WÜSTHOF German Knives
Expertly crafted knives made in Solingen, Germany since 1814.
WÜSTHOF
The Original German Knife
Since 1814, WÜSTHOF has set the example for the expert craftsmanship of German-style blades. Over the last 200 years, our innovations have become the industry standard for the best German knives.
All German knives have a distinct set of qualities that set them apart from others, such as Japanese-style knives. WÜSTHOF’s best-selling German knives have the following features:
High-Quality Steel: The premium steel used in our German-made knives is durable, corrosion-resistant, easy to sharpen, and forged to a unique level of hardness, which significantly reduces wear on the blade.
Balanced Bolster: The bolster is the point on the knife that connects the blade and the handle. It protects your hand from the sharp blade and provides ideal balance and safety for effortless chopping.
Full Tang: In most German knives, it is common for the blade to extend the entire length of the knife’s handle — this is called a “full tang.” It provides durability, stability, and optimal balance for comfortable knife use.
The Original German Knife
Forged in the "City of Blades"
Over the last 200 years, we have stayed loyal to the City of Blades and still produce every single one of our forged knives in Solingen, Germany. When it comes to crafting our iconic German knives, continuity and long-term vision are important to us. We have spent over two centuries honing both our knives and our technique to perfection, and we employ some of the world’s most skilled knife artisans to ensure that our premium blades are truly extraordinary. In short, WÜSTHOF’s German knives are not just the best German knives — they are the best knives in the world.
Approved by Foodies
The first time I picked up my WÜSTHOF knife I knew I would never use another brand again.
I love this knife. My first purchase and now we have 12. They are just that good.
More WÜSTHOF Series to Love
What is the best knife brand in Germany?
The perfect knife for you is a matter of personal preference, though there are a few reasons why WÜSTHOF’s seventh-generation family business is widely recognized as the best German knife company. It has been over 200 years since WÜSTHOF first opened its doors, and every knife continues to be made by expert artisans in our hometown of Solingen. It takes fifty-four individual steps to make just one forged knife at our factory, using a combination of state-of-the-art technology and traditional craftsmanship to maximize the longevity of our blades. Knives are precision-forged from a single piece of specially formulated German steel, which is then hardened to a uniquely durable 58 Rockwell. Handles are fixed with stainless steel rivets and enclose something called “the sacrificial anode,” one of the most important innovations in recent knifemaking. The sacrificial anode is an invention we created and patented ourselves in the nineties, inspired by a genius trick from the shipbuilding industry. It’s a small aluminum ring fixed to the tang (the extension of the blade through the handle) that makes each WÜSTHOF knife virtually indestructible. And with proper care and sharpening, our blades really are designed to last decades. We love hearing about the 50-year-old WÜSTHOF Classic chef’s knife a customer inherited (and still uses daily!) as much as we enjoy the success stories of a newcomer in the kitchen putting their first WÜSTHOF Gourmet knife set to good use.
Why are German knives unique?
Solingen, Germany, WÜSTHOF’s hometown for over 200 years, has been the cutlery capital of Western Europe since the Middle Ages. Knives that originated in Western Europe, particularly Solingen knives, are often double beveled, meaning both sides of the blade are angled towards each other and come to a sharp point in the middle. These blades tend to be more robust and durable, featuring a distinct curvature in the belly of the blade that facilitates a steady rocking motion during chopping. German-style knives are also usually made with stainless steel that’s specifically hardened to be longer lasting and less brittle. And since modern knife craft regularly pulls from both Eastern and Western influences, WÜSTHOF can fuse the best techniques and customs from well-known cutlery regions (like Solingen in Germany, Seki in Japan, and Yangjiang in China) to create exceptional hybrid-style blades. In other words, WÜSTHOF’s German knife sets combine historic artisanship with the latest modern advances in knifemaking to make some of the world’s best blades.
Why is Solingen the City of Blades?
Solingen, Germany has been known as the “The City of Blades” since the Middle Ages, thanks to its reputation as one of the world’s epicenters of cutlery craft. This legacy is partly due to geography. Almost three centuries ago, transportation routes were west, coal supplies were north, and ore mining was south. