Chicago Cutlery vs Farberware vs JA Henckels: Which Knife Set?

Short answer: Henckels (the brand long sold as “J.A. Henckels International”) is the best of the three for most people. You get a lifetime warranty, dishwasher-safe knives, and self-sharpening blocks in the mid-price range. It also has one line, Henckels Classic, whose kitchen knives are made in Spain rather than China. Chicago Cutlery is a close second if you want a heavier, forged-style knife and a block with a built-in sharpener. Its knives must be hand washed. Farberware is the budget pick. The sets are cheap and complete, but the specs are thin and the warranty is limited.

Before you compare prices, sort out one common mix-up. Henckels and ZWILLING are two separate brands from the same German company. ZWILLING is the premium line made in Germany. Henckels is the value line, and the sets checked for this article are made in China, India or Spain. A “J.A. Henckels” set at a big-box store is almost always the Henckels value line, not the German-made knives.

This page covers the sets people search for most. That includes several older models that are no longer made, and for each of those we name the current replacement.

In this guide

1. Chicago Cutlery vs Farberware vs Henckels vs Zwilling: head-to-head
2. Henckels vs ZWILLING: the name confusion
3. How we researched this
4. Which set to buy from each brand
5. Chicago Cutlery 1134969 Malden 16 Piece Knife Block Set
6. Chicago Cutlery C01034 Essentials 15-Piece
7. Chicago Cutlery ProHold Dual Knife Block Set with Non-Stick Coating 14-Piece
8. Chicago Cutlery Belmont 13-Piece Block Set (budget replacement)
9. Chicago Cutlery Insignia Classic 18-Piece Block Set with Built-in Sharpener
10. JA Henckels International Definition 14-pc Self-Sharpening Block Set
11. JA Henckels International Forged Premio 19-piece Knife Set with Cherry Block
12. J.A. Henckels International 15707-000 Fine Edge Synergy 17-Piece Knife Block Set
13. Henckels Graphite 14-pc Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set
14. Henckels Classic 16-pc Knife Block Set (made in Spain)
15. Farberware 5169370 30-Piece Spin-and-Store Knife and Kitchen Tool Set
16. Farberware EdgeKeeper 13-Piece Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set
17. If you can stretch: ZWILLING Four Star 8-pc Knife Block Set
18. Buying guide: what actually matters
19. FAQs
20. Bottom line
21. Sources

Chicago Cutlery vs Farberware vs Henckels vs Zwilling: head-to-head

Henckels vs ZWILLING: the name confusion

Many buyers think “J.A. Henckels” means German-made knives. It usually doesn’t. Here is what Zwilling’s own sites show:

• One parent company, two brands. Zwilling J.A. Henckels says it has built “two distinct brands.” ZWILLING offers “German-made engineering,” with cutlery made in Solingen, Germany. HENCKELS, “established in 1895,” is the everyday, affordable line. Henckels now has its own website (henckels.com). Old zwilling.com Henckels product links redirect there.
• “J.A. Henckels International” is the old name for today’s Henckels. Current henckels.com product pages still say the Statement block is “tailor-made for the J.A. Henckels International Statement knife series.” Amazon listings use both names for the same sets.
• Where each line is made. The country of origin on henckels.com’s own spec panels: Statement, China. Graphite, Forged Accent, Modernist and Forged Premio, China. Solution, India. Classic, Spain (“kitchen knives made in Spain; steak knives made in China and/or India”). ZWILLING Four Star, Pro and Gourmet sets all list Germany.
• “Forged” means different things across Henckels lines. Henckels’ spec data lists three manufacturing methods. Statement and Solution are “stamped.” Graphite, Forged Accent, Modernist, Elan and Pakka are “welded,” even though they are marketed as having “fully forged bolster construction.” Classic and Forged Premio are “forged.” Our reading is that “welded” sets have a forged bolster joined to the blade rather than being forged from one piece. Henckels doesn’t explain the term, but the difference is written into its own specs.

How we researched this

We didn’t test these knives in person. This comparison is built from manufacturer product pages and spec panels (henckels.com, zwilling.com, corelle.com), warranty pages, and the Farberware brand’s licensing and customer-service page. Where the manufacturer doesn’t sell directly, we used U.S. retailer listings from Amazon and Target. For each set we recorded steel description, construction, tang, handle material, edge and hardness where published, country of origin, dishwasher guidance, warranty terms, and whether the block sharpens. We also checked that each set is still listed for sale. When a spec isn’t published, we say so rather than guess.

