Ginsu Knife Block Set: The Famous TV Brand's Current Products Reviewed
Ginsu built one of the most recognizable names in kitchen knives through decades of infomercial marketing, the "But wait, there's more!" brand that cut through tomatoes, bread, and sheet metal to demonstrate their blades' durability. The brand still exists and sells knife block sets through Amazon and retail channels, but the product is very different from the TV legend.
Ginsu's History
Ginsu rose to prominence in the 1970s-80s through television commercials that demonstrated knives cutting dramatic materials, tin cans, ropes, cardboard, followed by demonstrating they still cut tomatoes cleanly. The Ginsu 2000 series became synonymous with the TV knife phenomenon.
The original Ginsu was manufactured by Douglas Quikut Corporation in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. The brand has changed ownership multiple times. Current Ginsu knives are manufactured in China, not the US.
The brand name and marketing approach survive; the domestic manufacturing does not.
Current Ginsu Knife Block Sets
Ginsu Koden Series
The Koden (meaning "legendary" in Japanese-inspired marketing) is Ginsu's current flagship knife block set. Typically available in 14-piece configurations:
- 8-inch chef's knife
- 8-inch bread knife
- 5-inch utility knife
- 4.5-inch utility knife
- 3.5-inch paring knife
- 6 steak knives
- Kitchen shears
- Block
High-carbon stainless steel at entry-level specifications. Stamped construction. Polymer handles. Dishwasher-safe.
Price: $50-80 depending on retailer and promotion.
Ginsu Chikara Series
The Chikara ("power" in Japanese) is positioned as a step up from Koden with forged blades:
- Claimed Japanese-style construction with forged blades
- Higher-carbon steel content
- Pakkawood handle variant available
Available in 12-14 piece block configurations. Priced at $80-120.
Ginsu International Traditions Block Sets
Budget configurations focused on piece count and accessibility.
For a comprehensive look at what different knife set brands deliver at comparable prices, the Best Knife Set roundup covers the full mid-range and budget knife set landscape.
Performance Reality
The TV reputation vs. Current product: The Ginsu demonstrations showed durable knives maintaining sharpness after extreme use. The current product's steel quality is mid-to-entry level. The demonstrations were primarily marketing theater, a well-made stainless knife from any brand can cut a tomato after some abuse; that doesn't indicate exceptional edge retention for kitchen use.
Actual performance: Ginsu knives at their current quality tier perform adequately for basic home cooking. Edge retention is modest, they benefit from regular honing and more frequent sharpening than premium brands.
Build quality: The Koden line is stamped stainless steel at entry price, this is what the price reflects. The Chikara forged line is slightly better construction.
Strengths: Complete set coverage, recognizable brand, accessible pricing, adequate durability.
Ginsu vs. Comparable Brands
At the Ginsu Koden price point ($50-80):
vs. J.A. Henckels International: Similar tier with slightly better Henckels brand recognition and equivalent performance.
vs. Cuisinart entry sets: Comparable quality, similar pricing. Neither has a strong performance advantage.
vs. Victorinox Fibrox 3-piece: Fewer pieces but significantly better Swiss steel quality. Three Victorinox knives outperform 14 Ginsu Koden pieces for actual cooking.
At the Ginsu Chikara price ($80-120):
vs. Victorinox Swiss Classic sets: Victorinox's Swiss manufacturing quality outperforms claimed Japanese-style Ginsu construction at comparable prices.
vs. Mercer Culinary Genesis: Mercer's verifiable X50CrMoV15 German steel and culinary school credentials outperform Ginsu's marketing-driven claims.
The Brand's Marketing Endurance
Ginsu's longevity comes from brand recognition built through decades of TV marketing, not from industry respect within the culinary community. This is worth stating clearly: professional cooks and culinary schools don't recommend Ginsu knives. The customer base is primarily consumers who remember the TV brand and want to maintain that connection.
This doesn't make Ginsu knives terrible, they're adequate entry-level knives from a recognizable brand, but it's honest context for what you're buying.
Who Ginsu Sets Are Right For
Buyers motivated by brand nostalgia: If you grew up watching Ginsu infomercials and the name means quality in your memory, the current product delivers adequate function.
Entry-level complete coverage buyers: Complete set from a named brand at $50-80 provides full coverage for a first kitchen.
Gift situations: The brand recognition makes it a recognizable gift for older recipients who associate Ginsu with quality.
Care and Maintenance
Standard entry-level knife care applies:
Hone before each use: Extends performance significantly for the softer steel.
Sharpen more frequently than premium brands: Every 1-2 months of regular use.
Handwash: Despite dishwasher-safe labeling, handwashing is better.
The Best Rated Knife Sets guide covers maintenance for entry-level knife sets.
FAQ
Are Ginsu knives still good? Adequate for basic home cooking at their price tier. They're not the exceptional product the TV advertising implied, but functional kitchen tools.
Where are Ginsu knives made today? China. The original Arkansas manufacturing is no longer in operation.
How do Ginsu knives compare to Wusthof? Different quality tiers entirely. Wusthof is premium German manufacturing; Ginsu is entry-level from the TV brand era. Not a fair comparison for kitchen knives.
Are Ginsu knives worth buying? For the price, they're functional entry-level knives. For performance-focused buyers, the same money redirected to Victorinox Fibrox provides substantially better steel quality.
Is the Ginsu brand still owned by the original company? No. Ginsu has changed ownership multiple times. The brand name continues, but ownership and manufacturing have changed significantly since the infomercial era.
The Bottom Line
Ginsu knife block sets deliver entry-level adequate performance from a brand name built on TV marketing. For buyers motivated by nostalgia, brand recognition, or complete set coverage at accessible prices, they function as intended. For buyers motivated by cutting performance, the same budget spent on Victorinox or Henckels International provides meaningfully better steel quality. The TV legend was compelling marketing; the current product is a standard entry-level knife set that happens to carry an iconic name.