Quick Summary
- Best overall: Epicure 17-piece block set, with chef, bread, santoku, boning and six steak knives.
- Best stainless look: Kobe 13-piece block, with stainless steel handles and a sharpener.
- Best small kitchen: Kobe 5-piece block, four compact knives on a half-moon block.
- Most colorful: Tomodachi titanium sets, with coated blades and matching blade guards.
- Key point: these are affordable everyday sets; hand wash them and expect to sharpen often.
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Hampton Forge is an American housewares brand that has sold flatware and cutlery since 1992. Its knife ranges include Epicure, Kobe and the colorful Tomodachi line, and it’s now sold alongside Lenox and Oneida.
Its knife sets are aimed at people who want a full, good-looking set at a low price. They’re not built to compete with forged German or Japanese knives.
Our older version of this review claimed Hampton Forge had made knives “for over 80 years” from high-carbon steel. Neither claim matches the brand’s own information, so we’ve corrected them.
Hampton Forge Sets at a Glance
| Set | Pieces | Blades | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epicure 17-Piece Block Set | 17 | Stainless, hollow-ground | Best overall |
| Kobe 13-Piece Block Set | 13 | Stainless, hollow-ground | Stainless look |
| Kobe 5-Piece Block Set | 5 | Stainless, hollow-ground | Small kitchens |
| Tomodachi Titanium 10-Piece Set | 10 | Titanium-plated | Color and storage |
| Tomodachi Rainbow Black 12-Piece Set | 12 | Titanium-coated | Rainbow finish |
How we chose: we haven’t lab-tested these knives side by side. We compared blade length and shape, steel, construction (forged or stamped), handle design and the makers’ published specifications, and we favored models with a long track record and consistent owner feedback over newer, unproven listings.
Set contents come from Hampton Forge’s and retailers’ product pages. We dropped five sets from the older review because we couldn’t confirm what they contain or they’re no longer sold.
What You Get for the Money
| Feature | Hampton Forge sets | Forged German sets |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Stamped stainless | Forged high-carbon stainless |
| Weight | Light | Heavier, full tang |
| Edge retention | Basic | Good |
| Price for a full set | Low | Several times higher |
| Care | Hand wash | Hand wash |
Light, stamped knives are easy to handle and fine for everyday home cooking. They just need sharpening more often than premium knives.
The Hampton Forge Sets We Recommend
1. Epicure 17-Piece Block Set — Best Overall
Best for: first kitchens and anyone who wants every common knife in one purchase.
The Epicure 17-piece set includes an 8-inch chef’s knife, 8-inch bread knife, 8-inch slicer, 7-inch santoku, 6-inch boning knife, 5-inch santoku, 5-inch utility knife, six 4.5-inch steak knives, a 3.5-inch paring knife, a 3-inch bird’s beak knife, kitchen shears and a pinewood block, according to the brand’s listing.
The blades are stainless steel with a hollow-ground edge, and the soft-grip handles have a bolster and end cap. It’s sold in several colors, including black and pistachio.
Retail listings mention a 25-year limited warranty. Hand washing is recommended.
What we like:
- Very complete set
- Soft-grip handles
- Low price for 17 pieces
What to consider:
- Light, stamped blades
- Needs regular sharpening
Check the current price of the Hampton Forge Epicure 17-piece set on Amazon →
2. Kobe 13-Piece Block Set — Best Stainless Look
Best for: cooks who like a sleek, all-metal look on the counter.
The Kobe 13-piece set includes an 8-inch slicing knife, 7-inch santoku, 6-inch boning knife, 5-inch utility knife, six 4.5-inch steak knives, a 3.5-inch paring knife, a sharpener and a black pinewood block, according to retailer listings.
The handles are stainless steel with a contoured shape. Note that the listing doesn’t include a classic chef’s knife; the 7-inch santoku fills that role.
A 25-year limited warranty is listed, and hand washing is recommended.
