I'm going to buck the trend here. I have a huge knife collection, everything from a skinning knife I picked up from someone who worked in a meatpacking facility to high carbon steel knives that I have picked up in various ethnic markets to classic Henkels chef knives to a Shun Santoku. I've never spent more than a few hundred dollars on a single knife, so I can't comment on the really top-end stuff. Anyways, someone decided to get me a knife set (not realizing that I have a huge block of mixed knives that I have chosen over time? maybe just thinking I like kitchen stuff?):

http://www.amazon.com/Kai-Komachi-6-...komachi+knives

And I have to say I love them. Very sharp, I have never had to get them sharpened. I do occasionally give them a few swipes on my steel before I put them up, just a habit, but completely not necessary. I had to do some cooking at my SIL's house, and all her knives were crap, so I had my husband pick up the same 6-piece set at Costco for $30 while he was shopping for the vegetables I was going to chop with the knives. She uses them all the time, throws them in the dishwasher, never sharpens them, stores them in a random drawer in their protective sleeves, and they are still fit for use when I visit. Sometimes I give them a few licks with a steel before I use them.

If your mother is not a serious cook, but just needs some sharp, easy to maintain knives that are convenient, I would highly recommend this set. They are also lightweight and fit smaller hands well. Honestly, for an occasional chef, how many times is she ever going to do more than chop a few onions or cut up a chicken? Get her something that's easy to take care of, inexpensive, and cute. And if she happens to damage one, you can replace the whole set for less than the cost of a 'good' steak knife.

FWIW, I tried some of the global knives and the metal grip was extremely uncomfortable, so a big 'no' vote from me.