Easy Care- Four Star knives feature handles made of high impact polypropylene. They are dishwasher safe, sanitary, break-proof and colorfast.
Perfect Balance - Balance is crucial in using a knife. Sigamforge 1 pc forged construction knives are manufactured by an improved process that achieves a perfect level of balance, thus improving cutting performance.
Sturdy- Four Star knives are FRIODUR ice hardened , featuring high carbon, no-stain steel blades for a sharp long-lasting cutting edge. The full rat tail tang, which extends into the handle, provide proper balance.
Dishwasher safe but hand washing recommended for all fine cutlery.
Product Description J.A. Henckels Twin Four Star knives were designed and developed in close cooperation with renowned professional chefs. Introduced in 1976, today Four Star is the world's most sought after up-scale knife series. This 8 piece block set includes the following: 2 3/4-inch peeler, 3- inch parer, 5 inch serrated utility, 7-inch hollow edge santoku, 8-inch Chef's, 9 inch steel, kitchen shears, and wood storage block. The Four Star knives are fully forged, ice hardened blades with a classic molded handle for comfort and balance.
Macys sell it for over $500 on Amazon & on their website w/individual pieces.
Great price. Anyone who is interested may want to try the grip on these knives in a store as it may differ from other Henckels knives you mat have used like the Five Star and Professional-S.
Otterley
Member
posted: Jun. 11, 2009 @ 12:11p
I have this block and I love it (both Cook's Illustrated and CR rate it higher than Henckels' other lines).
However, I also have some very inexpensive Forschner Victorinox knives and they perform even better for the price. If I had to do it over again I'd have passed over the Henckels and just stick with the Forschners, which cost < $30 each on Amazon.
This is the kind I got on 2006 and it still works pretty good for its price and review. http://www.Amazon.com/gp/product/B0009BOEAM/ref=ox_ya_oh_product
I've had 3 4-Star knives for years and love them. Been looking for a set for my bf to replace the bread knife he uses for everything! Research quite a bit and the lowest I'd found was $180 so this is a great price. Thanks linrick.
I would mind getting a set of the Henckels. I got these too, and am very pleased with them. I paid considerably less than their clearance price right now. Having said that, I also bought a 4-piece Henckels Four Star at around the same time. For my personal use, I still prefer the 4 pieces for ~$150, to the gazillion pieces for ~$40. The 4 pieces can do everything that I require, and I do not miss having more pieces. The Pinzon set comes in handy whenever someone else wants to "help out" in the kitchen.
This 8-piece set at $149, which includes 3 identical pieces from my 4-piece set, is a steal. In for one. Trying to find spare cash to go in for more before Amazon does a price-correction.
So I have been trying to figure this out and I think I am right. These are the old four stars and are currently on sale at Macy's for $149 LINK. So if you use the Cash Back and can find a coupon that can apply to it (doubt that), it would be an even better deal.
The big difference is the handle between these and the Four Star II. The Four Star II has a much nicer feel (feels a little heavier). That said, these are still a good price and a good set of knives to have. Now if only the steak knives weren't so ridiculously expensive!
gorky
Addicted Member
posted: Jun. 16, 2009 @ 7:26a
Nice find, thx OP. I ordered 9-piece set sold by Amazon ( linky ) for $199 flat, instead, since in CA the original set comes out to 180.81 (tax & shipping)...
I'm not sure that this knife set is actually on sale... Cooking.com has it on for the same price - http://www.Cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=217054 - as well as cutlery and more - http://www.cutleryandmore.com/details.asp?SKU=15222.
If you have to get it, I would go with Cooking.com as you can get 6% Cash Back as well as there is a "sales tax" coupon available that will credit you the sales taxes paid which will bring the price down to a very reasonable $128 or so. Of course, you will have to pay for shipping but that's less than $11.
Unfortunately, the $15 off of $100 coupons don't apply since it's a Henckel.
Essentially, not much except the design. They could have named it anything else, say "Henckels Munich" or "Henckels TopNotch". I suspect they went with 4 Star II for pure marketing reasons. 4 Star is perhaps their most popular line, so they are not only relying on name-recognition, but also implying successfully that 4 Star II is somehow newer (which it is) and better (which it's not).
While on the subject, the "S" isn't better either, just pricier; and the 5 Star is actually slightly inferior.
It would do you good if you bought based on "feel" (important because we have different sized hands), "looks" (because we have different personalities/sense-of-style), and "price" (obviously). Find your personal compromise between the three facets, and you're all set.
Me, in terms of "feel", I like the 5 Star the best; but I can't stand the looks. I wouldn't buy those for myself even at half-price of 4 Star, because I would likely not use them. In terms of "looks", I like the classic Pro S, but they are too pricey. I use the 4 Star because for me, they are a very close 2nd in looks and feel, and the price can't be beat.
GrnIdKjun
New Member
posted: Jul. 10, 2009 @ 5:13p
While on the subject, the "S" isn't better either, just pricier; and the 5 Star is actually slightly inferior.
Was looking for reviews on the Henckels 5 and 4 star line and the 4 II comparisons and finally found this thread.
If you don't mind elaborating.. how is the 5 star inferior? The blade is the same, the only difference is the grip.
I too prefer the grip of the Pro S line, but when I found a 5 star carving knife for $39 I thought it was a pretty good buy. TJMaxx. I haven't been inclined to buy another full set.
