Top 10 chess knight designs

NEW Visit my chess inspired store chessaesthetic.etsy.com/
T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, wall arts and more!
#chess #unboxing #review
If this video helped you to make up your mind about your next purchase, you can consider using some of my affiliate links to buy chess pieces. In this was my channel get small commission which really helps me:
10. Chavet
amzn.to/3UBbVoL
9. Zagreb
amzn.to/41pmBsN
8. CB Red Rum
amzn.to/3mvKyQu
7. Sinquefield cup
amzn.to/3GJRBff
6. Morphy
amzn.to/3KYoS96
5. 1849 Staunton
amzn.to/3UyfeNA
4. Dubrovnik 1950 Olympiad
amzn.to/3MIt9Po
3. French Lardy
Vintage originals are the best, but this is one decent reproduction:
royalchessmall.com/products/i...
2. Cooke
Temporary unavailable
1. Dubrovnik 1970s
Temporary unavailable

[@ArthurRChan]

I've always found the Zagreb-style knights appealing.

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for the comment! Zagreb is a true classic :)

[@broken1394]

They're okay but it bugs me they're much later than they pretend to be. Pretty Zagreb 59 wad Dubrovnik.

[@Crazeyfor67]

I really like the 1849 heirloom set. The Rooks are taller. I don't think rooks such be dwarfed by the minor pieces.

[@Vanq78]

I like the knight of the Modena set best to look at but maybe not to play with like you said.

[@johngisbourne7197]

I looked at German Knight sets the last days and they look awesome. Totally different and charismatic.

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for the comment! The German knight is one true classic, everybody should own that set hehe :) I also own it, don't hesitate to get it you will be happy for sure!

[@thudor1]

The true test of a carver is not just the making of the knight, but the ability to replicate it thrice for a set!!

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for the comment! Now that is a great point you are saying. I am still amazed to this day how skilled they are.

[@thudor1]

@@RandomChessTalk< yes. Those craftsmen in Amritsar, Punjab are so dedicated to their art, right down to the careful way they wrap the finished product for shipping all over the world!

[@gcacho85]

Zagreb is my favorite, I enjoy playing that set. The knights is very pleasant to the eyes

[@emmanuelperante1995]

Love your content😍

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks man I appreciate it! ✌✌

[@EngineVSEngine]

I wish they would make them all to fit larger boards. For example you never see Zagreb chess pieces suitable for 2.5 inch squares, they're always for smaller boards.

[@Kubooxooki]

I love all of these. One of my favorites that is missing here is the knight from the Hastings Congress chess set (they sell a reproduction called 1930s-1970s set). The ears protrude a bit so it's not ideal for playing, but oh it is so beautiful 👌 Thanks for sharing this. Loved this ranking.

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for the comment! I agree that Hastings is also quite remarkable, top 10 is too short list for us hehe!

[@demolicionesdemexico]

Fir me No1 World championship set 2013 No 2 the number 4 Dubvrovnik vintage

[@HS-mb6md]

Thanks so much for the video! I love 1849 Nathaniel Cooke Staunton. Out of so many shops, I agree the #2 Cooke from Staunton Castle has done a great reproduction because of the fairly beefy face - I do not like the big sunk on the horse face at the area right blow the eye. However, the ear seems overly small.

[@RandomChessTalk]

I appreciate your insight, stay tuned for more :)

[@nunocastro1810]

Excellent content! You've gained a new subscriber... My favorite knight on your list is the 1849 Heirloom Staunton Chess Set Ebony & Distressed Boxwood Pieces. Wonderfully hand carved, with full of character and history in my humble opinion. I just have only one "good" set, is the 3.5" Persian Knight Staunton Chess Pieces Only set - Weighted Rosewood (at royalchessmall). My next purchase will goes to the Dubrovnik set but I’m waiting too for something more accurate. Thanks for your videos!

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for the comment and subscription! 1849 Heirloom is a great knight, and by many the best design ever. Persian knight are also quite remarkable pieces, congratulations on that purchase! We are both waiting for the Fisher Dubrovnik, we won't accept anything but the best hehe. Tomorrow probably I will post an unboxing and a full review of a Chavet pieces from RCM. Stay tuned and thanks once again for joining in!

[@nunocastro1810]

@@RandomChessTalk Thank you for the answer. Fisher Dubrovnik, we won't accept anything but the really best at all ehehe. I will waiting the review of a Chavet pieces and congratulations for your purchase too!! Thanks again.

[@carljuztine3328]

i was expecting the Dubrovnik knight and i wasn't disappointed, it is indeed the best knight

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for the feedback! Happy it didn't disappoint you :)

[@fanoflanguages7278]

Interesting video. I think all the designs are nice, but for playing I would prefer the French Lardy knight. Also, the Zagreb knight is nice to use because of unique design.

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for the comment. Lardy is just mesmerizing I fully agree on that!

[@PiezasdeAjedrez]

Will always love the Cooke design (original Staunton)

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for the comment! Cooke is a golden standard, I like it a lot. Hope to see you make some new videos :)

[@erwin_tale]

Very nice video! What do you think about Warsaw 1935 Casablanca Chess Set?

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for the comment! I think it is a quite unique set, very recognizable, two colour queen and the king are pretty rare, so I'm sure it will be eye catching for a lot of people.