Which set to buy from each brand

Chicago Cutlery 1134969 Malden 16 Piece Knife Block Set

Status: current. Malden is still listed on Chicago Cutlery’s official store at corelle.com under the same model number, 1134969. It suits someone who wants all-metal knives with no handle scales to crack and a block that sharpens.

• Blades: “high-quality stainless steel,” forged design, full metal tang
• Handles: contoured stainless steel
• Edge: Chicago Cutlery’s “26-Degree Taper Grind”
• Contents: 8″ chef, 6.75″ serrated bread, 6″ santoku, 4.75″ utility, 3.25″ paring, eight 4.5″ steak knives, shears with bottle opener, “chop assist,” matte black wood block with built-in sharpener
• Care: hand wash and dry immediately; not dishwasher safe
• Warranty: full lifetime on knives; wood blocks excluded

What’s good

• A built-in sharpener slot in the block, so you don’t need to buy one separately
• Eight steak knives, where many sets include six
• All-steel handles are easy to wipe clean

Watch out for

• No 8″ slicer and a fairly short bread knife (6.75″)
• Hand wash only. The warranty excludes misuse, and the block itself isn’t covered.
• Smooth steel handles can feel slippery with wet or greasy hands

Check price on Amazon

Chicago Cutlery C01034 Essentials 15-Piece

Status: still listed, stock is patchy. The Essentials 15-piece (item 1080719; C01034 is the older product code retailers still use) is still on corelle.com. It showed as unavailable there when we checked. Retailers still list it.

• Blades: stainless steel with Taper Grind edge; full metal tang with triple-rivet polymer handles
• Contents (per retailer listings): 8″ bread, 7″ santoku, 5″ partoku, 4.75″ utility, 4.5″ fruit, 3.5″ paring, 3″ peeler, six 4.5″ steak knives, shears, natural wood block
• No sharpener in the block
• Care: hand wash (Chicago Cutlery’s standard guidance)

What’s good: classic polymer handles and a lot of small knives for the money. Watch out for: no chef’s knife listed in the set (the santoku does that job) and no sharpener. If you can’t find it in stock, the Belmont 13-piece below is the current budget alternative. It has a built-in sharpener.

Check price on Amazon

Chicago Cutlery ProHold Dual Knife Block Set with Non-Stick Coating 14-Piece

Status: discontinued. The ProHold 14-piece, with black non-stick-coated blades and two nesting blocks, is no longer in Chicago Cutlery’s block-set lineup on corelle.com. Amazon shows it as unavailable. If you have one, the lifetime warranty on the knives still applies. For a new purchase, the closest current options are:

• Belmont 13-piece (budget): polymer non-slip handles, built-in sharpener
• Avondale 12-piece: forged, full tang, stainless handles with polymer inserts, built-in sharpener

Neither has a non-stick coated blade. Chicago Cutlery doesn’t currently list a coated block set.

Chicago Cutlery Belmont 13-Piece Block Set (budget replacement)

The cheapest current Chicago Cutlery block set that includes a sharpener. It suits a first kitchen.

• Model: 1151040
• Blades: “high-quality stainless steel,” 26-Degree Taper Grind edge; full tang (per Chicago Cutlery’s product tags)
• Handles: lightweight non-slip polymer
• Contents: 8″ chef, 8″ serrated bread, 8″ slicer, 7″ santoku, 5.5″ utility, 3.5″ paring, six 4.5″ steak knives, natural-finish wood block with built-in sharpener
• Care: hand wash; warranty: full lifetime (knives)

What’s good: a full lineup including a slicer, plus a sharpener, at the brand’s lowest block-set price. Watch out for: no shears, and Chicago Cutlery doesn’t say whether these blades are forged or stamped.

Search for it on Amazon

Chicago Cutlery Insignia Classic 18-Piece Block Set with Built-in Sharpener

This is the Chicago Cutlery set to buy if you want the most knives and a traditional triple-rivet handle.

• Model: 1136781
• Blades: stainless steel, forged design, full metal tang; 26-Degree Taper Grind edge
• Handles: triple-rivet polymer
• Contents: 8″ chef, 8″ slicer, 7″ serrated bread, 7″ santoku, 5.5″ utility, 5″ boning, 3.5″ and 3″ paring, eight 4.5″ steak knives, shears with bottle opener, acacia block with inset sharpener
• Made in: China (Chicago Cutlery’s own answer in the product Q&A)
• Care: “DO NOT put knives in the dishwasher”; warranty: full lifetime (knives)

What’s good: a boning knife and two parers, which few sets at this price include; built-in sharpener; eight steak knives. Watch out for: it takes a lot of counter space, and hand washing is required.

