Help! I just returned from work to discover my wife has ordered almost five hundred dollars worth of Cutco kitchen knives from a friend of hers, which we can ill afford. I am really steamed! I had my eye on some Wusthof knives I was going to buy one at a time as funds became available. Does anyone know anything about Cutco? I checked out their website, looks OK, but does not list prices. Am I screwed? Are they POS's, or reasonably good knives? I can possibly still stop the transaction, but we are fighting over this and I need some information to work with.
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Info need on Cutco kitchen knives ASAP!
- Thread starter Raver
- Start date
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- Oct 4, 1998
- Messages
- 4,131
Wustoff or even Henckels (higher end 4 or 5 Star or Professional S) would be a better choice. Check out out ebay. I have seen some Wustoff and Henckels go there at great prices are some fine knives for consideration.
For five hundred you could have 2 or 3 handmade kitchen knives that would be my choice.
Good luck. I hope things work out.
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" I am continually reminded of the rewards of dealing with custom knife makers and the custom knife community." Jeff J.
For five hundred you could have 2 or 3 handmade kitchen knives that would be my choice.
Good luck. I hope things work out.
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" I am continually reminded of the rewards of dealing with custom knife makers and the custom knife community." Jeff J.
- Joined
- Apr 27, 1999
- Messages
- 6,117
Cutco makes good, but terribly overpriced knives. Another issue is that I never see cutco designs that are very utilitarian in the kitchen. This is one of those multi-level marketing type things that adds 400% to the overhead of the product.
I would suggest getting AG Russell's kitchen set or a set of Forschners with rosewood handles:
http://www.agrussell.com/agrussell/agkt.html
http://store.yahoo.com/swissarmory/forschner-kitchen-cutlery-gourmet-sets.html
PS, Don't waste money on "forged blades" with heavy bolsters. The bolsters interfere with proper sharpening and cutting board use and add a lot to the price. The design and alloy of the Russells are first rate for function. The design and appearance of the Forschners is first rate, but the alloy is not as good as the Russells'.
I would also expect that you could find a set of Forschners for less money than from Swiss Armory somewhere on the net--I just like their pictures.
Here's a link to a cheaper source for the 6 piece set:
http://www.blowoutknives.net/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=blowoutknives&Product_Code=VN-46054&Category_Code=FORSCHNER
[This message has been edited by Jeff Clark (edited 07-11-2000).]
I would suggest getting AG Russell's kitchen set or a set of Forschners with rosewood handles:
http://www.agrussell.com/agrussell/agkt.html
http://store.yahoo.com/swissarmory/forschner-kitchen-cutlery-gourmet-sets.html
PS, Don't waste money on "forged blades" with heavy bolsters. The bolsters interfere with proper sharpening and cutting board use and add a lot to the price. The design and alloy of the Russells are first rate for function. The design and appearance of the Forschners is first rate, but the alloy is not as good as the Russells'.
I would also expect that you could find a set of Forschners for less money than from Swiss Armory somewhere on the net--I just like their pictures.
Here's a link to a cheaper source for the 6 piece set:
http://www.blowoutknives.net/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=blowoutknives&Product_Code=VN-46054&Category_Code=FORSCHNER
[This message has been edited by Jeff Clark (edited 07-11-2000).]
- Joined
- Sep 23, 1999
- Messages
- 3,831
Unfortunately.... er... I guess it was fortunate now that I think of it...... anyways, once upon a time I applied for a job during my first summer after high school to save for University. The job offered $11.25 an hour to students. Oh boy I said, I can't wait!!! Well, the job was for selling Cutco knives, which I didn't find out until I went to a group meeting after "getting" the job. I even went through half of the training deal, but then I couldn't go through with it, originally because I couldn't see myself asking people whom I know to pay $80 for a small utility knife. By the way, these are Canadian prices. Now, armed with a plethoric amount of knowledge about knives (well, at least WAY more when compared to that day) I still wouldn't offer those knives to my friends, and I'll tell you why.
1) Made of the finest SURGICAL STAINLESS STEEL. Call up Admiral steel and place an order for surgical stainless steel and you'll get laughed at. That is a marketing word, and I doubt you'll find a sales rep that can tell you what they are made of. Neither do they know what "rockwell" means.
2) Overpriced!!!! Geez! For the prices they are sold for you can get better quality knives. I don't want to tread over my upcomming point #3 here, but you can get better quality kitchen knives for that price.
