Dalstrong Lifetime warranty
Gladiator Series · 18 Piece Colossal Knife Block Set

Upgrade everything. Eighteen pieces, one decision.

Eleven prep knives, six matching steak knives, a honing steel and a hand finished acacia block. Razor sharp out of the box, NSF certified, German steel on all eighteen. Retire the drawer.

Bought one by one$1,339
The full set today$369
You keep $970. That is $20.50 a piece.
See the three offers
4.8 from 354 verified reviews70 day money backLifetime warrantyFree US shipping, ships in 24h
Dalstrong Gladiator Series 18 piece Colossal knife block set, black handles, acacia block
4.8 from 354 reviewsVerified buyers on dalstrong.com
70 day money backCook with it first, decide later
Lifetime warrantyAgainst defects, for as long as you own it
Free US shippingShips within 24 hours
18
Pieces, one block
56
Rockwell hardness
NSF
Certified for pro kitchens
354
Verified reviews
70
Day money back
The drawer problem

There are two kinds of kitchens.

The first has a drawer with nine mystery knives, one of which is "the good one." You reach for it, it is dirty, and the bread gets sawed with a steak knife.

The second has a block on the counter. The right blade for every job, always in the same slot, always sharp. Sunday roast, carving knife. Ramen night, nakiri. Steak for six, six matching steak knives.

The second kitchen costs $369, once. That is the whole set, block included, for less than a single chef knife from the legacy German brands.

The Gladiator 18 piece block on a kitchen island
The math, in one picture

One at a time: $1,339. In the block: $369.

The same 18 pieces, bought one at a time$1,339
The 18 Piece Colossal block$369
You keep $970. Every knife lands at $20.50.
8" Chef Knife
8" Chef Knife
$79$20.50
Save $58
8.5" Kiritsuke
8.5" Kiritsuke
$79$20.50
Save $58
7" Nakiri
7" Nakiri
$79$20.50
Save $58
9" Slicer (12" shown)
9" Slicer (12" shown)
$99$20.50
Save $78
9" Bread Knife (10" shown)
9" Bread Knife (10" shown)
$89$20.50
Save $68
6" Boning Knife
6" Boning Knife
$69$20.50
Save $48
10" Honing Steel
10" Honing Steel
$69$20.50
Save $48
3.5" Paring Knife
3.5" Paring Knife
$35$20.50
Save $14
Get all 18 for $369
See all 18 pieces priced one at a time
Piece Sold alone
8" Chef Knife $79
8.5" Kiritsuke Chef Knife $79
7" Santoku Knife $79
7" Nakiri Knife $79
9" Serrated Bread Knife (closest: 10") $89
9" Slicing and Carving Knife (closest: 12") $99
10" Honing Steel $69
6" Boning Knife $69
6" Utility Knife $49
6" Serrated Utility Knife (closest match) $69
3.5" Paring Knife $35
2.75" Bird's Beak Paring Knife $35
Six 5" Steak Knives (sold in sets of 4, $119) $178.50
18 slot acacia block (closest: universal block) $119
Bought one at a time, with a block $1,127.50
18 Piece Colossal Block Set $369

Standalone prices are today's dalstrong.com prices for the matching Gladiator Series piece; where a size is not sold alone the closest single item is used and marked. Dalstrong lists the set's full individual value at $1,339. Checked 2026-09-02.

What is in the block

Every knife a kitchen reaches for. Not one filler piece.

The daily seven

Weeknight prep, Sunday roasts, bread, and the one knife you reach for first.

  • 8" Chef Knife
  • 8.5" Kiritsuke Chef Knife
  • 7" Santoku Knife
  • 7" Nakiri Knife
  • 9" Serrated Bread Knife
  • 9" Slicing and Carving Knife
  • 10" Honing Steel

The precision five

Butchery, sandwiches, fruit, and the small jobs the chef knife is wrong for.

  • 6" Boning Knife, flexible
  • 6" Utility Knife
  • 6" Serrated Utility Knife
  • 3.5" Paring Knife
  • 2.75" Bird's Beak Paring Knife

Dinner for six

Steak night for six, matching handles, straight edges that do not tear the meat.

  • Six 5" straight edge steak knives, matching handles

The block

A slot for every piece. The drawer is retired.

