Wusthof Knives: Series Overview & Chef's Knife Comparison

Wusthof was founded in 1814 and has concentrated on perfecting the forged kitchen knife ever since. The Original Classic series was created in 1886 and is still in production today, remaining Wusthof's best-selling knife series.

What's really impressive is that Wusthof is still loyal to producing all their fully-forged knives in Solingen, Germany, known as the "City of Blades" due to centuries of knife-making traditions. This region has produced high-quality blades since the Middle Ages, and its reputation for superior craftsmanship is recognized worldwide.

To legally use the Solingen name, knives must be entirely produced within the Solingen region, following stringent guidelines that govern every aspect of production, from the materials used to the forging processes and finishing techniques. Any knife bearing the Solingen mark is crafted with exceptional quality. This is why Wusthof knives are able to bear the Solingen mark on every blade.

At Cutlery and More, we carry a range of Wusthof knives, including the Original Classic Series, Ikon, Performer, and Amici. Each series offers many sizes and blade shapes, from the most popular 8” chef’s knife or santoku knives, to utility, boning, and slicing knives.

Common Features of all Wusthof Knives

All Wusthof knives are made from a proprietary blend of Solingen stainless steel, also known as X50CrMoV15. The blades are forged using the upset forging technique, where the entire blade is one piece from the tip to the end of the handle.

There are many stamped knives out there that look very similar to a Wusthof Classic; even Wusthof has stamped knives, which is called the Gourmet series. Many of these are made by cutting the blades from a sheet of steel that may have a bolster and handle piece welded to the blade to mimic the look of a single-piece fully-forged knife.

Don’t get us wrong, a well-made stamped knife can have some great qualities, but there is a night and day difference between a stamped knife and a fully forged one. The weight, grip, balance, and overall feel of a fully forged knife can only be appreciated by working with one!

Wusthof’s forged chef’s knives have a Rockwell hardness of 58 and are sharpened to a 14-degree double bevel edge. The stainless steel, combined with the edge, makes these knives incredibly durable, easy to clean and maintain, and much easier to hone and sharpen on your own compared to most Japanese knives that are made with significantly harder steel.

These knives are also much more forgiving to abuse. They can be torqued by removing an avocado seed, pivoting while mincing, or sliding across a cutting board to scoop up freshly chopped veggies. Basically, they are workhorse knives that can stand the test of time and handle a little tough love.

Since the knife has a single piece of steel from the tip to the butt of the knife, they are all full tang, providing them with a nicely balanced feel. The weight of the handle almost helps guide you through whatever product you're slicing or dicing.

And finally, they all have the mark of being 100% made in Solingen, Germany.

The Wusthof Classic Series

The Classic is the original Wusthof design, has been around the longest, and is still their best-selling series. The handles were originally black and then offered in white, but now they also come in various colors, so you can pick a knife that matches your kitchen or your personality.

The handles are triple riveted and made from a synthetic material called POM, a type of polymer with excellent wear resistance and low moisture absorption.

So, if you leave your new knife in a sink full of water for a while, you won't have to worry about the handle warping. Also, please don't do that, and never put a Wusthof or any other kitchen knife that you want to last a long time in the dishwasher!

The curvature of the base of the handle, along with the matte finish, makes the handle very grippy and comfortable.

The handle also has the iconic red Wusthof Trident logo, which is now a permanent fixture and is wear-resistant, unlike previous variations of the Classic, where the logo was a sticker and wore off over time.

The Classic chef's knife is available with a full bolster or a demi bolster. A full bolster is where the metal bolster slowly tapers down to the blade's heel. Depending on how you grip the knife, a full bolster provides more finger protection.

For longer 9 to 10-inch knives, the weight of the bolster can provide a more centered balance at the base of the blade.

The demi bolster tapers out towards the mid-section of the blade, allowing you to hone and sharpen the entire edge, which is much easier to do on your own than with the full bolster classic.

