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Sterling  ·  german steel

Gift Starter

3 knives + rod
No reviews yet · be the first
$179$198Free US delivery over $125

Save 10% against buying the 3 knives and a sharpening rod separately. Free US delivery.

A first proper set, ready to give.

A first proper set: three knives and a sharpening rod to keep them sharp. An excellent gift for every occasion like newlyweds, birthdays, Christmas and more.

30-day returns. Cook and use it first, then decide.

Warranty covers qualifying manufacturing defects.

Free US delivery over $125. Most orders arrive within 5 working days.

Sold out · back soon

Bundle · save 10%
Sterling Gift Starter: the Sterling chef, santoku and utility knives plus the Sterling sharpening rod
Sterling Gift Starter
Sterling Sharpening Rod
01 / 03
01

3 knives

Chef, santoku and utility.

02

German 1.4116 steel · 56–58 HRC

One solid piece of tough, forgiving stainless steel that sharpens in minutes.

03

Sterling sharpening rod

A few light strokes keep the edge keen between sharpenings.

04

Save 10% as a bundle

Less than buying every piece separately. Free US delivery.

Why this knife

A first proper set, ready to give.

A first proper set: three knives and a sharpening rod to keep them sharp. The chef, santoku and utility knives cover every cut. The sharpening rod keeps the edges keen between sharpenings.

Every kitchen needs a knife that asks for nothing special. Sterling is that knife: built for daily work and finished to look better than a workhorse should.

The blade is one solid piece of German 1.4116 stainless steel, hardened to 56–58 HRC and satin polished. It is tougher and more forgiving than harder steels. It resists rust and chips well, and it comes back sharp in a few strokes.

The santoku, and the chef knife in the sets, have a Granton edge: small scallops along the blade that let sliced potato and cucumber fall away instead of sticking. Red wood handles add warmth to any kitchen, from a first apartment to a busy family home.

Materials

what it is made of

We name our steel and publish our hardness.

Construction

  • German 1.4116 Stainless Steelone solid piece
  • 56–58 HRCedge and blade alike
  • No cladding, no layerssimple and strong

Steel name

X50CrMoV15

German 1.4116. The name is the recipe:

Xhigh-alloya stainless grade
50about 0.5% carbonhardness, edge holding
Cr15about 15% chromiumresists rust
Momolybdenumtoughness
Vvanadiumfine grain

Hardness · Rockwell C

56–58 HRC

Sterling's core sits at 56–58 HRC, a little softer than our other ranges. That makes the steel tougher: it resists chips and comes back sharp in a few strokes.

Steel performance · out of 5

Corrosion resistance4
Edge retention2.5
Ease of sharpening4.5
Toughness4

Catalogue ratings for German 1.4116. Edge retention is lower on purpose: it is the price of a tougher, easier-to-sharpen edge.

Red Wood

Handle

Red Wood

A warm, everyday grip suited to any kitchen, from a first home to a well-used one.

Satin Polish

Finish

Satin Polish

A clean satin finish over mono-steel, with a Granton edge on the santoku and on the chef knife in the sets to release food cleanly.

How to use it

made for the board

Best for

  • Chef knife, 8": slicing tomatoes and onions, chopping vegetables and herbs, mincing garlic, slicing boneless meat and fish
  • Santoku, 7": slicing and dicing vegetables, fine herbs, boneless chicken and fish, and thin slices of cheese
  • Utility knife, 5": fruit, sandwiches, trimming meat, shallots and small vegetables, and slicing cured sausage or cheese
  • Sharpening rod: light honing before each cooking session

Avoid

  • Chef knife, 8": bones, frozen food, hard squash rinds you must pry through, and glass, stone or ceramic boards
  • Santoku, 7": a heavy rocking motion, bones, frozen food and hard boards
  • Utility knife, 5": large vegetables that need a long blade, bones, frozen food and hard boards
  • Sharpening rod: pressing hard or honing at the wrong angle

Care

  • 01Hand wash and dry at once.
  • 02Use a wood or soft synthetic board, never glass or stone.
  • 03Hone with the Sterling sharpening rod: 4 to 6 light strokes per side at about 15 degrees, before you cook.
  • 04Store the knives so the edges don't touch other metal.

In the box

what arrives at your door

Everything inside, piece by piece.

KuroZhen black gift box with the red band
KuroZhen keepsake coin turning
01
Gift boxOur black and red gift box. Your knife arrives ready to give.
02
Keepsake coinKuroZhen on one side, 礼 (gift) on the other.
KuroZhen knife manual
03Knife manualQuick start, care, sharpening, safety and storage in one pocket booklet.
Card sleeve with a diamond window
04Card sleeveHolds your four cards behind a diamond window.
Brand story card
05Brand story cardWhy we started KuroZhen and where your knife is made.
Gift coin card
06Gift coin cardThe tradition behind the coin, and what to do with it.
Warranty and returns card
07Warranty and returns30-day returns and a limited lifetime warranty.
Personal message card
08Personal message cardA blank card for your own note to whoever receives it.

A note from our founders

“The kitchen is where a home comes alive. Meals start there, and people stay there long after the plates are cleared.”

We started KuroZhen because the knife is at the centre of that room. A good knife is the one you reach for every day. It should feel right in your hand, and you should know what it is made of.

So we name our steel, we publish our hardness and we tell you where our knives are made: Yangjiang, China, a city that has made blades for more than 1,400 years. Kuro is Japanese for black. Zhen is Chinese for precious. We hope your knife becomes both.

The KuroZhen founders

Complete the set

build your sterling kitchen

Same steel, same finish, same handle.

Sterling 5-Piece Set

Sterling 5-Piece Set

$239

Five knives for $8 less than the chef, santoku and utility bought singly ($247). Free US delivery.

  • Chef knife
  • Bread knife
  • Santoku knife
  • Utility knife
  • Paring knife
View the set
Sterling 6-Piece Steak Set

Sterling 6-Piece Steak Set

$159
Kitchen Scissors

Kitchen Scissors

$55
Magnetic Knife Stand

Magnetic Knife Stand

$119

Reviews

from the people who cook with it

No reviews yet

Be the first to review the Sterling Gift Starter. Photo reviews show first.

FAQs

what to know about sterling

Still unsure? Email support@kurozhen.com. We are happy to help you choose the right knife, or the right gift.

This bundle costs 10% less than buying every piece in it separately. The saving is applied automatically at checkout.
Yes. It arrives ready to give, with the keepsake coin and its story card, and a gift card you can personalise.
No. The steel is a German grade, 1.4116. The knives are made in Yangjiang, China.
At 56–58 HRC, the edge needs honing more often, but it resists chips and sharpens in minutes. It is a deliberate choice for durability and easy care.
It is a row of shallow scallops along the side of the blade. They make small air pockets, so slices of potato or cheese fall away instead of sticking. Only the Santoku, and the Chef knife in the sets, have this edge.
Hone with the Sterling sharpening rod in this bundle, or the 5000-grit side of a whetstone. When honing no longer helps, sharpen on a 1000-grit stone.
Most US orders are delivered within 5 working days, depending on the items ordered and your delivery location. Delivery is free on orders over $125, and we send tracking as soon as it ships.
KuroZhen will cover qualifying manufacturing and workmanship defects under the final warranty policy.
You have 30 days to return it. If the edge chips in normal use, send us photos and tell us what happened. We'll assess it under the warranty and help with the next step.
Email us at support@kurozhen.com. We're happy to help you choose the right knife, or the right gift.