[@demolicionesdemexico]

What I don't like about the nights is that almost all of them are very different than the rest of the pieces, what do we mean by that is that is you watch the night have eyes nose lips even teeth... And in times the nights have eyes like crazy, frentic eyes, or they have a face look scared to death... Or eyes almost jump out off the skull...And the rest of the pieces to not have any of that so I feel like always the horses break the harmony of the other pieces that what I like the most the set world championship set of two thousand and 13... Greetings from México

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thank you for your point of view. I see it as the most interesting pieces of the set, like it carries the biggest aesthetics responsibility, if it is bad, it can ruin the appearance of the whole set, and if it is very good, it can elevate the set with even generic pieces.

[@marcelo291180]

Dubrovinik definitely deserves historical respect - especially for having Fischer as main sponsor… but looks very unaesthetic for my taste. Zagreb is my favorite knight design!

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for the comment! stay tuned 👍

[@MrJayspeaks]

The Lardy knights are huge!😅

[@RandomChessTalk]

Lardy is just majestic! :D

[@chriswalker810]

Here's my top 10. 10: French Lardy vintage and reproduction 9: 1941 Liberty the father of the Lardy design in my opinion 8: Craftsman/Sinquefield 7: Hungarian/Romanian tournament 6: Bohemia dragon head version 5: Dubrovnik Fischer set 4: Austrian Coffeehouse 3: Reykjavik 1972 Championship 2: Drueke Players Choice 1: Zagreb/St. Petersburg Some of these are within your list as well but maybe not in the same number value.

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks a lot for your list! The next video is going to be Zagreb :)

[@MujoNovak]

Beautiful Chess set depends on two things: queens crown and knight. I saw nice sets but failed bigtime on this two.

[@RandomChessTalk]

Hehe thanks for stopping by! :)

[@demolicionesdemexico]

I like very much the hight if the Larde's Rook near the hight of Night!!!

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.

[@veryoldjohnson]

Is there a company that offers 'molds' for sale to the public?

[@RandomChessTalk]

I believe you can order moulds in specialised companies. Try to search a little bit I'm sure you will find some info about that.

[@savoie19]

German knight for me! Or Fischer-Spassky style. Nice and simple.

[@RandomChessTalk]

Go for it! :D

[@gratis]

What is your opinion on modern knights like "2021 Official FIDE World Chess Set"? that they try to be more geometric and not realistic

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for the question. I like everything about that set except the most important part - the knight. There are some more and some less successful variations of that knight, but overall I don't like it that much, even though I like geometric and modern. I think the best looking knight from that design is from a plastic version. But unfortunately, the plastic set it is not very well weighted.

[@eighteenin78]

I am not a collector but I do have a few sets. If I could only have just one knight, it would be an early Staunton design, not the Morphy. Maybe the Paulsen or the Anderssen. Otherwise I am not a big fan of the more eastern designs. Some knights are well designed in a modernistic sense and they are actually easier to be machine crafted once the technique is learned, so they are cheaper to make in quantity. I am ok with that, but to me the 1855 - 1890s period of English pieces is the epitome of chess.

[@RandomChessTalk]

Dear Sir, thanks for the comment. For sure nothing can beat the old English era in design, I also find them the most valuable along with 2 Dubrovniks, especially 1970s Dubrovnik.

[@eighteenin78]

@@RandomChessTalk I have a question: DO you happen to know if the names of the knights were given at the time they were designed in the 1800s, or is this a latter 20th Century device to distinguished the look of a slow evolution of knights which came in the 19th Century. I.e. why is the Morphy Knight called as such? Thanks.

[@rodneycruz4850]

When selecting a chess set I look at the knight to be created or carved that resembles a horses face. I look at the rook to be thick as to resemble a castle. I love broad bases on all the pieces.

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for the comment chess friend!

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

Problem is all these knights are decorative and delicate and cannot survive practical use in chess games.

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for your comment. I have to say I disagree with that, in my opinion these are very sturdy knights and very playable. If I have to pick any fragile part on these knights I would pick mane of the sinquefield cup knight, other that that all the rest are pretty robust. Can I ask you what is your preferred knight, the one you feel it will never break?

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

@@RandomChessTalk from my experience all of these luxury knights break easily during practical games. The parts that are most vulnerable are break are the ears, and jaws. I do not recommend these knights for playibg with but for decoration they look nice. The best and most durable knight is the german knight which is used in all chess tournaments.

[@TurboSmurfHDRemix]

Personally, I think the BCE and FIDE/World Chess knights have to be present in *any* top ten knight list, but otherwise nice work.

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for the comment! I personally never liked that that one, I like the rest of the pieces, but the knight doesn't appeal to my eye.

[@gila1959]

The only knight i could compromise on it in terms of beauty is the SULTAN serie, all the others all of the years are ugly in my view..the knights are awful or in the teeth or the stiff look stiffed presentation..

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for the comment! All opinions are welcomed here, to my eye they are beautiful.

[@gila1959]

@@RandomChessTalk wow i saw your video after i bought the Chavet ... This is the most sweet bful color the warm yelow-light orangy-Antiqued .and even the knight is classy simple and very easy to hold in hand when plyed.. Loved the set . I think who ever need a chess set needs one Chavet..

[@AsadAli-jc5tg]

Your number 3 was the worst Knight I've seen, and maybe most people also find it that way that's why no company is interested in reproducing that ugly design.

[@RandomChessTalk]

Thanks for the feedback :) the beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so I accept everyone's opinion :)