  • Hand finished acacia block with a slot for every piece, plus the Dalstrong crest
The five precision knives and six steak knives from the 18 piece set
What makes it a Gladiator

Seven things you are paying for. Scroll.

Every one of the eighteen pieces is built the same way. This is that way.

German X50CrMoV15 steel, on every bladeLionShield heat treatment: fire, then iceD3 sharpening to 16 to 18 degreesFull tang, triple rivetedAn ABS handle shaped for a long shiftA satin blade that does not stickThe block: acacia, tilted, a slot for everything
01

German X50CrMoV15 steel, on every blade

High carbon for a razor edge, high chromium so it shrugs off rust and wear. Produced with Outokumpu, the Finnish steel group with a century of metallurgy behind it. The steak knives are made of the same stuff as the chef knife.

X50CrMoV15 · 56 HRC
02

LionShield heat treatment: fire, then ice

Every blade is heat hardened for toughness, then taken sub zero to lock the steel's microstructure. That is what gives it edge retention without brittleness. It will not chip, and it will not break.

Thermo + cryo treated
03

D3 sharpening to 16 to 18 degrees

Ground, polished and honed horizontally and vertically, then finished with the Japanese Honbazuke method. The sweet spot between a scalpel and an edge that lasts. Every blade is tested before it ships.

16 to 18° double bevel
04

Full tang, triple riveted

One piece of steel from the tip to the end cap, pinned three times through the handle. Nothing to work loose after years of use. It is the construction pro knives use and box sets skip.

Full tang · 3 stainless rivets
05

An ABS handle shaped for a long shift

Impact resistant polymer that ignores heat, cold and moisture. Gently curved to sit in the hand, with a full bolster for power and a stainless end cap that balances the weight so your wrist does the least work.

Full bolster · balanced end cap
06

A satin blade that does not stick

The polished satin finish cuts friction, so onions fall away instead of clinging. Cleaner, straighter cuts from full day prep to the last presentation slice.

Satin finish · low drag
07

The block: acacia, tilted, a slot for everything

Handcrafted acacia resists moisture, bacteria and scratches. The forward tilt clears an upper cabinet when you draw the tallest knife. Eighteen slots, so nothing lives in a drawer again.

Acacia wood · 18 slots
Anatomy of a Gladiator

Tap around the knife.

Five parts, and why each one is built the way it is.

The blade

The blade

German X50CrMoV15 high carbon stainless, hardened to 56 HRC. Hard enough to hold an edge, tough enough never to chip.

  • Razor sharp out of the box, D3 sharpened
  • Satin finish for less drag
  • NSF certified for professional kitchens
The edge

The edge

Double bevel at 16 to 18 degrees per side, finished by hand. Precise enough for paper thin slices, robust enough for daily prep.

  • Honbazuke three step finish
  • Holds its edge for months of home use
  • Honing steel included to keep it there
Full tang, triple riveted

Full tang, triple riveted

The steel runs the full length of the handle in one piece and is pinned three times. It is why the knife feels solid and stays solid.

  • No loosening after years of use
  • Stainless rivets, sealed
  • Same construction on all 18 pieces
The handle

The handle

Durable ABS polymer, gently curved, with a classic full bolster. It withstands heat, moisture and impact, and it cleans up with soap and water.

  • Weight balanced by a stainless end cap
  • Comfortable through long prep sessions
  • Tested to 18 durability standards
The block

The block

Handcrafted acacia, tilted forward so the tallest knives clear the cabinet above. A slot for every piece and a place the sharp one always is.

  • Resists moisture, bacteria and scratches
  • About the footprint of a stand mixer
  • Made to sit on the counter, not in a cupboard
Side by side

How it compares

Dalstrong 18 Piece Colossal Wüsthof Classic block set Zwilling Professional S 18 piece 18 Gladiator pieces bought alone
Price $369 $1,145 $850 $1,339
Pieces 18 plus acacia block 15 18 18, no block
Per piece $20.50 $76 $47 $74
Steel German X50CrMoV15, 56 HRC, on all 18 German steel German steel Same as the set
Steak knives 6, straight edge, matching Depends on set 8 Sold as a set
NSF certified Yes Not stated Not stated Yes
Try it at home 70 days, full refund Standard returns Standard returns 70 days
Warranty Lifetime against defects Lifetime, limited Lifetime, limited Lifetime against defects
Where it wins Price, pieces, trial window Heritage, made in Solingen Made in Germany, forged Pick your own pieces

Competitor prices checked on their US sites on 2026-09-02 and rounded to the dollar. They change; the point does not.

