Schmidt Brothers knives are good German-steel knives with better-looking blocks than most, and I’d recommend them to anyone who wants the set on the counter to look modern. Just know what you’re buying: the brand designs its knives in New York and has them assembled in China from German stainless steel. They’re not Solingen knives, and they’re not priced like them either.
My pick is the Schmidt Brothers Hex 5-Piece Knife Block Set: the four knives you’ll really use in a magnetic oak block. If you only want one knife, the Heritage 8″ chef’s knife is the one.
My Top 4 Schmidt Brothers Picks
This is the Schmidt set I’d hand a friend. Chef’s, bread, utility and paring knife, nothing you’ll never touch, and a white oak and acrylic magnetic block that looks great on a counter.
The fully forged Heritage is the most traditional knife the brand makes. If you want to try Schmidt Brothers before buying a whole block, start here.
For the kitchen that wants everything in one go: a big magnetic acacia block, a sharpener and pale ash handles. It’s the Schmidt set more people buy than any other.
Six heavy steak knives in a wood gift box. They make a better present than a whole block, and they look sharp on a dinner table.
What Schmidt Brothers Does Well
Design you can leave on the counter
Looks are the reason most people find this brand. The magnetic blocks, wood and clear acrylic fronts that show the blades, are the most distinctive storage in this part of the market. Schmidt Brothers started out designing products for other brands before launching its own cutlery in 2010, and you can tell design comes first.
German stainless steel, full tang
The blades are German stainless steel. Schmidt names the grade on some listings: the Heritage line uses 1.4116, the same family of steel that many German kitchen knives use. It’s a forgiving steel: soft enough to sharpen easily and tough enough not to chip when you hit a bone. The set knives run full tang, meaning the steel continues through the handle.
A grip that works for pinch and palm
Every line has the patented “Schmidt Brothers Curve”, a dip in the handle where your forefinger rests. Heritage adds what the brand calls a Transitional Bolster, shaped so your hand slides smoothly from a pinch grip on the blade to a full grip on the handle.
What Schmidt Brothers Does Badly
Not made in Germany
The question I get most about this brand is whether the knives are German made. The steel is German; the knives are designed in New York and assembled in China. That’s normal at this level, but the “German” on the box can give the wrong impression.
Thin steel details
Apart from the Heritage line, most listings just say “high carbon, 100% German stainless steel” with no grade and no hardness. I’d like every line to say exactly what’s in the blade, the way Wüsthof or Shun do.
Wood handles need care
Teak, ash, zebrawood and walnut look great, but natural wood dries out and discolors if it sits wet. Hand wash, dry straight away and oil the handles now and then. If that sounds like a chore, the all-steel Carbon 6 or Jet Black lines skip the problem.
Too many lines that look alike
Bonded Ash, Bonded Teak, Zebra Wood, Carbon 6, Heritage, Hex, Jet Black, Farmhouse and more, many sold in 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 15 piece versions. Most share the same steel, so choose by handle and block, not by name.
Schmidt Brothers Lines Compared
| Line | What sets it apart | Handle | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hex | Compact sets in a white oak and acrylic magnetic block | Full tang, Schmidt Curve | Small kitchens, most cooks |
| Heritage | Fully forged 1.4116 steel, Transitional Bolster | Sculpted, bolstered | A single chef’s knife |
| Bonded Ash / Bonded Teak | Large blocks with sharpener, acacia and acrylic magnetic block | Ash or teak wood | A complete kitchen in one buy |
| Zebra Wood | Striped wood handles and matching block | Zebrawood | Looks first |
| Carbon 6 | All-steel knives with a raw, scorched handle | Steel | Steak knives, low-upkeep handles |
| Jet Black | One-piece steel with a matte black titanium finish | Steel | Modern black kitchens |
1. Schmidt Brothers Hex 5-Piece Knife Block Set: Best Overall
Who it’s for: cooks who want a good-looking block without paying for knives they’ll never use.