GrnIdKjun said: I haven't been inclined to buy another full set. Congrats on having a smart outlook. Too many of us fall for the "set" mentality. About the only thing good about a set is a slightly cheaper per-piece price, IF you wanted/needed every piece in the set. My personal preference is to start with an 8" Chef's and a 3" Paring, and the build from there. The wife likes the ubiquitous "utility", and has two 5" serrated (ugh!) and one 6" going at the same time. We use the 5" serrated in lieu of a dedicated "bread" knife or a "tomato" knife.
5 Star was just infinitesimally off on handle-comfort, handle-quality/durability, and balance. Not much, but enough to make it rank behind the 4 Star. Add the higher price to the equation, and the 4 Star is the winner. Price an 8" Chef's for $39* at TJM, and the 5 Star wins!
While we are on personal preferences and minute differences within the category, I like the Wusthoff Classic the best.
Bottom line: Most of my 30+ knife purchases have been price-driven. I bought 2 of these sets as well. Gave away the blocks as gifts. Saved the Shears as future gifts. Kept the knives I wanted. ebayed the rest. Came out ahead.
*Edit: Oops! You bought a "carving" knife, not a Chef's, for $39. While that's a good deal, Carving knives can be bought for relatively (unfairly?) lower prices, while Paring and Utility knives go for relatively higher prices.
I just called Macy's and Amazon. Both the link you are giving and the Amazon link are the SAME product. It is for the TWIN Four Star II knives.
Gammah
cap10ga said: So I have been trying to figure this out and I think I am right. These are the old four stars and are currently on sale at Macy's for $149 LINK. So if you use the Cash Back and can find a coupon that can apply to it (doubt that), it would be an even better deal.
The big difference is the handle between these and the Four Star II. The Four Star II has a much nicer feel (feels a little heavier). That said, these are still a good price and a good set of knives to have. Now if only the steak knives weren't so ridiculously expensive!
gammah
Shopaholic Member
posted: Jul. 12, 2009 @ 2:54p
I just called Macy's and Amazon. Both the link you are giving and the Amazon link are the SAME product. It is for the TWIN Four Star II knives.
Gammah
cap10ga said: So I have been trying to figure this out and I think I am right. These are the old four stars and are currently on sale at Macy's for $149 LINK. So if you use the Cash Back and can find a coupon that can apply to it (doubt that), it would be an even better deal.
The big difference is the handle between these and the Four Star II. The Four Star II has a much nicer feel (feels a little heavier). That said, these are still a good price and a good set of knives to have. Now if only the steak knives weren't so ridiculously expensive!
gammah said: I just called Macy's and Amazon. Both the link you are giving and the Amazon link are the SAME product. It is for the TWIN Four Star II knives.
Gammah
cap10ga said: So I have been trying to figure this out and I think I am right. These are the old four stars and are currently on sale at Macy's for $149 LINK. So if you use the Cash Back and can find a coupon that can apply to it (doubt that), it would be an even better deal.
The big difference is the handle between these and the Four Star II. The Four Star II has a much nicer feel (feels a little heavier). That said, these are still a good price and a good set of knives to have. Now if only the steak knives weren't so ridiculously expensive!
but! no tax for most w/Amazom !
gammah
Shopaholic Member
posted: Jul. 13, 2009 @ 4:58p
Correct. That is what I love about Amazon! I was just mentioning that it is the same product at Amazon and Macy's. I hope these knives are as good as people are saying.
MISURICK said: gammah said: I just called Macy's and Amazon. Both the link you are giving and the Amazon link are the SAME product. It is for the TWIN Four Star II knives.
Gammah
cap10ga said: So I have been trying to figure this out and I think I am right. These are the old four stars and are currently on sale at Macy's for $149 LINK. So if you use the Cash Back and can find a coupon that can apply to it (doubt that), it would be an even better deal.
The big difference is the handle between these and the Four Star II. The Four Star II has a much nicer feel (feels a little heavier). That said, these are still a good price and a good set of knives to have. Now if only the steak knives weren't so ridiculously expensive!
gammah said: Correct. That is what I love about Amazon! I was just mentioning that it is the same product at Amazon and Macy's. I hope these knives are as good as people are saying.
MISURICK said: gammah said: I just called Macy's and Amazon. Both the link you are giving and the Amazon link are the SAME product. It is for the TWIN Four Star II knives.
Gammah
cap10ga said: So I have been trying to figure this out and I think I am right. These are the old four stars and are currently on sale at Macy's for $149 LINK. So if you use the Cash Back and can find a coupon that can apply to it (doubt that), it would be an even better deal.
The big difference is the handle between these and the Four Star II. The Four Star II has a much nicer feel (feels a little heavier). That said, these are still a good price and a good set of knives to have. Now if only the steak knives weren't so ridiculously expensive!
but! no tax for most w/Amazom !
The link is four star not four star II, unless I went to the wrong link and got four star.
Had dropped lower than that last week. Not sure if it was $135.99 or $136.99 While it may or may not drop again, one thing seems sure: it's not going to go higher than $149.99 Since Amazon does not do price-adjustments any more, buy when it's good timing for you
for those still on the fence: this set actually has the most commonly used knives, and in the "better" sizes, too. for example, the santoku is 7" instead of 5", and the chef's is 8", the most popular size. if you really want to knock it, it has a "superfluous", which is the 2-3/4" fruit knife. for me, it comes in handy as a second paring knife, which is the one i use the most. the only knife "missing" from the set is a 6" straight-edge utility, but that's a knife which is increasingly less in demand. the 3-piece set, which comprises of 8" chef's, 6" utility, and 3-1/2" paring, is most perfect as a "starter" set, but, wait for it, it sells for $170. You really can't beat this 8-piece for selection, quality, and value. while it seems the ~$150 price is here to stay, i wouldn't count on it.
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