What we like:
- Sleek stainless handles
- Includes a sharpener
- Six steak knives
What to consider:
- No chef’s knife
- Metal handles can be slippery when wet
Check the current price of the Hampton Forge Kobe 13-piece set on Amazon →
3. Kobe 5-Piece Block Set — Best for Small Kitchens
Best for: small kitchens, dorms and second homes.
This compact set has a 5.5-inch santoku, 5-inch chef’s knife, 5-inch utility knife and 3.5-inch paring knife on a half-moon block, according to the brand’s listing. The blades are stainless with hollow-ground edges.
All the knives are short, which makes them easy to control on small boards. It’s a tidy starter set that takes up very little counter space.
The listing says hand wash only.
What we like:
- Compact footprint
- Easy to control
- Inexpensive
What to consider:
- Short blades for big jobs
- No bread knife
Check the current price of the Hampton Forge Kobe 5-piece set on Amazon →
4. Tomodachi Titanium 10-Piece Set — Best for Color and Storage
Best for: drawer storage and cooks who want bright, easy-to-tell-apart knives.
This set has five knives (7-inch santoku, 6-inch all-purpose, 5-inch utility, 3.5-inch paring and 3-inch santoku) plus five matching blade guards, according to the brand’s listing. The blades are titanium-plated.
Our older review said this set had eight knives; it has five, and the other five pieces are guards. The guards make drawer storage safer.
The coating gives each knife a bright color but will wear over time. Hand wash only.
What we like:
- Blade guards included
- Bright, colorful finish
- Very affordable
What to consider:
- Coating wears with use
- Only five knives
Check the current price of the Hampton Forge Tomodachi Titanium 10-piece set on Amazon →
5. Tomodachi Rainbow Black 12-Piece Set — Best Rainbow Finish
Best for: cooks who want a striking, colorful set with blade guards.
This 12-piece set includes bread, chef’s, santoku, utility and paring knives with matching blade guards, according to retailer listings. The blades are stainless steel with a rainbow titanium coating, and the handles are black plastic.
Our older review called the blades carbon steel; they’re coated stainless. The nonstick coating helps food release.
Like all coated knives, the finish can scratch over time. Hand wash only.
What we like:
- Eye-catching rainbow finish
- Guards for every knife
- Nonstick coating
What to consider:
- Coating can scratch
- Light plastic handles
Check the current price of the Hampton Forge Tomodachi Rainbow Black set on Amazon →
Tomodachi vs Epicure vs Kobe
| Line | Look | Handles | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epicure | Classic black or colored | Soft-grip with bolster | Pinewood block |
| Kobe | All stainless | Stainless steel | Block |
| Tomodachi | Colorful coated blades | Plastic | Blade guards |
For a deeper look at the colorful range, read our Tomodachi knives review.
Pros and Cons of Hampton Forge Knives
What we like:
- Low price for complete sets
- Light and easy to handle
- Attractive colors and finishes
- Long limited warranties on many sets
What to consider:
- Stamped blades need frequent sharpening
- Steel grade isn’t disclosed
- Coatings can wear
- Not suited to heavy-duty work
Stamped vs Forged Knives Explained
Stamped knives are cut from a flat sheet of steel, then ground, heat-treated and fitted with handles. This keeps costs down and produces light, thin blades.
Forged knives are shaped from a heated bar of steel, usually with a bolster and full tang. They’re heavier, more balanced and generally hold an edge longer, but cost much more.
Many professional cooks happily use stamped knives, such as Victorinox’s Fibrox range. Steel quality and heat treatment matter more than how the blade was formed.
Which Knives in a Set You’ll Actually Use
| Knife | How often | Main jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Chef’s knife or 7″ santoku | Daily | Chopping, slicing, dicing |
| Paring knife | Daily | Peeling, trimming, small fruit |
| Bread knife | Weekly | Bread, tomatoes, cakes |
| Utility knife | Weekly | Sandwiches, cheese, small vegetables |
| Steak knives | At meals | Cutting cooked meat at the table |
| Boning knife | Occasionally | Trimming meat and poultry |
| Bird’s beak knife | Rarely | Peeling round fruit, garnishes |
If you mainly use two or three of these, a smaller set or individual knives may give better value.
