TL;DR: WÜSTHOF is a German knife manufacturer that’s been around for more than two centuries. They focus on high-quality Western-style knives and have several different cutlery collections for consumers to choose from. When picking out a chef’s knife, consider the handle material, the length of the blade, and how much you’re willing to spend.

There’s nothing like having a good, sharp knife. I’ve been interested in knives since I was young and have learned a lot about how to care for and keep them sharp. WÜSTHOF makes high-quality knives and knife sets, so you can expect their knives to be long-lasting and durable while retaining a good edge.

Chef’s knives are all-purpose knives that get a lot of use in a home kitchen, which makes getting the right one essential. If you're in the market for a chef’s knife but have questions or concerns or are unsure about terminology, start a free chat with a Curated Kitchen Expert!

Who Is WÜSTHOF?

WÜSTHOF is a German cutlery manufacturer that was founded in 1814. The company headquarters are in Solingen, Germany, known as the city of blades, and it still has its factories there. All WÜSTHOF knives are made in Germany, with the company touting its dedication to keeping their production and craftsmen local.

The company began its expansion to the USA via a trip taken by the founder's son in 1881. While at first, he struggled because of a business deal that fell through, he was able to sell the products he brought and get a foothold for the business in the USA. Now the company has an American distribution company called WÜSTHOF-Trident of America, Inc.

They make high-quality Western-style knives, with the majority of their blades going through a 54-step process. The company embraces the latest technology, often employing lasers and robotics to make their knives precision forged.

Every one of their knives has a full tang to ensure durability and good balance. Being Western-style knives, the steel hardness is usually about 58 on the Rockwell scale. While their knives aren’t as razor sharp as Japanese knives, they’re more forgiving and longer lasting.

What to Consider When Buying a WÜSTHOF Chef’s Knife

WÜSTHOF has a variety of knife lines that each offers different attributes, such as a full bolster or being forged. As a chef’s knife is something that’ll be used nearly every day, think about what’s important to you in terms of comfort. When picking out your WÜSTHOF knife, ask yourself these questions.

How Much Do I Want to Spend?

As WÜSTHOF makes premium knives, none of them is going to be cheap. That being said, there are some things you can consider in terms of how much money you’re willing to spend. Most of their knives are in the $100-$300 range depending on their features and the size of the blade. If you want a wooden handle, for example, chances are you’ll spend more.

They do have some knives they label as “non-forged,” which means that they’re made by stamping. These knives are less durable, but they’re cheaper and lighter.

What Type of Handle Do I Want?

WÜSTHOF offers various types of handles:

• Plastic: The Gourmet, Classic Ikon, and Classic lines all use a high-quality plastic handle. It’s comfortable and easy to clean, and it comes in a variety of bright hues to add a pop of color to your kitchen. Each handle is stamped with their trident logo as well.
• Wood: Different knife lines use a variety of woods for the handles, including olivewood, African blackwood, smoked oak, and European beechwood. Olivewood is stunning but requires frequent oiling, while blackwood and oak are more durable. The European beechwood has the benefit of being locally sourced to cut down on the carbon footprint of the knife’s manufacture.
• Synthetic: The Performer series features a distinctive black handle with a honeycomb design. It has a sure grip even when wet, is easy to clean, and gives the knife a futuristic appearance, especially with the black coating on the blade.

What Length Blade Do I Want?

There are a few options in terms of blade length when picking out a chef’s knife. Here are the most common.

• 6 inch: A 6-inch chef’s knife is a common size. A blade this length is preferable for precision or for cutting up soft veggies or herbs. Smaller knives are lighter and more nimble, making them better for people with smaller hands.
• 8 inch: Generally speaking, if you look for a recommendation of what size chef’s knife to get, this is the answer. That’s because an 8-inch chef knife is large enough to tackle almost any task, including carving, slicing, mincing, and dicing. They also do better with hard vegetables like melons.
• 10 inch: A knife this size is much more often used commercially, but WÜSTHOF sells chef’s knives with a 10-inch blade. These knives are mostly useful for larger tasks, like carving a large roast or dealing with hard veggies, like squash.

