I've had Henckels Classic knives for more than 20 years. They are terrific. They have made many great meals. This set has every knife you could  - and a built-in sharpening system. It comes with the two most prep-worthy knives, an 8-inch chef's knife and a 7-inch santoku. There is probably no vegetable, protein or fruit that these two knives couldn't make easy work of. Plus it has a good selection of specialty and everyday prep knives, and steak knives for the table. The built-in sharpen takes no extra effort. Just wash and dry your knives (I recommend by hand so they always look like new) and return them to their slot and you're done. Ready to go when you need them again. 

These are forged knives made of quality steel. They have a triple riveted handle, a comfortable integrated bolster. Even if they aren't made in Germany, the steel is, and their quality is unquestionable.