If you're a fan of the pinch grip, where you pinch the base of the blade with your thumb and pointer finger and let your other three fingers wrap around the handle, you can do this with both bolster styles, but the demi bolster may be a bit more comfortable, especially if you’re prepping for hours at a time.

The Classic is also available with an extra-wide blade, which is about half an inch taller than the regular blade. The larger blade, with a more rounded belly, adds a bit more weight to the knife, making it excellent for rock chopping and scooping product off your cutting board.

The extra wide is only available in black, but we have a variety of colors for the Original Classic series, from the traditional black and white to Purple Yam, Pink Himalayan Salt, Tasty Sumac, Velvet Oyster, and Coral Peach.

The Wusthof Ikon Series

There are a few primary differences between the Classic and the Ikon. The Ikon chef's knife has a demi-bolster, which is ideal for the pinch grip and really easy to sharpen since the edge of the blade goes from the tip to the end of the heel.

It also has an entirely different handle design, which is incredibly ergonomic as you can see from the handle's curvature, which is also very rounded and smooth.

The knife's balance is also different. It's a bit heavier in the handle than the Classic, partly because of the larger size but also because of the stainless steel end cap, which has the Wusthof trident logo. This is a full-bodied and comfortable handle that molds to any size and shape of hand.

If you have petite hands, don't be afraid of the idea that the handle is longer and heavier. Many people with smaller hands love this knife because of the curves, the demi bolster, and the balance the handle provides.

Meanwhile, folks with larger hands love this knife because it's not as cramped as the Classic, especially for people with giant palms and wide fingers.

The Ikon knives come in black, which are just called the Classic Ikon. But you can also get the Ikon series in a classy, off-white, almost pearl-like color, called the Classic Ikon Creme, which is an exclusive color to Cutlery and More.

Now, the black and Creme handles have the same POM material as the Classic Series, but there is also a really elegant Ikon series, simply called Ikon, made with African blackwood handle scales.

The wooden handle is the same shape as the other Ikons but has a fine, deep brown, almost black wood grain that is smooth to the touch and comfortable to grip. It’s a bit more expensive than the POM versions but definitely offers a classier look and feel.

The Wusthof Performer Series

Next, we have the Wusthof Performer. This knife looks like something out of a futuristic space movie and has the grippiest handle ever!

The handle is described as a Hexagon Power Grip with a honeycomb texture, so even if your hands get greasy from animal fat or cooking oil, you'll still have a stable and controlled grip on the knife.

As you can see by the shape, it's ergonomic and comfortable to hold. If you're in food service and prepping for hours and need a beast of a blade, this is it!

Although you can't see it, this is a single-piece fully-forged blade with a black DLC coating or diamond-like-carbon coating that resists scratches and will never wear off.

The DLC coating also creates a hydrophobic lotus effect, which allows freshly cut pieces of food to glide off the side of the blade, similar to the effect of hollows on the side of a knife. The Performer is more expensive than the Classic and Ikon series but is stunningly mean-looking and built to perform.

The Wusthof Amici Series

Finally, the last fully forged Wusthof is the Amici, a newer line in the Wusthof portfolio with an absolutely stellar olive wood handle.

Like the Classic, the blade has a full bolster, but the handle has two rivets instead of three, and it is contoured with a comfortable grip. The Calabrian olive wood handle is naturally water-repellent and anti-bacterial. This is nearly double the price of the Classic series, with the same blade, so the price difference is all in the material, the feel of the handle, and the balance of the entire knife. There really is a difference when holding these two back to back; it's hard to describe other than it feels exquisite.

You just learned all about the different series of Wusthof knives. Now, all you have to do is decide which series or color is best for you. You can’t go wrong with any of the Wusthof fully-forged lines, so whether you're a home cook or an awarded chef, know that these knives are designed to last a lifetime and be passed down from generation to generation. So, if you're looking for a Forever knife, you'll love getting a Classic, Ikon, Performer, or Amici.