knife block set - 17 pieces - includes solid wood block, 6 stainless steel kitchen knives, set of 8 serrated steak knives, heavy duty poultry shears, and a carbon steel sharpening rod culinary obsession <b>the perfect knife set to complete any kitchen!</b><br><br><b>frequently asked questions</b><br><br><b>question:</b> what is the metal used for the knife blades?<br><b>answer:</b> the knife blades are 3cr14 stainless steel, which is often used by many major brand knife manufacturers because of its superb performance characteristics. this alloy contains molybdenum (mo) and vanadium (v) elements, which increase strength, wear resistance, toughness, and corrosion resistance. this blade alloy will provide superior performance, sharpness, durability, and edge retention.<br><br><b>question:</b> how often do i have to sharpen these knives during ordinary use?<br><b>answer:</b> since the knife blades contain the 3cr14 stainless steel alloy (known for superior edge retention), you will typically experience a longer time span between sharpening than you may have previously with other stainless steel or carbon steel kitchen knives.<br><br><b>question:</b> can these knives be washed in the dishwasher?<br><b>answer:</b> yes, the stainless steel knives are made to withstand water, detergents, and high temperatures. however, to extend the life of your knives, we recommend washing by hand, drying immediately, and storing in the beautiful rubberwood knife block to keep the blade edges sharp and protected.<br><br><b>question:</b> how do you use the poultry scissors?<br><b>answer:</b> our poultry scissors are designed to achieve the superior leverage required to easily cut through cartilage, bone, and other dense materials. the scissors feature high quality single-piece stainless steel blade and tang construction. open plastic food packaging, crack lobster shells, snip chives, or julienne basil - this tool is versatile enough to comfortably handle a multitude of kitchen tasks.