When it comes to kitchen knives, most people tend to veer towards long-established, well-known brands mainly because they equate age with experience.
But that isn’t always the case, especially these days when young peoples’ modern imagination meets time-honored processes in bladesmithing.
Take Schmidt Brothers, a fledgling that has been making waves in the industry since day one.
A Brief Background of the Brand
The company is made up of actual brothers – Jared and Jordan Schmidt – who are both food lovers and
Although they started working as designers for other companies in other industries, they were lured back into the food business – particularly in the domain of cutlery making – because they simply couldn’t find a
The two started sketching designs and making prototypes out of wood, making revisions as they go along just to find that perfect fit.
By 2010, they launched their first creation.
The rest, as they say, is history – however slightly short that may be.
Best Schmidt Brothers Knives & Knife Sets
We give these knives a quick twirl and review, and then we pass them on to a few lucky home chefs!
Are Schmidt Brothers Knives Worth It?
When the two set out to draw their designs, they wanted to ensure three main aspects: functionality, beauty, and value for money.
They seem to have succeeded with that.
Many of their creations are downright gorgeous. Some look ultra-modern while others have a more rustic, laidback appearance.
Every single one looks incredibly incisive – a must-have for this kitchen tool.
And depending on the number of pieces per ensemble, you can get it for $100-$300 which is a pretty good deal overall!
Ready to be awed?
Continue reading and check out their best collections:
Reviews of the Best Products
1. Bonded Ash 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
Construction Details
This piece is forged from tip to tang. Although the specific type of German stainless steel is not named, some say that the company uses 1.4116 German steel (HRC 59) which is something quite similar to X50CrMoV15 which is also used by Wusthof, Dalstrong, and Victorinox.
The blade is sharpened to 18 degrees on each side.
The handle is made of Ash Pakkawood, seamlessly bonded around the tang, and given an almost Japanese-style rounded form for better grip-ability.
Form and Function
This has a relatively high heel, a straight spine, a slight belly curve, and a tip that meets somewhere in the middle.
The bolster is thick and full and curved towards the handle.
The top part of the handle also straight continuing the blade’s spine while the bottom is arched. A slanted steel cap is placed at the end of the grip.
Value for Money
At less than a hundred bucks apiece, this costs quite a bit.
2. Bonded Teak 7-Inch Santoku
Blade Construction
Just like the Chef’s
The handle is made from a medium brown bonded Teak, with the same cylindrical-type handle.
Form and Function
Schmidt Bros. re-envisioned the traditional Santoku by giving it a bulkier, almost like a mini-cleaver appearance.
The spine is straight, the belly is almost parallel to it, and the tip is a bit angled than curved down like the customary sheep’s foot.
The slight curvature to the belly allows the user to slice in a rocking motion but the flatness of it would be great for the up-and-down chopping action as well.
This has the same curved bolster, the same round handles shape and the same steel cap as the Chef’s
Value for Money
This is also quite pricey at $70.
3. Bonded Teak 7-Piece Set with a Block
Inclusive of the Following…
This has the five essentials (Chef’s, serrated for bread, boning blade, serrated utility
The
The blades are to be inserted in between the wooden board and acrylic sheet.
Blade Construction
The blade is also made from the same German stainless steel while the handle is of bonded teak.
Form and Function
The blades’ profiles are pretty standard as most knives.
However, the boning
Check the specs of the Bonded Teak Santoku above as that is the same as the pieces included in this ensemble, particularly with the bolster and handle shapes.
Value for Money
Compared to the single-piece pricing, this is quite affordable.
4. Forge Series 10-Piece Set with a Block
Inclusive of the Following…
This has all five essentials (a Chef’s, serrated for bread, a boning
The set also comes with the same wood with magnet/clear acrylic/metal base
Last but not the least, this also includes a two-stage sharpener.
Blade Construction
This is constructed from single steel (German high Carbon stainless steel) from tip to tang and sharpened to 18 degrees per side.
The handle is made of a rustic-looking but treated Acacia, giving the whole piece that countryside, Southern comfort feel.
Form and Function
Except for the Santoku, the blade profiles are pretty standard.
These still have thick, full, slightly curved bolsters like the others. However, these have exposed tangs sandwiched between and triple-riveted to two pieces of Acacia wood – the classic Western-style handle.
