I ended up completely replacing my German made Henckel knives, I had been using for over 30 years. I was tired of having to hit them with steel every time I used them plus the monthly sharpening. I have been extremely happy with these Dalstrong knives so far, after two months of daily use, I have yet to have to sharpen them, and they are still sharp enough to shave with. I did purchase an extra Paring knife, just to practice sharpening. I would recommend that anyone interested in these make certain to view youtube on how to properly sharpen Japanese knives, sharpening is a time consuming proposition that turns into a labor of love. They are a handsome set of knives that really catch the eye and draw your attention to them. The handles fit my hands perfectly and the balance is great. They are a solid well built piece of hardware, that I am sure will last the rest of my lifetime, as well as the next generations to inherit them. I would agree that the some of the extra items shipped with these knives is overkill and the lapel pins are just cheap junk that found the trash. The plastic sheath is very nice and as sharp as these knives are is almost a necessity for personal safety.