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Are Zwilling JA Heckel Knives good?

post #1 of 25
10/12/10 at 9:08pm
Thread Starter 
My mom wants a set of knives with a knife block. Since there's a sale for them going on gilt right now, are they worth it or should I just pass and look for something else? If so, what should I look into? Thanks!
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post #2 of 25
10/12/10 at 9:17pm
I've worked in a lot of kitchens with a lot of chefs and never saw anyone using them, including me. But for a mom gift, they look just fine!
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post #3 of 25
10/12/10 at 9:20pm
Henckels are good. Also look at Wusthofs. I've got a set of Wusthof Tridents that I've had for 20 years and love.
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post #4 of 25
10/12/10 at 9:21pm
there's lots better at similar price points. but in all honesty, your mom probably won't recognize the difference.
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post #5 of 25
10/12/10 at 11:21pm
Like many manufacturers, Henckels make a variety of knives at different quality levels and price points. But all of their forged, full tang knives are solid, well-constructed products that should be just fine for your mother. That said, it would be a good idea for her to actually handle some different brands and models. Every knife feels different and finding the one that feels best in her own hands is almost always the right choice.

Just a word or two about Henckels specifically. When I began replacing my carbon Sabatiers in the late 1970's, I turned to Henckel Four Stars. That was three decades ago and some of those knives are still in use in my kitchen today.
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post #6 of 25
10/12/10 at 11:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by foodguy View Post
there's lots better at similar price points. but in all honesty, your mom probably won't recognize the difference.

Thanks, but I'm a bit of a stickler so I'd prefer to get my mom the best I can at that price point. What would you suggest instead? Sorry about being such a fuss, but I'd like to get her a nice gift for her birthday
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post #7 of 25
10/13/10 at 12:04am
I have the 8" Chefs that's for sale on Gilt, as well as similarly sized Wusthof Grand Prix. I'd recommend it wholeheartedly: it served me well for the 4 years I worked in a kitchen, and continues to do so at home now. And god, it's so nice to sharpen.
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post #8 of 25
10/13/10 at 9:10am
FOr the sake of superstition, if you give your mom a knife for a gift, make her pay you something nominal (like a dollar) for it They make great "mom" knives.. will last her a lifetime.
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post #9 of 25
10/13/10 at 11:57am
Henkel was my first set of "good" knives. I don't think they are that good.
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post #10 of 25
10/13/10 at 11:58am
I think knives are basically all the same once you get to a reasonable level of quality. Henkels are well above reasonable. Now, of course that doesn't mean you or your mom would prefer them to others, but they are very good knives.
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post #11 of 25
10/13/10 at 12:02pm
Decent knives for the home cook. I honestly wouldn't give Globals or even Wushoffs to someone unless they were hardcore cooks.
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post #12 of 25
10/13/10 at 12:49pm
I'm with Matt on this one.. the nuances of balance , hardness,shaping, etc. are lost on most home cooks. If you have a knife w/ a sharp blade, decent heft/stability, full tang, and hard enough to keep its edge for 6-12 months... you will get good results cooking one meal a day.
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post #13 of 25
10/13/10 at 12:51pm
Maybe I got duds but my Henkel's have a hard time getting sharp and don't stay sharp for long.
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post #14 of 25
10/13/10 at 12:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Manton View Post
Maybe I got duds but my Henkel's have a hard time getting sharp and don't stay sharp for long.
Which line are they? My impression was that the 5-stars are comparable to Wusthof classic
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post #15 of 25
10/13/10 at 1:21pm
The only Henckles I rec are the ProS.
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