3) Here's the real kicker, prices aside. Cutco invented that fancy "Double D Edge" which is a sort of triangular serration with a small straight section between each tooth. Each tooth is sharpened and, well, the edge does cut well. However, YOU CANNOT SHARPEN THEM! You have to send your knives back to Cutco to get them sharpened. More money, time away from your knives, etc. They do sell a few knives with non-serrated edges, but their main line is serrated... no wait.. Double D edged (I should not call them serrated or I invite flamage from Sal and them folks at Benchmade, Cold Steel, and all other companies that use (real) serrations!!!). Cold steel makes a wonderful kitchen knife that is serrated, but it works wonderfully. They are difficult to sharpen, but it can be done. And the knife is much ceaper than those Cutco knives.
Teh handles on those knives are nice, I'll give 'em that. And, I think they look nice for kitchen knives. But, see points 1, 2 and 3 and you know why I won't buy them.
Well, there is one other point. I really don't like their BS that they "teach" their sales reps. I remember being told that the knives in our homes were designed to wear and break after a year or two, just like those teflon pans. Some of us said that we have had knive that have worked well for years, but we were rebuttled with a comment that they won't compete with the Cutco knives. Maybe so. But what was really funny was when the trainer told us that even when using wood or plastic utensils on teflon pans, the coating will wear off in 1-2 years, as it is designed to do. The trainer said something that indicated that it was impossible, or certainly an exception, even though all of us were thinking about the teflon pans at home that have been there for years. It was then that I saw hoe much we were buying into the whole show that they were offering, and i didn't like that very much at all.
It is nice to help out a friend, and that was probably what your wife wanted to do in the first place. That is really wonderful. But, it sounds to me that the sales pitch got to her and maybe she thought that you'd really be surprised by her fantastic set of knives that she was buying for you and her to enjoy. Again, if that is the case, that is wonderful. But please tell your wife to read this post and to read over my 3+1 points and make an informed decision about a knife purchase. Kitchen knives are used every day, so of any knife one should get the best they can afford. Make sure that Cutco is really what you want, or you'll be out $500, have knives you won't really enjoy using and wonder how you can get another $500 to get the knives you wanted in the first place. The same goes for any knife purchase, and I am not picking on Cutco. This is only my informed opinion. But, anyone who comes to my door with knives in hand had better be able to tell me what steel is being used and how hard the blade is!!!!
Come to think of it, my Cutco experience has been very fortunate!!! Oh, if you do decide to go with a custom, check out George Tichbourne (spelling may be off).
http://www.tichbourneknives.com/
I don't have any of his knives, but they look great to me, I have heard some great things about them, and you may get a great deal given the exchange rate. Bonus: George will tell you what steel is used and how hard the blades are!!! Oh, last I checked he doesn't make knives out of surgical stainless steel, so if you want that stuff I guess you'll have to go elsewhere
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"Come What May..."
1) Made of the finest SURGICAL STAINLESS STEEL. Call up Admiral steel and place an order for surgical stainless steel and you'll get laughed at. That is a marketing word, and I doubt you'll find a sales rep that can tell you what they are made of. Neither do they know what "rockwell" means.
2) Overpriced!!!! Geez! For the prices they are sold for you can get better quality knives. I don't want to tread over my upcomming point #3 here, but you can get better quality kitchen knives for that price.
3) Here's the real kicker, prices aside. Cutco invented that fancy "Double D Edge" which is a sort of triangular serration with a small straight section between each tooth. Each tooth is sharpened and, well, the edge does cut well. However, YOU CANNOT SHARPEN THEM! You have to send your knives back to Cutco to get them sharpened. More money, time away from your knives, etc. They do sell a few knives with non-serrated edges, but their main line is serrated... no wait.. Double D edged (I should not call them serrated or I invite flamage from Sal and them folks at Benchmade, Cold Steel, and all other companies that use (real) serrations!!!). Cold steel makes a wonderful kitchen knife that is serrated, but it works wonderfully. They are difficult to sharpen, but it can be done. And the knife is much ceaper than those Cutco knives.
Teh handles on those knives are nice, I'll give 'em that. And, I think they look nice for kitchen knives. But, see points 1, 2 and 3 and you know why I won't buy them.
