Review of Anchor sharp knives

Back when I moved into a new apartment after being homeless, I needed a set of sharp knives.  I came across the Anchor Home Collection™ 6-piece knife set with cutting board (UPC 0-48676-95873-7) at the local Big Lots.  It was only $8, so I thought I would give it a try.

I was surprised at how stiff the blades were.  Dollar Tree sharp knives are very flexible; these were nicely stiff, meaning they would not bend during cutting.  They rivaled my few remaining chef blades from cooking school.  They also had full tang inside the riveted handles.  The handles themselves are a very cheap-feeling light-weight plastic.  It is a very unsatisfying feel compared to riveted wooden handles.  However, they do give the longer knives a nice center of gravity just in front of the handle, which is great for those of us who grip the knife at that location, like the picture below.

The three things I don't like about this set:  1) The cutting board that is the sixth piece of the set is a thin plastic piece of crap that I will probably end up cutting through if I used.  I will stick with my wooden cutting board.  2) The outline of the tang does not always match the outline of the handle.  Sometimes there is metal sticking out, and sometimes it is recessed, creating a good place for water and germs to pool.  I've already had to remove rust from one of the knife tangs.  3) In the picture below, you can see odd waves in the blade.  I presume this is where the machine sharpened the steel.  Waves usually mean the machine was not operating properly, like it was going too fast for the lubrication present.

In conclusion, I am quite satisfied with this purchase.  I have not had any real problems with the knives other than the one appearance of rust on a tang.  In fact, I use what they call the carving knife to slice home-made bread, and it does not crush the loaf.  I would call this an acceptable frugal buy.

As always, I welcome your comments.  Click on the Comment link below; it may say "No" or have a number in front of it.