What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £100 (~$133) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £85 (~$113) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £65 (~$87) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £45 (~$60) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £25 (~$33) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Large appliances that need collection and a van, and small ones that have simply been descaled badly or not at all. On cookware, the state of the coating.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a knife set is worth what is being asked:
- Chipped or badly reground edges
- Loose handles and exposed tangs
- Rust pitting on carbon steel
- Stamped budget knives
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Forged, full-tang construction
- Recognised knife makers
- Straight edges with no chips
- Complete sets with the original block
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeit premium cookware exists and is usually detectable on weight and base markings, which genuine pieces cast in rather than print.
Ask for the model number and the age, and for large appliances ask whether it can be wheeled out and whether there are stairs. Ask for a photograph of the interior.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about a knife set, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Sight along each edge under a light and say. Small chips grind out; a large chip near the tip is a permanent change to the knife’s shape.
Photograph the stamp on the blade. On knives the maker is most of the value, and buyers will identify a good one from the mark faster than from your description.
Check your carrier’s rules first. Several services restrict or refuse bladed articles, and the ones that accept them require specific packaging and adult signature on delivery.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Look at the bolster and spine for forged construction
- Check every edge for chips under light
- Confirm the block and all knives are present
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The whole set laid out together, blades visible, on a plain surface
- The block or case, showing every slot and whether any is empty
- One blade close up along its edge, showing sharpness and any chip
- The maker’s stamp on the blade or tang, plus any rust, chip or loose handle
Details to confirm before you commit
- Maker, model or range, and how many pieces
- Blade lengths, and steel type if marked
- Whether the block, case or sharpening steel is included
- Condition of each edge and handle, and any rust, chip or replaced piece
Live knife set listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse kitchen & appliances for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Lifts before Christmas and in January. Named Japanese and German makers sell within days; unbranded block sets are slow and compete on price alone.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have a knife set sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell knife set for what to photograph and how to price, or what knife set is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used knife set?
Around £10 to £65 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check a knife set before buying?
Ask for the model number and the age, and for large appliances ask whether it can be wheeled out and whether there are stairs. Ask for a photograph of the interior.
Is buying a knife set second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Large appliances that need collection and a van, and small ones that have simply been descaled badly or not at all. On cookware, the state of the coating.
See also: all buying guides · knife set value guide · selling knife set · Kitchen & Appliances · condition grades.