The block is poorly made and was actually dirty with some sort of grunge smear that needed cleaning. The Chef's knife had small scratches near the name logo. The knives are beautifully balanced and have an excellent feel. The blades are very sharp. The warranty card w/questionaire was very dated and provided a web address that no longer exists. Also, the card contained an invitation to enter a "cash give away" contest that expired on Dec 31, 2007.