Value for Money
This is priced the same as Set of 7 Bonded Teak making this an even better buy!
5. Zebra Wood 15-Piece Set with a Block
Inclusive of the Following…
Just like the other sets already described, this too has all of the basics (Chef’s, boning blade, parer, serrated utility
It also has the same wooden/clear acrylic
To complete the 15, this has half a dozen steak knives with micro-serrations for efficient slicing.
Blade Construction
This is also made of the same high Carbon stainless steel like the others and the same edge sharpness (18 degrees), although most are given micro serrations for better cutting.
The handles are made of Zebrawood, named as such because of the distinct dark striations over the almost cream-colored wood.
Form and Function
All knives in this set have the typical Schmidt Bros. shape – from the blade profile to the curved bolster and even the rounded handle.
Value for Money
This is one of the pricier sets.
6. 4-Piece Set of (Zebra Wood) Jumbo Steak Knives in a Wooden Box
As clearly described in the label, this consists of four steak knives and a wooden casing.
Blade Construction
This is still made from the same German steel with zebra wood handles.
Form and Function
This has the same overall form as the steak knives described above. The difference is that the micro-serrations here are only added to the upward-curving tip and not on the straight part of the belly.
Value for Money
This whole set costs a little under a hundred bucks which is a bit expensive but would be great as a gift.
7. Jet Black 14-Piece Set with a Block
The collection has all the knives and accessories mentioned in the Zebra Wood set above except for the boning
Blade Construction
The knives are also made from the same a la X50CrMoV15 steel but are given a black titanium finish for those who want something mod to match their ultra-modern kitchen design.
The handle is made from another stainless steel material but is painted in the same dusky shade for that seamless look from tip to tang.
Form and Function
The overall appearance of these knives is the same as those of the other variants.
Value for Money
This is priced somewhere in between the Zebra Wood set and the Forge Series.
What People Like
- Made from Good Steel
As aforementioned, the German steel 1.4116 is almost the same as the popular X50CrMoV15. The latter is well-known for its durability, corrosion resistance, and edge retention so you can expect the very same from the former. - Forged All the Way Through
All of the Schmidt Bros. series listed above are forged – a feature that everyone ought to go for when choosing a kitchenknife . - Well Thought-Out Design
You might have noticed that most of the knives follow just one basic form and the differences in the shape are quite minute. This is because they have engineered this so well, they’re sticking to what works best. - Even their storage blocks are incredibly well-designed: narrow so it won’t take up so much space on your counter, magnetized (wood) so that the knives don’t clatter around, and see-through (acrylic sheet) so you can see what you’re picking.
- Accessories Available are Apt
Aside from their beautiful blocks, the other accessory is just the two-grade sharpener –a must-have for any food-lover who likes to cook.
What People Don’t Like
- These Aren’t Cheap
A piece can go over $50 which is slightly pricey when there are similarly forged pieces that are under that price level. If you’re thinking of shifting to a new brand, get the whole set instead. - Some of the Series Take Some Time To Get Used To
Many say that the patented Schmidt Bros. curve on the handle and the bolster feel odd in their hands. - Made in China
Although the actual Schmidt brothers are Americans and they have conceptualized their products in America, they have chosen to outsource the mass production in China. This isn’t a bad thing, per se, but some do find this a drawback.
Notable Collections
Based on the list above, the best would be the Forge Series since the blade is well made (just like the others), the handle has that old-school, rustic feel (unique from the others), and the price isn’t that exorbitant (unlike the others).
If you want something just as formidable but don’t want to spend a whole lot of money, go for their 6-piece stainless steel set with a
If you’re ready to shell out a bit more for something truly remarkable, their Heritage 12-piece set which goes for $500 is a good choice.
Conclusion
Rarely will you find a new brand that can match the older, more established ones in the cutlery industry. Usually, newbies would take decades before they have the guts to introduce a worthy piece.
Schmidt Bros. is one of the very few who has achieved what they set out to do. And yes, this should be on your shopping list when you’re ready for something new.
Ryan Leavitt
Hi my name is Ryan Leavitt a Marine Corps Veteran and currently an over the road trucker (Long Haul). I am no expert chef but am enjoying preparing my own meals on the road and testing all the different knives.
We give these knives a quick twirl and review, and then we pass them on to a few lucky home chefs!