The Best Dalstrong Knife Review: Crazy Good Value or Cheap Crap?

1. Dalstrong Gladiator Series Colossal 18pc Knife Set

Knives Included:

9” Carving/Slicer, 9” Bread Knife, 8.5” Kiritsuke Chef Knife, 8” Chef Knife, 7” Santoku Knife, 7” Nikiri Knife, 6” Boning Knife, 6.5” Utility Knife, 6” Serrated Utility Knife, (6) 5” Straight-Edge Steak Knives, 3.5” Paring Knife, 2.75” Bird’s Beak Paring Knife, 10” Gladiator Series Honing Steel

Block Material:

Walnut Wood

Pros:

• Set provides every knife you’ll need in the kitchen
• All your kitchen knives will finally match
• Includes steak knives unlike most other sets

Cons:

• Large set takes up lots of counter space
• Price might be out of budget just due to number of knives included

Review:

Knife for knife, this set is one of the best values for any home cook.  You can pay less for a nice set of knives, but this set includes every knife you’ll ever need and they are all full-tang, forged knives made of high-quality German steel.  It’s a nice mid-range set that combines a decent knife and a great per knife price tag.  Keep in mind that with other sets, you’ll often still have to go out and buy a decent set of steak knives to go with it and then they won’t fit in your knife block.  This set gives you everything you need and a 100% SATISFACTION or MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!

2. Dalstrong Gladiator Series 8pc Knife Block Set

Knives Included:

9” Carving/Slicer, 9” Bread Knife, 8” Chef Knife, 7” Santoku Knife, 6.5” Utility Knife, 6” Serrated Utility Knife, 3.5” Paring Knife, 8” Gladiator Series Honing Steel

Block Material:

Acacia Wood

Pros:

• Good overall price for all your essential kitchen knives
• Efficient use of knife block means using less counter space

Cons:

• Per knife price higher than Colossal 18pc set
• Steak knives not included

Review:

Many of the same Gladiator Series knives that were included in the 18pc set above.  While this 8pc set is sold for less money, your per knife price goes up dramatically and you’re also giving up the steak knives.  If you don’t have much counter space or just don’t need so many knives, this is a nice set.  You still get Dalstrong piece of mind and their 100% SATISFACTION or MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.  The hand-made acacia wood block really looks nice in any kitchen and fits just about anywhere.  This is one of Dalstrong’s most popular kitchen knife sets.

3. Dalstrong Phantom Series 6pc Set with Magnetic Block

Knives Included:

9” Bread Knife, 9.5” Kiritsuike Chef Knife, 8” Chef’s Knife, 7” Santoku Knife, 5” Utility Knife, 4” Paring Knife

Block Material:

Walnut Wood embedded w/ Powerful Magnets

Pros:

• High-quality knives use Japanese high-carbon AUS8 Steel
• Magnetic block shows off beautiful knife blades
• Space for 6 additional knives or other metal objects
• Block is hygienic – no grooves or slots for bacteria to form

Cons:

• Higher quality knives means higher per knife price
• Steak knives not included

Review:

This Phantom Series knife set with the Dragon Spire magnetic knife block looks awesome in the kitchen!  It does a great job of combining fit and function on the counter space with the dope visuals of showing off those smooth, etched blades.  While you will pay more per knife on this set than those above, check out our review of the Phantom Series below and you’ll understand why.  This 6pc set covers all the basic kitchen knives, but also leaves room for a nice set of steak knives or for you to fill in other knife gaps you might have in your home.

4. Dalstrong Shadow Black Series 5pc Knife Set – Titanium Coated

Knives Included:

8” Chef’s Knife, 7” Santoku Knife, 6.5” Serrated Knife, 5.5” Utility Knife, 3.75” Paring Knife

Block Material:

Acacia Wood with Metal Plates

Pros:

• Uniquely cool-looking knives not found elsewhere
• Basic knives are covered

Cons:

• You pay a little more for “coolness” factor vs. other knives of the same quality
• Only 5 knives are included in this set

Review:

How cool are these knives?  Dalstrong says they are designed with the stealth fighter as their inspiration.  We think they’re also perfect for those of us that wish we could be ninjas!  Although the thought of the black knives and angular handles might seem gimmicky, see our Dalstrong Shadow Black Review below to understand that they’re also high-quality knives made of high-carbon German steel and G10 handles.  If you want the look of these knives in your kitchen, look no further.  This is a unique set you won’t find elsewhere.

5. Dalstrong Shogun Series 2pc Starter Set w/ Trinity Storage Block

Knives Included:

8” Gyuto Chef Knife, 3.75” Paring Knife

Block Material:

Hand-Crafted Walnut Wood Trinity Block

Pros:

• Very high-quality knives from Dalstrong’s Shogun Series
• Takes up little counter space
• Includes space for additional knives (Fits Shogun 6” Utility Knife and Shogun 7” Santoku)

Cons:

• Higher quality knives means higher per knife price
• Only 2 knives included – will likely still need to buy more knives for a complete set

Review:

Although this Dalstrong Shogun set of knives are towards the higher end of the quality scale, we still decided to leave this set lower on our list due to only including 2 knives.  You can add the other 2 recommended knives to make a nice set, but that will set you back roughly another $180-$200 in addition to the cost of this set.  If you’re going to use these knives professionally, this is a great set, but if you’re just looking for something in your kitchen, you can find a bigger set of decent Dalstrong knives by choosing one of the other options above.

Dalstrong Shogun Review

Edge Angle

8 – 12 degrees

Hardness Rating

HRC 62+

The Dalstrong Shogun Series professional-grade Japanese style kitchen knives that double as a wonderful tool for some very lucky home chefs.  The knives in this series use a core made of AUS10V Japanese Super Steel wrapped with 67 layers of Damascus steel that creates a beautiful Tsunami Rose pattern on the blade.  Each blade is liquid nitrogen cooled to enhance its hardness and precision.

