I would like to buy a good set of kitchen knives and a steel?

I would like to buy someone a set of knives and steel for a present, I would like to spend £50 to £60 (or less of course).
looking about there are so many to choose and since i know nothing about quality makes etc, I need your advice.
I don’t mind buying on the net but would prefer going to a UK supplier.

If it’s important to you that he/she actually uses your present then I can contribute to the answer.

So, assuming the “presentee” will be using those kitchen knives.

1) Disregard all the common marketing BS what pretty much every knife salesman will tell you that a good kitchen knife must be forged, has to have full tang and bolster. None of that is true or required to make a good or even very good kitchen knife.

2) Don’t buy a set. Every set has one or more knife in it that is pretty much impossible to sell standalone, because normally nobody uses them. So, you spend money on the unnecessary extra(s).

3) Butcher’s steel or knife steel is essential for knife maintenance, except most of the time mass makers sell grooved steel which does more damage to the knife edge than good. If you can get the good steel, which should be smooth, not grooved then go for it, otherwise leather strop will do job much better without any damage.

I’m in US, so it’s hard for me to judge the prices on UK But I guess relative prices are same. So, the Forschner kitchen knives are the best price/performance ratio in that price range.
If you can find Tojiro DP knives in UK, those are exceptionally good price/performance value.

So, minimal useful set would include chef’s knife, 6-9 inches or may be more depending on the person’s preferences. 3-4 inch paring knife and a serrated bread knife. That covers 99% of kitchen cutting in average home kitchen. I guess you can ditch the serrated bread knife if bread isn’t on the menu and substitute that with boning knife if bony meat is an option.

At least in $ that fits the budget.

There’s a lot more on how to choose kitchen knives here – http://zknives.com/knives/kitchen/misc/articles/kkchoser/index.shtml

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