About

Unique double edge blade for precision cutting

Includes 8-Inch chef's knife, 7-Inch santoku blade, 5-Inch utility knife and 3.5-Inch paring knife in a round bamboo block

Knives never need sharpening thanks to being forged from Japanese stainless 420J2 steel

Stainless steel tang extends through the entire handle

Limited lifetime warranty

Ginsu Chikara Series blades are forged from Japanese 420J2 stainless steel that is known for its stain and rust resistance, strength, and its ability to hold and incredibly sharp edge. The traditional Japanese-style handles are made of heat and water resistant resin and fit smoothly into your hand. Japanese steel tang extends through the entire handle. Limited lifetime warranty.

  • Type: Knives; knife set
  • Color: Brown, black, metallic
  • Weight: 3 lb 4.3 oz
  • Made In: China
  • Warranty: Limited lifetime
  • Composition: Stainless steel, resin, bamboo
  • Manufacturer: Ginsu
  • Other versions: 8-piece set; 12-piece set
  • Product number: 7107

Ambitions

Apparent goal: kids gift/registry home kitchens restaurants everywhere
Intended audience: novice advanced beginner good home cook gourmet professional
Diet/nutrition: does not apply scary empty promises helpful essential
Green?: not especially neutral mixed blessing earth friendly green!
Innovative: step back standing still progress trendy genius
Problem solving: no better baby steps solid steps giant steps a revelation
Competition: outclassed follower in the pack strong challenger likely champ

Utility/Quality

Ease of use: impossible frustrating OK simple child's play
Intuitive: Ph.D. required barely logical effortless brilliant
Instructions: missing incomprehensible adequate unnecessary excellent
Quality: cheesy questionable good years of service impressive
Parts to lose: inevitable some/many one-piece self-storing not a problem
Power source: none hands batteries outlet green
Clean-up: nightmare wipe clean soap & water scouring pad dishwasher
Does it work?: not at all adequately well very well perfectly
Availability: airfare required online kitchen store department store supermarket

Packaging

Easy to open?: impossible maddening tolerable good opens itself
Green?: fills a landfill huge waste passable minimal waste impressive

Economy

Time saving: time wasting not really modest substantial huge
Labor saving: less efficient marginal a bit noticeable remarkable
Money saving: money wasted none $ $$ $$$
Beats the old way: worse no change better infinitely entirely new
Where will it live?: garage/attic drawer cabinet countertop elsewhere

Summary

Fulfills ambitions: falls short almost there satisfies exceeds home run
How often used: once/twice ≥daily ≥weekly ≥monthly ≥yearly/holidays
Worth the space?: no does not apply w/unlimited space w/limited space absolutely
Need it?: a luxury discretionary basic equipment for serious cooks get it
Value: ouch! a little pricey worth splurging on the money a deal
Overall rating: skip it fair good very good excellent

Comments: We will admit that for those of us of a certain age, the name Ginsu has not always evoked a great sense of quality. We will further admit that we once straightened the trunk of a Christmas tree with our original Ginsu knife.

But times have changed.

Ginsu, holding onto its reputation for sharpness, has added boatloads of quality and style to its knives and knife sets. This 5-piece Chikara set (chikara being the Japanese word for power or energy) is forged of Japanese stainless steel, which has a reputation for stain and rust resistance, strength, and the ability to hold a sharp edge. The tang extends the full length of the handle, which is made of a heat-and water-resistant resin. The knife block, which is gorgeous, is made of bamboo. The knives have a very solid feel.

This set is ideal as a gift, or for someone just starting out. For someone with bigger hands or bigger ambitions, a 6" chef's knife and a 5" Santoku might not be big enough. But they are probably ideal for someone who is a little intimidated by big knives or for someone relatively new to the kitchen. Those wanting larger knives may want to step up to the 8-piece or the 12-piece sets, each of which includes a 7" Santoku and an 8" chef's knife.

These may be a small notch down from the best of the German knives, but they are so good and such a deal, they also deserve our overall rating of excellent. And you can bet we won't be using any of these knives on our Christmas trees….