From customers' kitchens

Unstaged. Unpaid. Their photos.

Customer photo of every knife in the set laid out on a board
Mr. C."About half the price of Global, Zwilling, Wüsthof. They feel real quality and look great."
Customer photo of the block handles
Gina C."A beautiful statement piece in our kitchen. Sharp with a nice weight to them."
Customer photo of the block on a counter
Joshua C., verified buyer"Guests marvel at this set on my kitchen counter. I will never need another block set."
Choose your set

Three ways to leave the drawer behind

Every option ships free in the US, carries the lifetime warranty and the seventy day money back promise. Pick the one that finishes your kitchen.

Good

The 18 Piece Colossal Set

★★★★★ 4.8 from 354 verified reviews
18 piece Colossal block set, black handles
$369$1,339Save $970
$20.50 per piece, block included
Klarna 4 payments of $92.25, 0% interest

Eighteen pieces and the block. $20.50 a piece.

  • All 18 pieces plus the acacia block ($1,339 list value)
  • German X50CrMoV15 steel on every blade, 56 HRC
  • NSF certified, hand sharpened 16 to 18 degrees
  • Free US shipping, ships within 24 hours
Get the set
70 Day Full Kitchen Test Drive. Cook with it, or send it back for a full refund. Lifetime warranty after that.
Most chosen
Better

The Set + Professional Shears

★★★★★ 4.8 from 354 verified reviews
Dalstrong Professional Kitchen Scissors
$419$448Shears for $50, not $79
Shears for $50 instead of $79
Klarna 4 payments of $104.75, 0% interest

The one thing the block does not hold. Spatchcock a chicken, break down packaging, open the bag of anything.

  • Everything in the 18 piece set
  • Professional Kitchen Scissors ($79 value) for $50
  • $29 off applied at checkout with code LP18-SHEARS
  • Free US shipping, ships within 24 hours
Code LP18-SHEARS is applied for you.
Get the set + shears
70 Day Full Kitchen Test Drive. Cook with it, or send it back for a full refund. Lifetime warranty after that.
Best value
Best

The Complete Kitchen: Set + Shears + Hornet Sharpener

★★★★★ 4.8 from 354 verified reviews
Dalstrong Hornet three stage knife sharpener
$489$557Save $68
Sharpener for $60, shears for $50
Klarna 4 payments of $122.25, 0% interest

Never pay for sharpening again. The Hornet's three stage water sharpener is built for the Gladiator's 16 to 18 degree edge.

  • Everything in the 18 piece set
  • Professional Kitchen Scissors ($79 value) for $50
  • Hornet 3 stage sharpener ($109 value) for $60, built for the set's 16 to 18 degree edge
  • $68 off applied at checkout with code LP18-KIT
  • Free US shipping, ships within 24 hours
Code LP18-KIT is applied for you. Hornet stock is limited.
Get the complete kitchen
70 Day Full Kitchen Test Drive. Cook with it, or send it back for a full refund. Lifetime warranty after that.

Prices in USD. Free US shipping on every option, ships within 24 hours. Seventy day money back guarantee and lifetime warranty against defects on all Dalstrong products. Klarna: pay in 4 interest free installments at checkout, subject to Klarna approval. Add on codes apply to the shears and sharpener only and do not combine with other discount codes.

At work with the pros

The knives on the line at real restaurants.

Dalstrong steel is on the bench of executive chefs, private chefs, pitmasters, sushi instructors and butchers. Same Gladiator Series steel as the block on your counter.

Chef Jackie Cheung
Chef Jackie CheungSous Chef, Cantina Mercato
Chef Gaetano Ferrara
Chef Gaetano FerraraPrivate Chef
Chef Jill Hillier
Chef Jill HillierPrivate Chef and Instructor, Toronto
Chef Böhmer
Chef BöhmerBoehmer Restaurant, Toronto
Chef Gianluca
Chef GianlucaPrivate Chef, Toronto
Butcher Jaime Lawson
Butcher Jaime LawsonDi Liso's Fine Meats, Toronto
Chef Andy Matsuda
Chef Andy MatsudaSushi Chef Institute, Torrance
Aaron Asir
Aaron AsirBBQ Pitmaster, BBQ Kings Canada

Pros pictured cook with Dalstrong knives, as featured on dalstrong.com. NSF certification means the Gladiator Series is cleared for professional kitchens.

