Chicago Cutlery Fusion 17 Piece Kitchen Knife Set with Wooden Storage Block, Cushion-Grip Handles with Stainless Steel Blades that Resists Stains, Rust, and Pitting

Why it's worth it

The 17-piece headline count is somewhat misleading — nearly half those pieces are steak knives — but for the price, it delivers a complete kitchen setup with better aesthetics than the competition at this level.

From our review of 12 knife sets, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +17-piece set including 8 steak knives for $129.99
• +Asian-influenced cushion-grip handles provide genuine non-slip security
• +High-carbon stainless blades resist staining, rust, and surface pitting
• +Honey maple-stain wood block provides handsome presentation at the price

What to know

• –8 of 17 pieces are steak knives — fewer core kitchen knives than the count implies
• –Cushion-grip handles identify the set as entry-level to experienced cooks
• –Taper-grind edge requires frequent honing to maintain acceptable performance