The hardness that comes from this process and the steel used is incredibly hard, giving the knife great edge retention properties.  To sharpen these knives at the factory, Dalstrong uses the ancient, 3-step Honbazuke method.  The handles are made of G10 Garolite, an ultra-durable material impervious to moisture as well as cold & hot temperatures.

You’ll have a hard time trying to beat their price on this series.  Most knives on the market with the characteristics outlined above will cost you anywhere from 1-1/2 to 3 times as much as these do.  If you want the best Dalstrong has to offer, definitely consider the Shogun Series.  They are knives you should be able to use for the rest of your lifetime!

See Dalstrong Shogun Series Knives at Amazon

Dalstrong Phantom Review

Edge Angle

13 – 15 degrees

Hardness Rating

HRC 58

The Dalstrong Phantom Series knives are made with a high-carbon AUS-8 steel that includes high levels of Chromium to resist staining and corrosion.   The beautiful engraved logo adds a really nice touch and sets off the looks of the blade.  With another Japanese-style blade, the Phantom Series, Dalstrong uses the Honbazuke sharpening process to get a super-sharp edge.

As you move from the blade to the handle, there is a distinct red spacer near the bolster.  The balance on the Phantom Series is great with the ergonomically D-shaped pakkawood handle and weighted cap. 

In true Dalstrong fashion, knives in the Phantom Series are perfect for gift giving with their top-notch presentation and accessories.  Each knife comes with its own gift box and DragonLock sheath that folds shut to protect the entire blade. 

See Dalstrong Phantom Series Knives at Amazon

Dalstrong Gladiator Review

Edge Angle

14 – 18 degrees

Hardness Rating

55+ HRC

The Dalstrong Gladiator Series knives are more of a Western or European knife style that those mentioned above.  They use high-carbon German steel, wider blade angles, and have a heavier full bolster.  This series is an attempt to compete directly with some of the knives Wusthof and J.A. Henckels, both German companies, have to offer.

While the knives are heftier than the ones discussed above, the steel isn’t quite as hard, meaning slightly lower quality, but also lower prices.  The Gladiator Series knives by Dalstrong are a great option for most households.  They are still of good quality, and are actually more in the style of what Americans are used to, but they are also very affordable. 

Whether you’re looking to surprise someone with a great gift or just want to grab some affordable knives that still stand out and some of the best, Dalstrongs Gladiator Series is worth looking into.  You won’t beat their price!

See Dalstrong Gladiator Series Knives at Amazon

Dalstrong Crusader Review

Edge Angle

14 – 16 degrees

Hardness Rating

58+ HRC

Similar to the quality and pricing of the Gladiator knives, the Dalstrong Crusader Series uses the same German steel.  It also has a similar edge angle and hardness with the largest change in the blade being the half bolster vs. full bolster.  

Moving on to the handle, this is where the major difference between these knife collections come into play.  Where the Gladiator knives use a pakkawood handle, this Crusader knives are all stainless steel and utilize a very modern look and feel as 100% metal knife, blade and handle.

Dalstrong’s Crusader Series knives are unique, beautiful, and perform very well for the price point at which they’re sold.  They knid of remind us of Global Cutlery knives with the all-metal design, but they’re priced lower.  Check the availability of the Crusader knives at Amazon using the link below.

See Dalstrong Crusader Series Knives at Amazon

Dalstrong Shadow Black Review

Edge Angle

16 – 18 degrees

Hardness Rating

58+ HRC

The Dalstrong Shadow Black Series is perhaps one of the most unique kitchen knife lineups available.  The all black knife even has a black non-reflective titanium-nitride coating on the blade itself.  Although it’s clearly made to have the “cool factor”, the specs on this knife are nothing to sneeze at. 

Similar to the Gladiator Series, the knives in the Shadow Black Series are made of high-carbon German steel and have a full tang.  It’s only fitting since the design was said to be inspired by the F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter jet that this series uses military-grade G10 fiber-resin handles.  Believe it or not based on the looks, these handles are actually pretty comfortable in your girp.

There’s not much else to say.  Most chefs either think these knives are really dope or really silly looking.  If you like them, we recommend clicking the link below to see the entire lineup of Dalstrong’s Shadow Black knives at Amazon.

See Dalstrong Shadow Black Series Knives at Amazon

Dalstrong Omega Review

Edge Angle

8 – 12 degrees

Hardness Rating

63+ HRC

Ok, so we didn’t get list all the Dalstrong Series in order of quality/price.  The Dalstrong Omega Series is kind of a different animal all together.  Technically, it’s the extreme high-end as it pertains to steel quality, hardness, finish, and well…price.  The reason we list it after the others is because it’s also less popular and well-known.  That’s not because it’s not a good knife (it is a good knife).  It’s more because the at the time of this writing, there just aren’t too many Omega Series knives available.

So, what makes the Omega Series a great knife?  This is one of the very few top-tier knives that uses an American steel.  The BD1N-V in these knives is super-hard, like 63+ on the Rockwell Hardness Scale.  This is also a 67-layered Damascus knife, sharpened with the ancient method known as Honbazuke.  The blade itself has what Dalstrong calls their “LiquidMetal” pattern. 

Heading towards the other end of the knife, the tapered bolster gives these knives a perfect balance point and it’s also full tang, so it’s built to last a lifetime.  Other cool features of the Omega Series knives are a PU Leather Dalstrong sheath included with each knife and the ever-popular G10 resin handle material. 

See Dalstrong Omega Series Knives at Amazon