I agree with Bob, the victorinox are a great value! Cheap knives are not really anything more than cheap knives. A reground chefs knife might be just fine if it was a good knife in the first place. I have several hundred dollars (if not more) tied up in cutlery, some has proven a great addition to the block some just sit, for whatever reason. Another good value as much as it gets ridiculed are Cutco knives. If you know someone that's worth having a look. You can always get the Victorinox at most restaurant supply places.
The important thing is to learn how to KEEP IT SHARP! You could buy a five hundred dollar hand made beautifully crafted knife and, without learning how to maintain it you'd be just as well off with a ten dollar thing from the grocery store.