These are nice-looking knives. The Damascus is an artificially etched thing, which I knew going into the purchase. Thats not a big concern. The steel is good, but not the very best. It is a budget steel that generally provides good value, but like anything, you get what you pay for. But the thing that I dont like (at all) is the butt is the knife (aka, the pommel). It is not the same size as the handle, so it gives a poor fit and finish to the knife. If you look at the attached picture, the guitar pick points to my area of frustration. When you hold the knife, it is not a smooth finish from the handle to the pommel. The Pommel juts out slightly with sharp edges.Part of the problem is the handles. They are decent looking, but not carefully crafted. On the paring knife, the wood is roughly finished. I have been regularly using mineral oil on them to ensure a smooth, moist finish without shrinkage. But it hasnt helped improve what started as poor workmanship.As far as the blades go, they are decent. They are not exceptionally sharp and haven't held a razor edge over multiple uses. The CrMoV (Chrome-Moly-Vanadium) is a Chinese steel that is used quite extensively in knives marketed in the 'value' category. The steel is respectable in corrosion resistance. It is on the lower end of edge retention, and conversely, it scores high in its ease of sharpening. My experience with these is that I have had to sharpen more frequently than most reviews suggest.I am ok with my purchase, but not thrilled.UPDATE: ****BONUS STARS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE****I wrote what I believe is an honest review about these knives, including a 3-star rating -- good but not great. A few days later, I received an email through Amazon from the customer service department at Paudin. They apologized for not living up to my expectations. They said they wanted to make it right and would revisit their inspection practice. I replied that I would continue to use the knives and hadn't expected them to do anything. They chose to refund my money for the purchase. It was impressive to have a transaction with a company that PROACTIVELY stands behind its product. I have now changed my rating to 4 stars based on a product that is of reasonable quality, good-looking, and I enjoy using...and because of Paudin's rare and thoughtful approach to customer satisfaction. As a side note, I also purchased the 12-inch carving knife that has a good fit and finish. I used it last night on a smoked flank steak and it cut perfectly. Thanks, Paudin.