I missed this thread the first time around. It cracks me up how so many people recommended the Victorinox and you ended up with the Henckels.
@pepperhead212, I wonder if the knife you got for your mother was a "single-man" option made with lesser-quality materials and workmanship. It's an easy mistake to make.
Everything You Need To Know About ZWILLING and Henckels – FAQs
blog.kitchenstuffplus.com
I vaguely recall Henkels selling knives under the Henkel's International brand, which were knives made in Spain instead of Germany. They were considerably cheaper.
CD