Victorinox kitchen knives are the best rated and reviewed stainless steel stamped knives that they currently sell.
They are manufactured by the Swiss company Victorinox Forschner and follow the tradition of precise craftsmanship that is the signature of all Swiss knives, especially the eponymous Victorinox brand.
You can see just how well received they are by heading on over here and seeing that even the super expensive Victorinox knife sets get consistently great reviews.
Check out the full reviews for this small cutlery block and make your mind up as to whether it is for you or not.
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Victorinox Forschner Kitchen Knives Set
Background
As a kid, I grew up watching my dad using his Swiss army knife for many different things, from gutting a fish to opening the frustratingly difficult plastic packaging that is the scourge of the impatient & elderly alike!
Anyway, I finally got a Swiss army knife when I was 13 (perhaps a parental oversight there!) for Christmas and proceeded to slice the top of my thumb open.
Cue a lot of blood and tears!
Ever since that moment, I have been fascinated by the sharpness of these knives and just how easily they can cut through things, including my thumb!
You may be wondering what this has to do with this set, right?
I am trying to get across that they are high-quality knives and are sometimes a bit typecast in a small utility knife’s role.
However, there is so much more to them than just being a useful pocket knife.
They make some outstanding kitchen knives, possibly even rivaling the quality of some of the best Japanese kitchen knives, which, as we know, are forged to perfection for use by kitchen ninjas…or so the tale goes!
Before you decide what kitchen knives to buy for your home use, you should know the different types of knives first.
Best Selling Victorinox Kitchen Knives
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Who is This Classic Brand?
If you have ever heard of the famous Swiss army knife, then you will know what Victorinox does.
If you don’t know what a Swiss army knife is, then you can get out of my kitchen and never come back!!!
Just kidding, I will briefly explain them:
Staring out in 1884 as a cutlery workshop, their specialty has been kitchen equipment from the very beginning.
In fact, by the time they designed the Swiss army knife for the Swiss army, they were already renowned for their cutlery and were famous among the time’s chefs for their kitchen tool options.
Who is RH Forschner?
RH Forschner was a builder of scales for weighing meat by butchers in and around New York City in the mid-1800’s – a time of quality metal products.
This also happens to be a period that I like the style of; hence The Kitchen Guy logo!
RH Forschner approached Victorinox in 1855 with a proposal to become their leading supplier of cutlery to the North American market of the time.
They were already well known around Europe for its quality and standards for metalwork. Still, RH Forschner & Victorinox’s combination meant that they could distribute to many different areas of food preparation from the commercial to the retail & trade classes.
They used to be sold under the name “RH Forschner by Victorinox.” In 2009, with Victorinox’s 125th anniversary, they decided to remove the RH Forschner name all subsequent blades as just Victorinox.
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They also recently joined forces with pro chef Daniel Humm who has given his expert advice about what the modern cook is looking for in a kitchen knife.
The cynic in me has the impression that this may be a marketing strategy for both Victoronix & Daniel Humm, but even so, most pro chefs wouldn’t ever put their name to a shoddy product because they are their brand and rely on the trust of their customers.
You should also note that there are a lot… a considerable amount of delighted customers that have invested in this set and have come away extremely pleased.
Forged Vs. Stamped
Forged kitchen knives
There are forged knives, which is the classic method of making knives.
This method uses melted steel, which is poured into molds and then polished and ground until they are smooth and free of excesses.
The handles of these knives have the distinctive three rivets that hold them to the blade’s tang.
Stamped kitchen knives
Then there are the stamped knives manufactured from a single piece of metal sheet cut out to a particular shape.
These are flatter, less dense, and lighter than the forged type.
What does Victorinox offer?
These kitchen knives offer both stamped and the forged blades.
However, the more popular are the stamped knives because they are more economical and more comfortable to handle on the most part and are made of high quality lightweight European steel.
Victorinox Block Set
Fortunately, stamped or not, the classic Victorinox Forschner kitchen knives still function very well.
The reviews on these knives are all positive regarding the safety and slip resistance handles that many have favored.
7 Standards Of Quality
All of their kitchen knives go through the seven standards for quality, which include:
- Blade sharpness
- Blade smoothness
- Blade sharpness retention after a specified time
- The make
- Comfort with handling
- Balance
- Resistance from corrosion and rust that would eventually develop through continued use
Choosing the kitchen knife set is dependent on your personal preference, mainly because you will be using them for a good long time. Some prefer modern stainless steel others prefer classic sets.
Is it for this reason that I will focus this review on this particular set:
Victorinox Kitchen Knives Review
The set will be an excellent addition to your kitchen counter, and the block is a definite space saver.
Anyone who doesn’t have their dream kitchen (99% of us, I am sure) will understand the real benefit of having a block to plop your knives into.
One option that I have noticed coming recently is that of a magnetic, hanging knife device.
Basically, you put a magnetic strip up on your kitchen wall, and then your kitchen knives will magnetically attach themselves and thus save you space, time & effort.
I first saw this in my sister’s kitchen.
She didn’t put it up herself, but it was already there when she moved in.
Anyway, I am not a big fan of these things as they don’t look very classic. But it depends on what type of kitchen you have.
