I probably don't sharpen my knives nearly often enough. I have the little hand-held sharpener and there's really no reason I shouldn't use it every time I use the knife. I need to take better care of them.

Twinmamma,

As a temporary CHEAP solution until you get a new knife block, take an empty cardboard paper towel tube, compress it, fold one end down about 2 inches, tape it down with duct tape then wrap around the entire length of the cardboard tube with duct tape. Insert your knife in the other opened end. Makes a great knife protector for a large knife that will last a LONG time. You can cut to fit varying knife lengths.

I dont have a knife block at this time. I just have a drawer full of knives.

I have both - a drawer full of my old not so great knives, and a block for my good Henckels knives.

One of the nicest wedding gifts that we received was a set of beautiful steak knives in a lovely case and inside was a shiny penny with the year of our marriage. I just thought the penny was for good luck

---

now I know the real reason and luckily we've never cut ourselves using them

---

now chef's knives, paring knives, that's a different story!!!