Product Review · Kitchen Knife Sets · #10 Ranked
HexClad Damascus 6-Piece
Japanese Damascus 6-piece set, no block · Reviewed by Katie · amazon.com live, Sept 24 2026
Why it scored a 80
HexClad's Damascus set has the finest edge in the category, a 12-degree angle on 67-layer steel rated 60 HRC or higher, and it earns Satisfaction 94 from a 4.7-star average over 549 ratings. Value is the caveat at 64, the lowest here. At $439.00 you get five knives and a honing rod but no block, while the Shun Classic 6-Piece includes one for $10.99 more. Reliability sits at 78 because hard, thin edges chip, and HexClad's lifetime warranty excludes chipped blades, rust and handle damage. It is a capable set priced for the name.
What you're getting
- Knives: 8-inch chef, 8-inch bread, 6-inch boning, 5-inch utility
- Also: 3.5-inch paring knife and 9-inch honing rod
- 67 layers of Japanese Damascus steel, rated 60+ HRC
- 12-degree edge from the 3-step Honbazuke method
- Full tang with resin-infused Pakkawood handles
- Hand wash only; frequent honing recommended
- Warranty excludes chips, rust and handle damage
- No knife block included
ViperScore breakdown
At a glance
- 5 Damascus knives + honing rod
- 12-degree edge, 60+ HRC
- No block included
- Price$439.00
- TierJapanese Damascus 6-piece set, no block
- Category rank#10 of 10
Should you buy the HexClad Damascus 6-Piece?
The HexClad Damascus 6-Piece is for a HexClad cookware owner who wants matching knives and a very sharp 12-degree edge. At $439.00 it ranks #10 of 10 in our Kitchen Knife Sets category. It includes a boning knife and a bread knife, which the Shun Classic 6-Piece lacks, but no block. If you want Japanese steel with a block and free sharpening, the Shun is $10.99 more. If you want forged blades for far less, the Mercer Genesis M20000 6-Piece is $129.00.
Where it earns its score
- Satisfaction is 94. A 4.7-star average across 549 ratings is solid for a premium set.
- 12-degree edge. The narrowest edge angle in the category, applied with the 3-step Honbazuke method for keen slicing.
- Five useful knives. Chef, bread, boning, utility and paring knives cover more jobs than the three-knife Shun and Global sets.
- Lifetime warranty. HexClad covers manufacturing defects for life, which scores 95.
What to know first
- Value is the lowest factor at 64. $439.00 without a block is the weakest value here; the Mercer Genesis M20000 6-Piece has five forged knives and a block for $129.00.
- Warranty has limits. HexClad excludes chipped, bent or broken blades, rust, discoloration and Pakkawood handle damage.
- Listing contents vary. The Amazon listing names a 6-inch boning knife, while HexClad's site lists a 7-inch santoku in this set, so check the photos before you order.
Our verdict
The HexClad Damascus 6-Piece scores 80, a Good Buy and #10 in our Kitchen Knife Sets category, on Warranty (95) and Satisfaction (94). Buy it if you want a very sharp 12-degree Damascus set to match HexClad pans and already own storage. If you want Japanese steel with a block, the Shun Classic 6-Piece (82) is $10.99 more.
Shun Classic 6-Piece
Questions buyers ask
Does the HexClad knife set come with a block?
No. This 6-piece set has five knives and a honing rod, so you need a block, strip or blade guards.
What steel are HexClad knives made of?
67 layers of Japanese Damascus steel, rated 60 or higher on the Rockwell C scale, with a 12-degree edge.
Are HexClad knives dishwasher safe?
No. HexClad says to hand wash only and recommends frequent honing.
Ready to check it out?
HexClad Damascus 6-Piece · ViperScore 80 · Good Buy · $439.00
How the other 9 kitchen knife sets scored
87Mercer Genesis M20000 6-Piece
85Cuisinart C77SS-15PK 15-Piece
84Zwilling Pro 7-Piece
84Wüsthof Classic 7-Piece
83Henckels Statement 15-Piece
83Zwilling Four Star 8-Piece
82Global G-2338 3-Piece
82Shun Classic 6-Piece
80McCook 15-Piece Block Set
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