Cuisinart C77SSN-12P Color Pro Collection 12 Piece Knife Block Set, Navy

The set covers the usual jobs: an 8-inch chef knife, an 8-inch slicer, a 5-inch santoku, a 5-inch serrated utility knife, a 3.5-inch paring knife, four 4.5-inch steak knives, kitchen shears and an 8-inch sharpening steel, all in a wooden block about 14.5 inches tall. Cuisinart makes the blades from high-carbon stainless steel with a taper-ground edge, and the handles are navy.

It suits someone setting up a kitchen from nothing who wants one block rather than buying knives one at a time. People who already own a good chef knife and want to step up will get more from one better knife than from a full set.

Worth knowing Cuisinart's care guide says to wash the knives by hand, not in the dishwasher, and to wipe the block dry rather than soak it. Check the block's height against the space under your cabinets.