Many associate Ginsu knives with the product's kitschy infomercial from the `70s that begins with a karate kick to a watermelon and proceeds with a demo of these knives cutting through just about anything in the house. Like the original product, Ginsu's International Traditions is designed for the home cook who is not attuned to the maintenance required of a more high-end knife. However, this line is an improvement on the original, offering the weight, balance, and style of a commercial-quality knife, while meeting current design trends and performance expectations. This 6-piece steak knife set belongs on the table when serving any meaty meal, from steak to chicken. Blades are constructed from stainless steel and feature a two-dimensional serrated edge that is symmetrically-cut on either side for more accurate slicing and for either right- or left-handed use. Edges are still as low-maintenance as ever and never require sharpening. The blades do not have full tangs but are instead encased in a strip of bakelite, which is sandwiched within a brushed stainless-steel handle. The steel handle provides some of the weight of the missing tang and a sleek, modern style. Ginsu covers these International Traditions knives under a limited lifetime warranty, and recommends manual cleaning with hot, soapy water to keep them in top shape. --Cristina Vaamonde