I’ve said it in plenty of set guides: most people cook with three or four knives. The Hex 5-piece gives you exactly those, an 8″ chef’s knife, an 8″ bread knife, a 5″ utility knife and a 4″ paring knife, plus the block. Nothing here is filler.
The block is the selling point. It’s white oak with a clear acrylic front, and the knives hang on magnets inside, so the blades stay visible and the edges don’t drag through slots. It also takes up less counter space than a 15-slot block.
My reservation is the steel description. The listing says high-carbon German stainless steel and full tang, but no grade or hardness, so I’m judging it as a standard German-style blade: easy to hone, not a long-lasting edge like a Japanese knife.
Key specs
- Knives: 8″ chef’s, 8″ bread, 5″ utility, 4″ paring
- Blade: high-carbon German stainless steel, full tang
- Handle: Schmidt Brothers Curve ergonomic design
- Block: natural white oak and acrylic, magnetic
- Limited lifetime warranty against defects
Pros
- Only the knives most cooks use
- Magnetic block protects edges and looks modern
- Compact on the counter
Cons
- No honing steel or sharpener included
- Steel grade not stated on the listing
My verdict: the Schmidt Brothers buy that makes the most sense. Need steak knives too? The Hex 9-piece adds four, or pair this with the Carbon 6 steak set.
2. Schmidt Brothers Heritage 8″ Chef’s Knife: Best Single Knife
Who it’s for: anyone who wants to try the brand with one knife, or who likes a classic forged German shape.
Heritage is the line where Schmidt Brothers acts most like a traditional German maker. The blade is fully forged from German stainless steel, which gives it a solid, weighty feel and a bolster where blade meets handle.
The detail I like is the Transitional Bolster. Instead of a thick step, it’s sculpted so your fingers move from the blade to the handle without a hard edge. Add the finger curve on the handle and it’s a comfortable knife for anyone who chops with a pinch grip.
Being forged and bolstered makes it heavier than a stamped knife like a Victorinox. Some cooks love that weight on squash and onions; others find it tiring over a long prep session.
Key specs
- Blade: 8″, fully forged German stainless steel
- Bolster: patented Transitional Bolster
- Handle: sculpted, with Schmidt Brothers Curve
- Limited lifetime warranty against defects
Pros
- Traditional forged build with a bolster
- Comfortable for pinch grip users
- Low-risk way to try the brand
Cons
- Heavier than stamped chef’s knives
- Bolster makes full-length sharpening a little harder
My verdict: a solid German-style chef’s knife with a nicer handle than most. If you want the lightest knife possible, look at a Victorinox instead.
3. Schmidt Brothers Bonded Ash 15-Piece Knife Set: Best Full Block
Who it’s for: new homes and wedding lists, where one box should cover every knife job.
The Bonded Ash 15-piece is the brand’s best-known block, and it’s easy to see why. The light ash handles look clean against the big acacia and acrylic magnetic block, and a knife sharpener comes in the box, which many sets skip.
I’m always a bit cautious with 15-piece sets. A good part of that number is usually steak knives, specialty blades, the sharpener and the block itself. If you already own steak knives, the Hex 5-piece is the smarter buy.
Schmidt says the wood is FSC certified and sourced from Germany. It’s still wood, though: hand wash these and dry them, never leave them in the sink.
Key specs
- 15 pieces including a magnetic acacia and acrylic block and a knife sharpener
- Blades: high-carbon German stainless steel
- Handles: ash wood, FSC certified, Schmidt Brothers Curve
- Lifetime warranty against defects
Pros
- Everything in one box, sharpener included
- Striking block with visible blades
- The brand’s most popular set
Cons
- Big block needs counter space
- Some pieces you may never use
- Light wood shows stains if not dried
My verdict: the one to buy if you’re starting from zero and want it all to match. Otherwise, fewer knives in the Hex block go further.
4. Schmidt Brothers Carbon 6 6-Piece Jumbo Steak Knife Set: Best Steak Knives
Who it’s for: steak lovers and gift buyers who want something nicer than the steak knives that come with a block.
