I had some of these because they were highly rated by CR. I did like them, I have small hands and they fit great. However, they did fall apart rather quickly. My favorite one literally came apart in two pieces! The customer service is also non-existant. I mean actually non-existant. I finally found a website for them out of Brazil, but never received a reply. I gave up and gave the ones that did not fall apart to my mother-in-law.
Good luck.

Carolinachick--

Thank you so much for the info! Still shopping and seriously considering the Wusthof Ikon knives. They feel great in hand. I've got some tramontina tri-ply cookware pieces that work well and seem well made. Sounds like the quality doesn't translate to the knives.

Lenvt

An inexpensive knife is always rated among the top choices by Cook's Illustrated magazine. It is the Victorinox Forschner Fibrox chef's knife. Working cooks use these, they are light, slim, comfortable, no slip handles, made in Switzerland, and inexpensive. You can get a set including 10" chef's knife in a roll for $100, or a set including block and steak knives but only a 8" chef's for about $140. The 10" chef's alone is about $30. Check out Amazon or similar websites. I have two that are over 20 years old, and I use them more than my more expensive knives. No connection to the company.

I began to appreciate good cutlery when I married a butcher. LOL. A good knife doesn't have to be exorbitant, but they'll be a substantial investment and worth it. A good quality knife holds it's sharpening, doesn't rust or nick easily, won't pit, and is well balanced for handling. I've seen too much really inferior steel anymore coming from China. I'd want to be sure the blades are made with domestic, high carbon steel, or made by an established company (like many of the better grade German firms who guarantee their steel quality).

Butchers buy their own tools, and I just went over to see if there were any brand stamps on his, and sorry there aren't.......but I've been using his knives since he retired and they sit in the blocks next to the crappy ones I had before were were married. My old knives rust just from the ambient moisture in the air.

I have purchased some knives from the firm I'm linking to. I've watched them being manufactured and they're still produced by hand, individually. Hard to find that anymore.

You might want to look at this site to see what you think. No, I am not affiliated with them......just live close to where they're made and they have a good local reputation.

Here is a link that might be useful: Warther knives