Forged Knives are hand made through a process of extreme heat and hand moulding. Each forged knife is carefully and hand crafted with extreme detail. The tang’s of the knife merges into the handle and is typically secured by three rivets.

Stamped knives are made from templated cutters that are cut into the shape of the knives into flat metal. Stamped knives are lighter but donn’t have the same quality and balance of forged knives. Due to the lack fo density, the stamped knives don’t hold edges as well as the forged knives. Stamped knives are usually less expensive.

Benefits of Forged and Stamped Knives

Due to forged knives undergo a treatment process to enhance flexibility, density, and hardness of the knife. Forged knives will tend to be heavier than stamped knives. Besides that, forged knives are better due to the fact that they offer better flexibility, sharpness, feel and overall useness life. Most of the top notch kitchen knives are forged knives that come with the more expensive price tag.

Stamped knives are generally less expensive, but tend to lack the strength and balance found in forged knives. Take this as a general rule though, there are some reasonably priced, yet high quality stamped knives on the market today that have excellent cutting ability and a light weight maneuverabiliyt favored by many chefs.

Wusthof’s slip resistant handle grip is comfortable to hold, and the extra laser sharp controlled edge ensures a precision cut time and time again. Whether you are working on hard cored fruits like pineapples or  soft delicate mushrooms. The 8 piece block set includes the 3.5 inch paring knife, 4.5 inch utility knife, 6 inch sandwich knife, 8 inch cooks knife, 8 inch bread knife, 9 inch sharpening steel, kitchen shears, and 17 slot oak block. The block not only protects the edge from wear and tear but also provides a safe and beautiful place to store the cutlery so its within a nice reach.

When first introduced the line had a bulbous base that Wusthof subssequently changed a few years later and is why the renamed it ot the Grand Prix II. The improved handle design was a good choice but seems inferior to the other handles of Wusthof’s other lines.

The eight kitchen knives in this set provide a cook with a variety of cutting edges, from an  8 inch cooks knife for rocking through chopping and mincing tasks, to an 8 inch carving knife for meats and poultry, an 8 inch knife for a myriad of slicing and cutting needs, a 5 inch serrated salami/tomato knife with a pronged tip, a 5 inch boning knife, a 3 1/2 inch paring knife and a few other very needed knives. The set also includes a 9 inch sharpening steel for keeping the knives sharp and aligned and a maple block to store everything on the counter within reach.

The Wusthof Culinar collection is truly a wonderful collection for those that need a  medium solution to the culinary experience. Not the top of the line offered, although this is hardly the bottom of the barrel. This is a good solution for those needing some knives in just about any type of setup.

High quality means high expense. If you are going to purchase some of the finest blades available in the world, you can expect to pay a healthy sum. Individual knives from the collection run a minimum of $100, while the complete set of knives will set you back $1,400. The Ikon set is likely out of the question for the typical chef and left for the true culinary professionals. For about the same price, you can also purchase the Ikon Classic or Culinary collection, which are finely crafted stainless steel pieces.

These pieces were newly developed and designed for the line of 2007. This line has several improvements over some of their older lines including better performance characteristics as well as other aesthetic design changes. The first large improvement is they offer a tapered bolster. The bolster is meant to protect your finger from the blade edge, which is a great thing! The problem with many bolsters is they tend to get in the way of sharpening. Typically after a bulster knife after years of sharpening, the bolster begins to stick out beyond the blade and is both unsightly and makes it very difficult to chop with. A tapered design allows for easy use and sharpening and all kitchen knives should have them. Next the handle design has been updated and improved. It offers a nice ergonomic black resin handle with 3 rivets which not only makes things feel good but allows for a nice balanced feel. We also like the polished edge and the sharp  edge of the spine has been ground down a little which is very nice.

Pricing is typically $50 a knife if bough seperately, the Wusthof Le Cordon Bleu isn’t cheap. It is affordable to those that truly need such a fine selection of knives and those that truly have a love for culinary. Full sets of 14 can be acquired for $400.  These knives are all full tang, which indicates that the metal that holds the blade in place is as long as the handle. Thanks to this design these knives are extra durable. For other knives in this price range you can try the Wusthof Gourmet set or the Grand Prix collections.

The term that competition only makes you stronger was born out of these knives. The line was designed in response to the growing popularity of Japanese knives in the US market so they adopted many of the design features of Japenese knives such as bolsterless design, thinner blades and a steep sharp edge.

This selection is perfect for those that are looking at a step above the Emerilware and is what I like to consider the true introduction model of Wusthof. Brought with the true sense and ideals of Wusthof and created with the finest materials and care.

The knives are stamped from Wusthof’s exclusive stain resistant alloy which is an optimum blend of high carbon chrom-molybdenum steel- and finished with a one piece molded ergonomics handles. The handles have a pebble gray finish that provides for a smooth, slip freee grip and cleans easily in warm, soapy water.

Designed in partnership with celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse according to his specifications, these knives are easy to handle, durable, and surprisingly lightweight. The laser sharp blade is engineered to retain its fine edge for precision cutting. There are 18 different knives to choose from in the open stock collection, affordable pricing between $10 knife to $25 knife. The 8 piece block set comes with the 3 – inch paring knife, 4.5 inch utility knife, 8 inch bread knife, 8 inch cooks knife, 8 inch slicing knife, 9 inch sharpening knife, kitchen shears, and wood block with 17 slots so you can add to your collection overtime. The knives also come with Emeril’s signature on each blade.

These come with a lifetime guarantee and are great for those starting out in their kitchen experience. They allow to be upgraded and added to overtime which is great for any kitchen thats starting out.

Wusthof has a wide range of cutlery to choose from, from those aimed at culinary aficionados looking to improve their kitchen environment to those that use them in the top kitchens  around the world. I will continue with a review of Wusthof’s current product catalog, set by set. You are sure to find a knife or knife set that is exactly what you are looking for.