“Jumbo” is the right word: these are big, weighty steak knives that feel more like small kitchen knives at the table. Carbon 6 is the brand’s all-steel line, with the blade and handle in one look, so there’s no wood to oil or crack.
Six knives cover a normal family dinner, and the wood gift box makes this an easy present. It’s the Schmidt product I’d pick as a gift for a griller.
The downside of a heavy, all-steel steak knife is that it can feel cold and slippery with greasy fingers, and the size can look big on a small plate.
Key specs
- Six jumbo steak knives
- Blades: high-carbon German stainless steel
- Packaging: wood gift box
- Lifetime warranty against defects
Pros
- No wood handles to look after
- Heavy, substantial feel
- Gift box ready
Cons
- Large for small plates
- Steel handles slip more than textured ones
My verdict: great steak knives for a gift or a barbecue crowd. If you want wood at the table, Schmidt also sells Bonded Teak and Farmhouse steak sets.
Schmidt Brothers vs Other Brands
Schmidt Brothers vs Wüsthof
Wüsthof forges its knives in Solingen, Germany, publishes the steel and hardness, and has a much longer track record. Schmidt Brothers wins on looks and blocks. If the knife matters more than the block, Wüsthof is the safer long-term buy; see my Wüsthof knives review.
Schmidt Brothers vs HENCKELS
HENCKELS sells plain, well-made stamped and forged sets that cost less and are easy to replace piece by piece. Schmidt sets look far more modern. For a practical family kitchen, I’d lean HENCKELS; for a design-led kitchen, Schmidt.
Schmidt Brothers vs Cangshan
These two are close rivals: both are design-led brands that make good-looking German-style knives in China. Cangshan names its steels more clearly and has more lines with forged blades; Schmidt Brothers has the more eye-catching magnetic blocks. I cover the other side in my Cangshan knives review.
Schmidt Brothers vs Victorinox
Victorinox knives are light, grippy and plain, and they’re what I recommend to anyone who only cares how a knife cuts. Schmidt knives are heavier and prettier. My Victorinox chef knife review explains why that plain knife is so popular.
FAQ
Are Schmidt Brothers knives good?
Yes, for home cooks. They use German stainless steel, full tang construction and good handles, with a lifetime warranty against defects. They’re not at the level of Wüsthof or Shun, and much of what you pay for is design.
Are Schmidt Brothers knives made in Germany?
No. The steel is German, but Schmidt Brothers says its knives are designed in New York and assembled in China.
What steel do Schmidt Brothers knives use?
High-carbon German stainless steel. The Heritage line names it as 1.4116; most other lines don’t state a grade. It’s a tough, easy-to-sharpen steel rather than a hard Japanese one.
Can Schmidt Brothers knives go in the dishwasher?
I’d hand wash them. The wood handles crack and fade in a dishwasher, and any knife edge dulls faster when it rattles around in one. If the dishwasher is a must, my dishwasher-safe knife sets guide lists sets whose makers allow it.
Is Schmidt Brothers better than HENCKELS?
Not better, different. HENCKELS is more practical and widely available; Schmidt Brothers has nicer blocks and handles. Both use German-style stainless steel.
Final Verdict
Schmidt Brothers makes good, comfortable German-steel knives wrapped in some of the best-looking storage around. The Hex 5-Piece Knife Block Set is my pick because it gives you the useful knives and the brand’s best block without filler. The Heritage 8″ chef’s knife is the way to try one knife, and the Bonded Ash 15-piece suits anyone kitting out a kitchen from scratch.
Want to compare with other brands’ blocks? See my best knife sets under $200 and my best knife sets overall.
Gary Portman founded knivesadvice.com in 2019. He learned to cook in his family’s kitchen as a kid and has used kitchen, pocket and outdoor knives ever since, from paring and fillet knives to survival blades he carries camping and hiking. He writes the site’s buying guides, brand reviews and sharpening how-tos to help readers find the right knife for the job. More about Gary.