Blade Material

The company has their own proprietary steel alloy that they use to make their knives. It’s a high carbon blend (known as high carbon steel or high carbon stainless steel), meaning that the blade can be made harder and sharper than standard stainless steel. The stainless steel blades are highly resistant to rust, as they have an additional chrome coating.

Most of WÜSTHOF’s knives have a 58 HRC rating, meaning that they’re solidly in the mid-range for hardness. That’s a good thing: It means that the blade can hold a sharp edge well but won’t be prone to chipping or breaking.

Their Performer line of knives is a bit different, though, with a Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating. This coating turns the blade a striking black and also adds hardness to the blade, pushing it up to 104. Normally that’d be so hard it would be brittle, but as the interior of the blade is still 58, it’ll maintain its durability.

Features to Look Out for When Buying WÜSTHOF Chef’s Knives

It’s hard to go wrong with a WÜSTHOF chef’s knife, but there are certain features that I look for when picking out a knife.

Forged

Forging is a manufacturing process for knives. It involves shaping a piece of steel into a knife at a high temperature. The alternate manufacturing process is stamping, which involves cutting the knife out of a single piece of steel. Almost all of WÜSTHOF’s knives are forged.

Benefits:

• The process of forging allows for greater control over the steel, giving it a better grain and superior edge retention.
• Forged knives last longer.

Be Aware:

• They are more expensive than their stamped counterparts.
• They are also heavier than stamped knives.

Wooden Handle

Wooden handles are still common in high-end knives. Depending on the type of wood that the handle is made from, they can require more or less oiling.

Benefits:

• Wooden handles are often more attractive than synthetic ones.
• They are comfortable to hold and are non-slip.

Be Aware:

• Wood requires oiling to prevent it from drying out and shrinking or cracking. Some types of wood require it more often than others.
• They are never dishwasher safe.

How to Pick the Best WÜSTHOF Chef’s Knife for You

Even when you’ve narrowed down what brand of knife you prefer, there are still a lot of options out there. To help with the decision process, I’m going to describe three different people and what knife I’d recommend each buy.

Freddie: Parent Looking for a Well-Made Chef’s Knife

Freddie does the majority of the cooking in his family, and he wants a good kitchen knife that will hold up to everyday usage. He’s tired of using dull knives, so he’d like a knife made in Germany as the country is renowned for its steel. He’s busy with both a full-time job and kids, which means he doesn’t want anything too difficult to care for. Features to look for:

• A synthetic handle for ease of care
• A forged knife for durability and balance

Recommended products: WÜSTHOF Classic Chef's Knife, WÜSTHOF Classic Ikon Chef's Knife

Gillian: Knife Aficionado Looking for a Stand-Out Chef’s Knife

Gillian has been interested in knives her whole life, and now that she has some disposable income, she’s looking to upgrade her collection. While she has high-quality knives, she’d like something eye-catching, fully functional, and well made. She’s willing to both spend money and take time to care for the knives.

Features to look for:

• A distinctive design to the handle, rather than the classic design
• High-quality steel or a coating on the blade to make it stand out

Recommended products: WÜSTHOF Amici Chef's Knife, WÜSTHOF Performer Chef’s Knife

Nancy: Experienced Home Cook Looking for Her Forever Knife

Nancy has been cooking for a long time and is looking to get a knife that’ll last her the rest of her life. She spends a lot of time prepping ingredients and prioritizes an ergonomic handle. She also wants a sharp blade so she can easily get a fine mince. She's leery of synthetic handles — she finds them less comfortable, and plastic isn’t biodegradable, so she’d much prefer a knife with a wooden handle.

Features to look for:

• Knife series that feature wooden handles, like Ikon, Crafter, or Amici
• A forged, full tang knife so it’ll last for decades

Recommended products: WÜSTHOF Ikon Chef's Knife, WÜSTHOF Crafter Chef's Knife

Find the Best WÜSTHOF Chef’s Knife for You

Finding the ideal knife for you can be a time-consuming process. To cut down the time spent doing research, reach out to one of our Curated Kitchen Experts! Every one of our experts is well versed in terminology, brand differences, knife care, and use cases for chef’s knives. And the service is completely free!