Well, there is one other point. I really don't like their BS that they "teach" their sales reps. I remember being told that the knives in our homes were designed to wear and break after a year or two, just like those teflon pans. Some of us said that we have had knive that have worked well for years, but we were rebuttled with a comment that they won't compete with the Cutco knives. Maybe so. But what was really funny was when the trainer told us that even when using wood or plastic utensils on teflon pans, the coating will wear off in 1-2 years, as it is designed to do. The trainer said something that indicated that it was impossible, or certainly an exception, even though all of us were thinking about the teflon pans at home that have been there for years. It was then that I saw hoe much we were buying into the whole show that they were offering, and i didn't like that very much at all.
It is nice to help out a friend, and that was probably what your wife wanted to do in the first place. That is really wonderful. But, it sounds to me that the sales pitch got to her and maybe she thought that you'd really be surprised by her fantastic set of knives that she was buying for you and her to enjoy. Again, if that is the case, that is wonderful. But please tell your wife to read this post and to read over my 3+1 points and make an informed decision about a knife purchase. Kitchen knives are used every day, so of any knife one should get the best they can afford. Make sure that Cutco is really what you want, or you'll be out $500, have knives you won't really enjoy using and wonder how you can get another $500 to get the knives you wanted in the first place. The same goes for any knife purchase, and I am not picking on Cutco. This is only my informed opinion. But, anyone who comes to my door with knives in hand had better be able to tell me what steel is being used and how hard the blade is!!!!
Come to think of it, my Cutco experience has been very fortunate!!! Oh, if you do decide to go with a custom, check out George Tichbourne (spelling may be off).
http://www.tichbourneknives.com/
I don't have any of his knives, but they look great to me, I have heard some great things about them, and you may get a great deal given the exchange rate. Bonus: George will tell you what steel is used and how hard the blades are!!! Oh, last I checked he doesn't make knives out of surgical stainless steel, so if you want that stuff I guess you'll have to go elsewhere
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"Come What May..."
- Joined
- Sep 23, 1999
- Messages
- 3,831
I forgot one thing. Perhaps you could buy one knife from your friend and then try it out for a while. Use it a lot to test how well the edge cuts, how the edge retention is and how comfortable the knives are. If you do like them, then maybe spring for the ultra-Cutco set. Maybe buy one of the other knives you mentioned too and use them together to help you and your wife decide where your money is best spent. It is an idea anyways. Having said that, I wouldn't buy anything from Cutco.
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"Come What May..."
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"Come What May..."
- Joined
- Sep 8, 1999
- Messages
- 460
Raver,
My Mother has a couple of Cutco knives that she inherited from her brother. I have to say that the handles are great. I talked to a factory rep. once and she said that the handles are made from the same material as bowling balls. That being said, see Crayola's post. Every thing that he said about Cutco knives is right on. The rep. told me that the knives are made from "surgical stainless steel". She thought that I was going to be really impressed with that. I wasnt. All the people who were crowded around the display table were really impressed with the knives being made from surgical stainless steel. She didnt know what Rockwell hardness was either.
Hope this helps you out.
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Shawn R Sullivan
My Mother has a couple of Cutco knives that she inherited from her brother. I have to say that the handles are great. I talked to a factory rep. once and she said that the handles are made from the same material as bowling balls. That being said, see Crayola's post. Every thing that he said about Cutco knives is right on. The rep. told me that the knives are made from "surgical stainless steel". She thought that I was going to be really impressed with that. I wasnt. All the people who were crowded around the display table were really impressed with the knives being made from surgical stainless steel. She didnt know what Rockwell hardness was either.
Hope this helps you out.
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Shawn R Sullivan
Thanks for the advice folks, that was the impression I was getting too. We have cancelled the sale. I really appreciate the input. When I left for work this morning, I thought my wife was going to buy one knife (like Crayola suggested). I was a little freaked when I got home and found she had ordered a whole set, from a company I had never even heard of. Just a misunderstanding. I had been shopping on the net for some nice kitchen knives for a while now, but hadn't bothered to mention it to my wife, because we had many other things that were a higher priority to spend money on. Imagine my surprise! Although I admit they would probably have gotten more use than the Carbon V Trailmaster I'm lusting after.
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- May 26, 1999
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- 1,964
God, I hate Cutco. Check out this bulliten board for chefs: http://www.starchefs.com/boardTopics/6/6board.html It's still being ruined by Cutco spammers. Amazing.
sevenedges
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Good choice Raver. Glad it worked out. Thats a lot of money for knives you don't want. Later, Jeff