Who Should Buy Hampton Forge?
Hampton Forge suits first apartments, students, rentals and occasional cooks. It also makes sense as a spare set for a holiday home.
If you cook every day, one good chef’s knife may serve you better than a large budget set. See our guide to the best chef’s knife for home cooks.
Hampton Forge Alternatives
- Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8″ Chef’s Knife: an inexpensive, highly rated chef’s knife made in Switzerland.
- Mercer Genesis 6-Piece Forged Block Set: a forged set at a moderate price.
- Wüsthof Classic 8″ Chef’s Knife: a forged German chef’s knife for serious cooks.
How to Care for Hampton Forge Knives
- Hand wash in warm, soapy water and dry right away.
- Avoid the dishwasher; it dulls edges and can damage handles and coatings.
- Use the blade guards on Tomodachi knives when storing them in a drawer.
- Hone often and sharpen when the knife starts to slip on tomato skin.
- Use a wood or plastic board, never glass or stone.
For cleaning tips, see how to clean stainless steel knives.
Sharpening Coated Knives
Titanium-coated knives can be sharpened like any other stainless knife. Sharpening removes the coating right at the edge, which is normal and doesn’t affect performance.
Use a pull-through sharpener or a medium whetstone at about 15 to 20 degrees per side. Avoid scraping the coated faces on the stone, which scratches the color.
Choosing the Right Set Size
Most home cooks use three knives for nearly everything: a chef’s knife or santoku, a paring knife and a bread knife. Large sets add steak knives and specialty blades that may rarely be used.
If counter space is tight, the Kobe 5-piece or a Tomodachi set with guards is easier to store. If you entertain often, the six steak knives in the Epicure and Kobe 13-piece sets are useful.
When to Replace a Budget Knife
Replace a knife if the handle cracks or loosens, the blade bends, or the tip snaps. A loose handle can trap bacteria and is unsafe to use.
Dullness alone isn’t a reason to replace a knife. Even inexpensive stainless blades can be brought back to a good edge with a sharpener or whetstone.
Warranty and Where to Buy
Many Hampton Forge block sets list a 25-year limited warranty against defects, but it doesn’t cover wear, misuse or dishwasher damage. Keep your receipt and check the terms for the specific set you buy.
Hampton Forge sets are sold through the brand, Amazon and major retailers, and prices vary a lot between sellers. Compare a few before buying.
Knife Safety With a New Set
- Store knives in the block or guards, never loose in a drawer.
- Keep knives sharp; dull blades slip and need more force.
- Use the claw grip, tucking your fingertips behind your knuckles.
- Never try to catch a falling knife. Step back and let it drop.
- Wash knives separately rather than leaving them in a sink of soapy water.
Our Verdict
Hampton Forge makes attractive, affordable knife sets that cover everyday cooking well. The Epicure 17-piece is the best all-round choice, the Kobe sets suit people who like stainless styling, and Tomodachi adds color and safe drawer storage.
If you later want to upgrade, keep the steak knives and paring knife and add one better chef’s knife. That gives you most of the benefit of a premium set at a fraction of the price.
Just treat them as budget knives. Hand wash, hone and sharpen them regularly, and they’ll serve a casual home kitchen for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Hampton Forge knives good?
They’re good value for everyday home cooking, but they’re basic stamped knives rather than premium cutlery.
Where are Hampton Forge knives made?
The brand doesn’t state the country of manufacture on its product pages. Check the box or listing.
Are Hampton Forge knives dishwasher safe?
Most listings say hand wash only.
What is Tomodachi?
Tomodachi is Hampton Forge’s line of colorful, coated knives, usually sold with blade guards.
Do Hampton Forge knives rust?
They’re stainless, but leaving them wet or in the dishwasher can cause spots. Dry them after washing.
Which Hampton Forge set is best?
The Epicure 17-piece block set offers the most complete range for the price.
