Cutlery and More 17-slot Universal Knife Block (Beechwood)

Beautiful Bamboo!
Just received this bamboo block and couldn't be happier. The coloring is perfect in my kitchen filled with oak cabinets. It is much richer looking than my old, pale butcher block style, and I love the size as well. I had wanted a "medium" holder so that I could put a convenient amount of knives on the counter without taking up too much space and this is an ideal size.

It holds ten knives on the top, plus my kitchen shears, and will hold my steak knives in the front, too. It's a solid, heavy weight (so no toppeling) and has a very professional looking semi-gloss finish and style. Definitely recommended, especially considering the value for such a nice piece.

Mostly Effective
There is not much to be said here; it certainly performs its function as a Knife block. 11 slots (17 including those for steak knives) is more than ample for all the knives you'll need in a well-equipped kitchen. I purchased mine in Walnut, and it is certainly a handsome color; other reviews have complained about stain missing in various places, but I see no evidence of that on mine. Well put-together, and heavy enough not to slide about on the counter. I noticed some folks complaining that the angle was too steep, but I happen to like that; it lets me leave the block far away across the counter, and yet still have the knives be reachable.

This all said, I do have two complaints:
1) The slot for the steel is very small. This is fine if you have a small steel, but I have a big thick calphalon one, and it simply does not fit. I am not sure how common thick steels are, but bear that in mind before you buy.
2) The slots are perhaps a little too close for comfort...

It's what I needed
My old knife block (the one that came with the Hampton Forge knives) was vertical. It wouldn't fit under my kitchen cabinets -- this does. And, it has a few extra slots for some of the other knives I had been keeping in a drawer. None of the slots accomodate my kitchen shears though. Nevertheless, it is the solution to the problem I had.

Click to Editorial Reviews