things like pumpkin. They go through everything with absolute ease; like "a hot knife through butter", as the saying goes. And the tomato test - yeah, these knives laughed at me as they created perfect, translucent slices. I commented to my husband that I was reminded by a line in Kung Fu Panda where Po is examining all the artefacts in the temple for the first time: "The Sword of Heroes! Said to be so sharp you can get cut just by looking at - Ow!" Yes, that's the chef's knife...and the santoku....and, well, all of these knives.I love everything about these knives. The creamy white handles might not be everyone's thing, but they resonate with me both in a magickal and mundane way (I wanted a bolline in the kitchen, not an athame). The handles are smooth and feel completely natural in the hand. They are made in a way that is hygienic and complies with all food safety requirements (NSF stamped on the blade as well). I imagine you could run them through the dishwasher if you absolutely had to, but it's not recommended; I personally wash them by hand immediately after using and store them in the block supplied. The block itself is very cool and unconventional, another draw card. It is sturdy on the benchtop, and the knives look exactly as pictured in the photos.Bottom line: superb knives for the price. And if white is not your thing, I'm sure the black S Series is very much the same.