Search for it on Amazon

JA Henckels International Definition 14-pc Self-Sharpening Block Set

Status: no longer on Henckels’ own site. The Definition 14-piece isn’t listed on henckels.com anymore. Some retailers still carry remaining stock. Its direct successor is the Henckels Statement 14-pc Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set (13553-014). It uses the same recipe: stamped stainless blades, triple-rivet handles, and a stained ash block with a brushed stainless cap and self-sharpening slots.

Current replacement: Henckels Statement 14-pc Self-Sharpening (13553-014)

• Blades: “high-quality stainless steel,” single-piece precision-stamped
• Handles: ABS, triple-rivet, stainless end cap
• Contents: 3″ paring, 5″ serrated utility, 5″ prep, 7″ santoku, 8″ bread, 8″ chef’s, six 4.5″ steak knives, shears, self-sharpening block
• Made in: China (stated on the product page)
• Dishwasher: yes (“lightweight blades are conveniently dishwasher safe”)
• Warranty: Henckels lifetime limited

What’s good

• Labeled self-sharpening slots hone the fine-edge knives every time you pull one out
• Dishwasher-safe, which Chicago Cutlery and Farberware sets are not
• Light, stamped blades are easy to handle

Watch out for

• Stamped blades are thinner and lighter than forged ones. That’s good for vegetables, less so for heavy chopping.
• Hardness and edge angle aren’t published

Check price at Henckels (the Amazon listing was showing as unavailable when we checked).

If you specifically want the original Definition set and a retailer still has it: Henckels Definition 14-pc Self-Sharpening Block Set.

JA Henckels International Forged Premio 19-piece Knife Set with Cherry Block

Status: no longer on Henckels’ own site. The 19-piece cherry-block set is still listed at some retailers. Henckels’ U.S. site now lists the Forged Premio 13-pc Knife Block Set (16931-000) as the current block set in the line.

Current Forged Premio 13-pc (16931-000)

• Blades: “high-quality German stainless steel,” manufacturing method listed as forged, full tang, forged bolster
• Handles: ABS, triple-rivet, stainless logo end cap
• Contents: 3″ paring, 5″ serrated utility, 7″ hollow-edge santoku, 8″ chef’s, 9″ sharpening steel, six 4.5″ steak knives (stamped), shears, hardwood (rubberwood) block
• Made in: China
• Dishwasher: yes; warranty: lifetime limited

What’s good: one of only two Henckels lines whose spec data says “forged” rather than “stamped” or “welded.” Watch out for: the block doesn’t sharpen, the steak knives are stamped, and there’s no bread knife in the 13-piece.

Check price on Amazon

Still want the bigger original? Henckels Forged Premio 19-piece set with cherry block (check stock; it’s no longer on henckels.com).

J.A. Henckels International 15707-000 Fine Edge Synergy 17-Piece Knife Block Set

Status: discontinued. The Fine Edge Synergy 17-piece (15707-000) is an older stamped set that Henckels no longer lists. Mostly secondhand listings remain. The nearest current equivalents in the same stamped style:

• Henckels Solution 16-pc Self-Sharpening (17555-116): stamped stainless blades, full tang, ABS triple-rivet handles. Contents are 4″ paring, 5″ serrated utility, 5.5″ hollow-edge santoku, 8″ chef’s, 8″ bread, 8″ carving, eight 4.5″ steak knives, shears, and a sharpening block. Made in India. Dishwasher safe, hand washing recommended.
• Henckels Statement 15-pc (13550-005): stamped, full tang, ABS handles. Includes a sharpening steel instead of a self-sharpening block. Made in China. Dishwasher safe.

Check price on Amazon (Solution 16-pc)

Henckels Graphite 14-pc Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set

This is the Henckels to buy if you want heavier, bolstered knives with the self-sharpening block.

• Model: 17633-014
• Blades: “German stainless steel,” “fully forged bolster construction.” Henckels’ spec field lists the method as “welded.”
• Handles: stainless steel, graphite finish
• Contents: 3″ paring, 5″ serrated utility, 6″ utility, 7″ santoku, 8″ bread, 8″ chef’s, six 4.5″ steak knives, shears, self-sharpening block
• Made in: China
• Dishwasher: yes; warranty: lifetime limited

What’s good: a bolster adds weight and a finger guard, and the self-sharpening slots are labeled. Watch out for: it isn’t forged from a single piece like ZWILLING’s SIGMAFORGE knives, and the all-steel handles are smooth.

Check price on Amazon

Henckels Classic 16-pc Knife Block Set (made in Spain)

This is the only Henckels block set we found where the kitchen knives are made outside Asia. It suits buyers who care about country of origin but don’t want to pay ZWILLING prices.

