Others say...

"INCREDIBLE KNIVES!!!"
Better than most expensive knives for a fraction of the price.

Bio-factor: I bought these because they do not have any seams. Most other knife sets have a seam where the blade and handle meet, thus allowing grime to build up and bacteria etc to live between the handle and blade. (I'm sure you've seen knives before with that little bit of mystery crud in the crevices) Of course, if you are a meticulous perfectionsit like me, you make sure that you scrub that area very well with soap hot water and the scrub brush (and dont forget to dry them!), but many people are not that way. Since this is a one-piece design, and is quite fluid, it is VERY easy to clean, and there is ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE for dirt or bacteria to hide and grow. *****

When I first saw these knives, they caught my eye and stopped me in my tracks. The design is absolutely beautiful. Additionally, the balance is pretty good on the larger blades. The smaller ones are not as balanced, but because of their light weight and small size, it really does not matter to me. We have had this set for over 2 years now, and the blades are stil nice and sharp. Either way, they are very aesthetically pleasing, very comfortable to use, and still dangerously sharp. *****

Another thing... many types of metal DO rust. However, if you take care of your kitchen tools, this should not be a problem for you. Generally, you are supposed to hand wash you knives and dry them after use. (no dishwasher!... There are certain things that should not go in the dishwasher: your good knives, children, car parts, etc..) Some people even recommend oiling the blades. These knives are great tools, and a great investment. Take care of them and they will take care of you for a very long time. BUT... If you just want a set of knives that you can throw in the dishwasher, or leave sitting in the sink full of water, then look elsewhere. *****

cutting 4.5/5
appearance 5/5
blanace 4.5/5
ease of cleaning (bio factor) 5/5

"Love it"
The knifes are great there is nothing not to like about them. I would buy this set again is I ever had to. I can cut right through anything without any trouble. I'm no longer fighting with my knifes to cut frozen meat's I love it. I do a lot of cooking and these knifes made cooking go so much easier and faster.

"An excellent set for the price"
I've used this set for several years now (mine is the Insignia Matte Series) and have been very pleased with the overall cutting ability of these knives. Even though I also own Global and Shun kitchen knives, I find myself being drawn to the Insignia knives when I am in a hurry or in the middle of a large project. Although both the Global and the Shun have sharper edges, their price difference doesn't equate directly to the increased level of sharpness that you get. That is to say, yes Global and Shun knives are sharper, but they are not three to four hundred percent sharper all though their price difference certainly would suggest that.

Using my Insignia knives, I am able to quickly dice, cut, and slice through onions, carrots, chicken, roasts, etc. That said, there are several cavets that need to be stated. First, don't wash these knives in a dishwasher. It has nothing to do with the quality of the steel. I wouldn't wash my Ken Onion Shun Chef's knife in the dishwasher and that one knife costs as much as two whole sets of the Insignia. Second, these knives need to be honed regularly. A few strokes after every use makes a real difference. Third, after owning the knives for almost two years, I sharpened each of the knives on oil stones. These knives, like all knives will need to be resharpened from time to time. The good news is that they resharpened quite nicely, a tribute to their quality. Since resharpening, they have continued to hold their edges.

Last, the balance of these knives is more than adequate. I also own the matching sanduko and have found it to be the best of the series. All though I am a bit of a knife snob, and although I would love to purchase a block set of either the Shun or the Globals, I can't justify it given that the Insignia's cut so well. My wife would really give me no end of grief if I threw out a perfectly good set of knives. And a good set of knives these are.

"NEVER put a carbon steel knife into the dishwasher!"
Lisa S from Ohio complains that the knives rust very easily and that this is a buyer-beware item. This is not a buyer beware item. This is an item that requires some knowledge about use and care of carbon steel knives. Carbon steel is an alloy which allows one to hone a very keen edge and it is used for very fine cutting tools in general. It does rust very easily and should always be dried after washing, and even wiped with a little olive oil. These knives cannot be left sitting in dishwater, and they should never be run through a dishwasher. If you want to throw your kitchen knives into a dishwasher, buy cheap stainless steel ones!

"Big problem with rust"
First off, the knives cut wonderfully and are very well balanced. Unfortunately, they rust terribly. The rust will scour off, but it recurs with each washing. This is not exclusive to just Chicago Cutlery. I returned a set of Farberware because of rusting and purchased the Chicago Cutlery set. I DO put them in the dishwasher because I think it's disgusting not to. I have always put my knives, even the cheap ones, in the dishwasher and never had a problem. This is definitely a 'buyer beware' product. It's an awful lot of money to spend for something that has to be cleaned again after cleaning!