For the very modern among you, a magnetic strip may fit in better with your kitchen design. For those who have a more” traditional” kitchen style, a wooden block will undoubtedly look nicer and add a more homely flavor to the food you cook with.
What Does This Classic Set Include?
- 4 inch paring knife – For smaller cutting jobs and peeling vegetables etc. In fact, the paring knife is often overlooked, but the paring knife with these Victorinox knives are pleasant to use.
- 6 inch boning – To remove the flesh of meat a& fish from its bony prison…but you already knew that
- 8 inch chef’s knife – Pretty much the most essential knife of the bunch, and the knife that I certainly use the most for things like dicing and slicing an onion or other vegetables and meats.
- 8 inch bread – Designed for, drum roll please…cutting through bread and for some of you naughty cooks out there for cutting through other, non-bread things…but you already knew that
- 10 inch slicing – When you are cutting through large amounts of meat, you want to use a long, slicing motion, and this is precisely what the 10-inch slicer is for
- 10 inch sharpening steel – Used to keep your shiny new Victorinox Fibrox Block Set nice and sharp
- Kitchen shears – To quickly and roughly cut meat and vegetables.
- Slant hardwood block – To store your lovely set in!
All of them are a high-carbon, stainless steel blade, which gives the set a solid and feel, which is evident when you use them and means that the edge stays sharper.
You can read more about the different types of knife metal here.
They are also full tang, i.e., the metal part of the knives extend into the handle.
This gives this set a high strength and balance.
The whole set is made around a black Fibrox handle, which minimizes wrist strain by giving the knives an ergonomic feel. If you have used a poorly designed blade for any period, you will understand why good ergonomics is so important.
They are a very high-quality product, so it comes with a lifetime warranty, which should indicate just how well they have been crafted. This does come with the stipulation that you need to wash the knives by hand.
I understand that sometimes we want to throw everything into the dishwasher, but you should take extra time to care for these knives correctly, and I promise you that you will be rewarded with long life and an excellent clean cut.
They use a unique tempering process that means the bald can be sharpened over and over without any discernible loss in performance.
Performance
Regarding expectations on these knives’ performance, they have consistently excellent ratings, the best rating even from professional chefs who have very high standards, as you can imagine.
Interestingly, as a result of these Victorinox Forschner knives being stamped and not forged, they are much lighter and thinner than other commercial kitchen blades available.
This could be seen as a bit of a downside because many cooks prefer a heavier, thicker blade when cutting.
However, let me tell you that if you cook a lot, are just starting to cook a lot, or will be cooking a lot in the future, a lighter blade will become your best friend.
I have used all sorts of kitchen knives throughout my cooking life. While it is true that something is satisfying about the look and feel of a ridiculously expensive Sabatier blade, if you want to get things cut well without worrying whether you will break it, the Victorinox set will win every time.
This 8-Piece Knife Block Set is business through & through and will serve you well throughout its life.
Handle
As previously mentioned, the handles are made from a very durable Fibrox material that is a long-lasting synthetic material.
I will be the first to admit that the handles don’t look fantastic and have a tendency to appear cheap at first glance, but on a closer inspection, you will see a quality of construction that is much more subtle.
What do I mean by that?
Ergonomics, my fellow cook, ergonomics!
As many reviewers on consumer search have pointed out, the Victorinox Forschner Knives are a real pleasure to use and have the curious effect of being able to fit both larger and smaller hands alike!?
They have an outstanding balance, a comfortable grip, and help to guide your cutting to make it quicker and more precise.
One thing to note is that the handles don’t have the Fibrox synthetic material brand name anywhere but rather have the Victorinox brand molded onto the handle.
How to care for Your New Victorinox Fibrox Knife Set
As a rule, chefs like to keep their working space clean and tidy. This improves not only hygiene but also workflow.
By being able to keep on top of something as simple as being neat and tidy, a chef can quickly and efficiently create works of culinary genius time after time.
This cleanliness extends to their equipment as well.
Now I understand that most of us are not pro chefs, but following some of their best practices can only be a good thing.
So to that end, maintain your new knife set should be something you think about, and I will give you a few general rules that you can use with not only these kitchen knives but also most of your kitchen equipment.
Note: Make sure to follow all instructions that come with your equipment.
Quick Tips for Caring For Your Forschner Knives
The blades themselves are solid, but this set is Fibrox handled and, as such, requires a little extra attention to keep them in tip-top condition:
- Never allow to sit and soak in water otherwise blade stain may occur.
- Handwash & dry to make sure they are immaculate and will be free from rust – The knives in this set are all made from very tough, rust-resistant stainless steel metal, but you should still follow this advice to get into a habit
- Only use the sharpening steel that comes with the set; electric sharpeners can damage the blade by either taking off too much metal or altering the factory-applied edge angle – something you will never get back
- Make sure to put your knives back into the wooden box to keep them away from anything that could blunt or chip them
- While these blades are classed as dishwasher safe, I highly recommend to hand wash them for various reasons:
- A dishwasher may be too powerful and chip the rigid blade
- Dishwasher detergents may to so harsh that they cause some pitting on the blade
- The high heat may cause issues with the tempering, thereby ruining your investment
- The dishwasher could cause damage to the handles
Summary
So I hope you found this Victorinox Kitchen Knife Set Review useful and helped you make an informed decision.