• Model: 35344-016
• Blades: “German stainless steel,” fully forged
• Handles: plastic, triple-rivet
• Contents: 4″ paring/utility, 5″ serrated utility, 7″ carving fork, 8″ carving knife, 8″ chef’s, eight 4.5″ steak knives, 9″ sharpening steel, shears, hardwood block
• Made in: kitchen knives in Spain; steak knives in China and/or India
• Dishwasher: yes; warranty: lifetime limited

What’s good: fully forged, Spanish-made kitchen knives at the top of the Henckels range. Watch out for: the lineup is built around carving (fork and carving knife) and has no bread knife or santoku. The block doesn’t sharpen.

Check price on Amazon

Farberware 5169370 30-Piece Spin-and-Store Knife and Kitchen Tool Set

Status: still listed at major retailers. This set suits a first apartment, dorm or rental where you need knives and basic tools in one purchase.

• Contents: 8″ chef, 6″ bread, 5.5″ serrated utility, 4.5″ santoku, 3″ paring, six 4.5″ steak knives, shears, sharpening steel, 4 measuring cups, 5 measuring spoons, basting spoon, slotted spoon, turner, spatula, mini spatula, can opener, peeler, rotating caddy
• Blades: “high-carbon stainless steel”; Amazon lists the construction as stamped
• Care: hand wash, rinse and dry immediately
• Made by: Lifetime Brands (Farberware cutlery licensee)

What’s good: about the lowest cost per piece of anything here, and it saves drawer space. Watch out for: the knives are short (the bread knife is only 6″). There’s no sharpener beyond the steel, and the brand publishes no steel grade, hardness or origin.

Check price on Amazon

Farberware EdgeKeeper 13-Piece Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set

This is Farberware’s closest answer to the Henckels self-sharpening blocks, at a lower price.

• Blades: “high-carbon, stainless steel”; Amazon lists the construction as forged
• Handles: brushed stainless steel (hollow)
• Contents: 8″ chef, 8″ slicer, 5.5″ serrated utility, 5″ chef with kullens (hollow-ground dimples), 3.5″ paring, six 4.5″ steak knives, shears, block
• Sharpening: “each primary slot features a built-in ceramic sharpener” that hones on the way in and out
• Care: hand wash (Farberware: “stainless steel knives are not dishwasher safe”); warranty: lifetime limited

What’s good: self-sharpening slots for the price of a basic set. Watch out for: no bread knife. Farberware doesn’t publish where it’s made, and no brand-run store exists, so warranty claims go through Lifetime Brands.

Check price on Amazon

If you can stretch: ZWILLING Four Star 8-pc Knife Block Set

If you read the section on the name confusion and realized you wanted the German-made knives all along, this is the set to compare against. ZWILLING Four Star (35065-700) is a single-piece SIGMAFORGE forged knife with an ice-hardened FRIODUR blade. ZWILLING states 57 Rockwell hardness, and the knives are made in Solingen, Germany, with a lifetime warranty. They’re dishwasher safe, though hand washing is recommended. It costs much more per knife and includes fewer pieces than anything above. What you pay for is the steel and where it’s made, not the piece count.

Check price on Amazon

Buying guide: what actually matters

1. Where it’s made

None of these three brands makes its block sets in the U.S. Chicago Cutlery’s own Q&A answer says its knives are made in China. Most Henckels sets are made in China, Solution is made in India, and Classic kitchen knives are made in Spain. Farberware doesn’t publish origin. If you want German manufacture, you need ZWILLING, not Henckels. If made-in-USA matters to you across the kitchen, see our guide to stainless steel cookware made in the USA.

2. Stamped vs forged vs “welded”

A stamped blade is cut from a sheet of steel. It’s light and thin, and cheap to make well. A forged blade is shaped from a thicker bar and usually has a bolster, which adds weight and a finger guard. Henckels’ own spec data adds a third category, “welded,” for its bolstered mid-range lines. Our reading is that these have a forged bolster attached to the blade. None of this decides sharpness by itself. It mostly changes weight and feel. Stamped knives suit people who find heavy knives tiring. Bolstered knives suit people who chop a lot.

3. Self-sharpening slots vs a sharpener slot vs a steel

Henckels “Self-Sharpening” blocks and Farberware EdgeKeeper blocks have ceramic honing elements in the labeled slots. They touch up the edge each time you pull a knife out. Chicago Cutlery’s “built-in sharpener” is a separate slot you pull the knife through when you choose to. Sets with a honing steel (Statement 15-pc, Classic, Forged Premio) leave it to you. All three approaches maintain an edge. None fully resharpens a badly dulled knife. Serrated knives go in the unmarked slots and aren’t sharpened.

