Steak knife sets occupy an odd spot in the kitchen. They are used for a few minutes at a time, usually at the table, and then sit in a drawer or block for the rest of the week. That makes the Laguiole Style de Vie Luxury Line set of six a slightly unusual proposition: it is a set built around presentation as much as function, with rosewood handles and a gift box that suggests it is meant to be seen, not just used. The question is whether the design holds up once the box is open and the knives are actually cutting.
The first thing to understand is the construction. These are non-serrated steak knives, which is a deliberate choice rather than an oversight. A plain edge slices cleanly through a steak when it is sharp, and it can be resharpened at home with a steel or a whetstone. Serrated knives, by contrast, are forgiving for a long time but difficult to restore once the teeth dull. The Laguiole Style de Vie knives fall on the side of maintainability, though that comes with a caveat covered below. The blades are stainless steel, the handles are rosewood, and the shape follows the familiar Laguiole silhouette with its gently curved spine and slim profile.
In real-world use, this set fits a specific scenario well: a dinner table where the knives are part of the setting rather than an afterthought. The rosewood handles give them a warmer look than all-steel steak knives, and the slim blades move through a piece of meat without the tearing that a dull serrated edge can produce. They are light in the hand, which some diners will appreciate and others will find insubstantial compared with heavier forged knives. For a dinner party or a family meal where the table is set properly, they look the part.
Functionally, the plain edge is the set’s main talking point. A sharp non-serrated blade cuts steak with less sawing, and the slices tend to hold their shape. The trade-off is that this performance depends on the edge being maintained. Out of the box the knives arrive with a usable edge, but it is not a razor edge, and it will need attention after a number of meals. Anyone expecting a serrated knife’s years of low-maintenance service will be disappointed. This is a set that asks for occasional sharpening, and if that is not something you want to do, a serrated set is the more practical choice.
There are other limitations worth naming. The rosewood handles, while attractive, are wood, and wood requires a little care. They should not sit in a dishwasher for cycle after cycle; hand washing is the safer routine if you want the finish to last. The knives are also relatively lightweight, and the blades are on the thinner side, so they are not built for heavy-handed use or for cutting through bone or very dense cuts. They are dining knives, not kitchen workhorses. Treating them as the latter will shorten their life.
Compared with a typical all-stainless serrated steak knife set, the Laguiole Style de Vie set trades convenience for control and appearance. A serrated set from a mainstream brand will cost less, survive neglect, and never need sharpening, but it will also tear at the meat more and look utilitarian on the table. Compared with higher-end forged steak knives, this set sits in the middle: more considered than a budget set, but not built to the same weight or heft as a premium forged line. The gift box reinforces that positioning. It is a presentable package, and the set reads as a gift rather than a utility purchase.
Who is this for? It suits someone who sets a table with some care, who is willing to hand wash and occasionally sharpen, and who prefers the look of rosewood and the clean cut of a plain edge. It also works well as a housewarming or wedding gift, since the box does much of the presentation work. Who is it not for? Households that rely on the dishwasher for everything, people who want a steak knife they can ignore for a decade, and anyone who regularly cuts through tougher cuts or bone. For those users, a serrated or heavier forged set is the more sensible purchase.
The Laguiole Style de Vie Luxury Line set is a reasonable choice when its constraints match your habits. It is not a set that flatters neglect, and it is not the cheapest way to put six steak knives on a table. But for a household that treats tableware as something to look after, the combination of a plain edge, rosewood handles, and a presentable box makes sense. The main thing to decide before buying is whether you want a knife that rewards maintenance or one that tolerates indifference. This set is firmly in the first category.