One of Messermeister's premier knife lines, the San Moritz 23 Piece Ultra Block Set features exceptional attention to detail and quality that will last a lifetime. With its many varied pieces, this set truly is an "ultra" knife block.

Each knife in the San Moritz set is fully forged from a single piece of steel. This costly manual technique is done to ensure that the strength of the blade lives up to its reputation. The knives are made from high-carbon, Molybdenum-Vanadium, Chromium, no-stain tool steel, which is extremely strong and durable. The knives are hardened to 56 along the Rockwell scale, which means they are hard enough to hold their edge for a long period of time, while also being capable of having their edge restored with a sharpening steel.

Messermeister's Elite edge is the unique result of a special 15-degree taper, combined with a convex profile and mirror-polished stropped edge for the sharpest edge possible. These knives also feature the special bolsterless heel -- a half bolster design that gives you the benefits and balance of a full bolster, while still letting you sharpen the full length of the blade. The San Moritz knives have smooth black molded handles, made of highly durable Polyoxymethaline, which are comfortable to hold, easy to grip, and extremely resilient. The trademark of the San Moritz is the personalization plate on the handle suitable for engraving.

The 23-piece Ultra Knife Block Set comes with the 8-inch Chef's knife, 9-inch bread knife, 6-inch utility knife, 8-inch carving knife, 3-1/2-inch paring knife, 2-1/2-inch paring knife, 6-inch boning knife, 7-inch Santoku knife, 6-inch offset knife, 10-inch slicer, 4-inch petite Chef's knife, eight steak knives, take-apart utility shears, fine steel and a carving fork.

There are 38 products in the San Moritz Elite line. Chef's knives range in size from 2-1/2 inches to 10 inches. Other knives available include Santoku, utility, carving, slicers, paring, boning, and bread knives. Open stock also includes tomato, garnishing, steak, and fillet knives and carving forks.

A few of the knives have alternating Kullenschliff's -- hollow indentations on the side of the knife, which reduce drag and help prevent items from sticking to the blade. The Kullenschliff knives are available in various sizes and styles including the Santoku, utility, slicer, carving, and Chef's knives.

To maintain the elite edge, a fine cut sharpening steel should be used regularly at a 15-20 degree angle. The Messermeister web site has a how-to video clip demonstrating the proper method to be used. Messermeister will re-sharpen edges with a return shipping fee. Knives should never be washed in the dishwasher as the detergent, movement, and drying heat will dull the edge of any knife. The cutlery is guaranteed against faulty material and workmanship.

One of two of Messermeister's high-end cutlery lines, the San Moritz Elite would be a welcome addition to any kitchen whether the chef is preparing a meal for a family or a restaurant full of hungry patrons. The quality is undeniable.


Pros: Fully forged from a single piece of steel, half-bolster design to promote full sharpening of the blade
Cons: Pricey