Reply #24: Wusthof can't be beat...

[Magrittes Pipe]

...but the professional line Henckel's are just as good. The trouble with Henckel's is that they also make a whole bunch of low-end knives for the Wal-Mart market. Buy the good stuff, and you won't be disappointed.

And I must disagree with the talk about sharpeners. If you treat your knives right, you'll only have to sharpen them every couple of years -- go to a good cooking supply store and have them do it with professional equipment. A steel is a MUST, though, because honing your knives every time you use them is part of proper care, and will prolong the life of the blade (and reduce the frequency of needing to have them sharpened).