Henckels Pro-S knives are outstanding quality. The blades are strong and stay sharp for years. The balance point is right where the bolster arches back to the handle. The knife is heavy but effortless to control because it seems to float in your hand. I prefer it to the weight forward construction of other brands. Our Pro-S chef's knife is over fifteen years old and has never been sharpened, only honed on the steel. It is still razor sharp and is my wife's favorite knife for slicing tomatoes in spite of having newer and more appropriate knives for that task.