Wüsthof

The WÜSTHOF Way

Made in Solingen. And only in Solingen.

Unlike many knife makers, in over 200 years of history we have not succumbed to the temptation of manufacturing outside of our hometown in Solingen, Germany. There is a simple reason for this: we value the heritage and identity of a place known for centuries as “The City of Blades." We believe that quality knives can only be made where high-precision production meets traditional craftsmanship.

40 steps in the WÜSTHOF knife production process

It takes forty steps to turn a piece of WÜSTHOF steel – a special mixture of chrome, vanadium, molybdenum, and stainless steel – into a quality knife. When it comes to exceptionally heavy lifting or millimeter-precise work, we use the latest robotics and lasers. When intuition, experienced artisanship, and a seasoned eye are required, we rely on our 400 employees to make our premium knives truly exceptional. We produce 1.7 million knives per year, and every WÜSTHOF knife has passed through the hands of a trained specialist.

WÜSTHOF Steel

We use a special steel for knife production. It’s durable, corrosion resistant, easy to sharpen, and significantly reduces wear on the blade due the unique hardness of the metal. Our laser-assisted sharpening process means each knife has an impeccable slicing performance from the get-go.

Our formula for optimal sharpness: X50 Cr MoV 15

Stainless Steel The basic material of our knives	Carbon Content The 0.5% carbon content is important for both the hardness and the sharpness of the knife	Chrome The additional alloy ensures a particularly high rust resistance in the finished blades
Molybdenum An alloying element that increases the strength and corrosion resistance of our blades	Vanadium Increases strength and toughness to significantly reduce wear	Chromium Content An amount of 15 %

The History of Wüsthof

Founded in Solingen, Germany more than 200 years ago as a small workshop with water-driven grinding stones, Wüsthof was an established industrial producer of pocket knives, scissors, razor blades, and other cutlery by the beginning of the 20th century. Though Solingen itself was heavily damaged during World War II, Wüsthof's factory survived. By the 1970s it introduced automation and switched its emphasis to home cutlery, eventually becoming a world-renowned producer and supplier of fine forged blades.

We offer Wüsthof's Gourmet, Classic, and Classic Ikon lines of knives, distinguished by the differences in their handles and bolsters. Otherwise the blades are the same, starting from a single blank of forged steel and progressing through 43 different steps of tempering, polishing, and finishing.

Stay Kitchen savvy

The WÜSTHOF Way

Made in Solingen. And only in Solingen.

40 steps in the WÜSTHOF knife production process

WÜSTHOF Steel

The History of Wüsthof