4. Dishwasher rules

This is the clearest practical split between the brands. Henckels and ZWILLING call their knives dishwasher safe, while recommending hand washing. Chicago Cutlery says “DO NOT put knives in the dishwasher,” and Farberware says its stainless knives are “not dishwasher safe.” If knives will end up in the dishwasher in your house, choose Henckels.

5. Warranty fine print

Chicago Cutlery gives a full lifetime warranty on knives but excludes wood blocks. Henckels’ lifetime limited warranty covers the original purchaser only. It applies only to items bought in the U.S. from Henckels or an authorized seller, and Henckels replaces rather than repairs. Farberware listings say “lifetime limited” without further detail. Buy from an authorized retailer if the warranty matters to you.

6. Look at what’s in the set, not the piece count

Steak knives, shears and the block all count as “pieces.” Check for the three knives you’ll actually use: a chef’s knife (8″), a bread knife, and a paring knife. Some sets above skip the bread knife (Farberware EdgeKeeper 13, Forged Premio 13, Henckels Classic 16).

FAQs

Is J.A. Henckels the same as Zwilling?

Same parent company, different brands. ZWILLING is the premium line made in Germany. Henckels (formerly J.A. Henckels International) is the value line, made mainly in China, India or Spain depending on the series.

Which is better, Chicago Cutlery or Henckels?

For most households, Henckels. The knives are dishwasher safe, the self-sharpening blocks need no effort, and the warranty is comparable. Chicago Cutlery is the better choice if you prefer heavier, forged-style knives with a built-in sharpener and you’ll hand wash.

Is Farberware a good knife brand?

It’s a reasonable budget brand. The sets are complete and cheap, and some have self-sharpening blocks. The brand publishes very little about steel or origin. The Farberware name is licensed: cutlery comes from Lifetime Brands, while Farberware cookware comes from Meyer.

Are Chicago Cutlery knives made in the USA?

No. Asked on its own product page whether the knives are American made, Chicago Cutlery answered that they are made in China.

Where are Henckels knives made?

It depends on the series. Per henckels.com: Statement, Graphite, Forged Accent, Modernist and Forged Premio are made in China, Solution in India, and Classic kitchen knives in Spain.

Can Chicago Cutlery or Farberware knives go in the dishwasher?

No. Both brands tell you to hand wash and dry immediately. Henckels and ZWILLING knives are rated dishwasher safe.

Do self-sharpening knife blocks work?

They hone the edge a little every time you remove the knife, which keeps a sharp knife sharp for longer. They won’t restore a badly dull or chipped edge. They also only work on the fine-edge knives in labeled slots, not on serrated knives.

Bottom line

For a set you’ll use every day and may put in the dishwasher, buy a Henckels self-sharpening set: Statement 14-pc for value, Graphite 14-pc for heft. For heavier forged-style knives with a sharpener slot, buy the Chicago Cutlery Malden or Insignia Classic, and plan to hand wash. For the lowest cost, or if you need knives and utensils in one box, buy Farberware. If “German-made” is the real reason you’re looking at Henckels, look at ZWILLING instead.

Sources

• ZWILLING: ZWILLING and HENCKELS brands
• Henckels US: Warranty information
• Henckels Statement 14-pc Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set (13553-014)
• Henckels Statement 15-pc Knife Block Set (13550-005)
• Henckels Solution 16-pc Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set (17555-116)
• Henckels Graphite 14-pc Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set (17633-014)
• Henckels Forged Accent 14-pc Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set (19541-014)
• Henckels Modernist 14-pc Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set (17503-014)
• Henckels Forged Premio 13-pc Knife Block Set (16931-000)
• Henckels Classic 16-pc Knife Block Set (35344-016)
• ZWILLING Four Star 8-pc Knife Block Set (35065-700)
• ZWILLING Gourmet 10-pc Knife Block Set (36131-005)
• ZWILLING: How to sharpen your knives (honing angle)
• Chicago Cutlery block sets (Corelle Brands official store)
• Chicago Cutlery Malden 16-piece (1134969)
• Chicago Cutlery Insignia Classic 18-piece (1136781)
• Chicago Cutlery Belmont 13-piece (1151040)
• Chicago Cutlery Avondale 12-piece (1151039)
• Chicago Cutlery Essentials 15-piece (1080719)
• Corelle Brands: Product warranties
• Farberware Licensing Company: customer service by product category
• Target: Farberware 14pc Triple Rivet EdgeKeeper set (construction and care listing)