354 verified reviews, 4.8 average, 86 with photos

Sharp. Balanced. Worth the counter space.

4.84★★★★★354 verified reviews on dalstrong.com, 86 with photos
★★★★★

I purchased and returned 7 sets of knives. I started in the $40 range, then $60, $75, $100, $150, $250, then a $299 set. I found issue with each and every one. I received the Dalstrong set this evening and right out of the box I was in awe. These make our Wüsthof Classics look sad and these are a quarter the cost.

Papa T. · 2022
★★★★★

This set is replacing my $200 Cuisinart set as well as my $300 Henckels. Super sharp. Quality so far exquisite, easy to clean and care for.

Pavle P., verified buyer · 2023
★★★★★

I bought this set years ago after my wife and I got married. The steak knives and the chef's knife get the most use and have held up extremely well for several years. I sharpen them with my whetstone 2 to 3 times a year and they are just like new each time.

Scott, verified buyer · 2025
★★★★★

Purchased this large block set for my husband. He only had a Wüsthof chef knife prior and this has easily become his favorite brand by far. He especially loves that it came with good steak knives.

J. J., verified buyer · 2023
★★★★★

The knives are incredibly sharp right out of the box and feel perfectly balanced in hand. It is clear that quality and craftsmanship were a priority in this set.

Donna M., verified buyer · February 2026
★★★★★

I have been using my set for over a year now and they are easily the best knives I have ever had. With the gorgeous wood block they are attractive enough that I keep them on my counter all the time. I just bought a set for my grandson's wedding gift.

Flightnurse · 2019
Before you decide

Questions people ask us

Can they go in the dishwasher?

No. Hand wash, dry, ten seconds a knife. Dishwashers dull any real edge and will discolor the handles over time. The set comes with care instructions and a honing steel to keep the edge between sharpenings.

Will they rust?

High carbon German steel holds an edge because it is harder than soft stainless, and any knife made of it can show surface spots if left wet. Wash and dry promptly and they stay bright. Owners report no rust, chipping or discoloration after years of daily use when cared for this way.

How big is the block? Will it fit under my cabinets?

About the footprint of a stand mixer, and it tilts forward, so the tallest knives clear a standard upper cabinet when you pull them. "Being tilted forward lets me easily clear the cabinet above." Jim C. Plan for real counter space; owners call it a statement piece, not a gadget.

Which knives are actually in the 18 pieces?

Seven daily blades (8" chef, 8.5" kiritsuke, 7" santoku, 7" nakiri, 9" bread, 9" slicing and carving, 10" honing steel), five precision blades (6" boning, 6" utility, 6" serrated utility, 3.5" paring, 2.75" bird's beak) and six matching 5" straight edge steak knives. Plus the block.

Are the knives too big for smaller hands?

They are full size, professional weight knives. Most owners describe the balance as the reason they love them; a few with smaller hands prefer the santoku and utility knives for daily prep. The 70 day trial exists so you can find out in your own kitchen.

What if something arrives damaged or a knife does not fit the block?

Email support with a photo. Real examples from reviews: a replacement set shipped in four days, a reply within 24 hours over the holidays, missing steak knives sent immediately. Seventy day money back, then the lifetime warranty against defects.

What steel is it, exactly?

German X50CrMoV15 high carbon stainless on every blade, hardened to 56 Rockwell, hand sharpened to 16 to 18 degrees per side, full tang and triple riveted. NSF certified for professional kitchens.

Cook first. Decide later.

Seventy days in your kitchen, not seventy seconds on a product page. If the set is not everything this page says, send it back for a full refund. Keep it, and the lifetime warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship for as long as you own it.

Get the set for $369
Who makes it

Dalstrong, since 2012

Dalstrong started in 2012 because good knives cost too much and cheap knives were not good. Fourteen years and over a million kitchens later, the Gladiator Series is the set most of them started with: professional steel, honest prices, a warranty we actually honor, and humans answering the support inbox. Designed in Tampa, made to be used hard.

Hands on the Gladiator 18 piece block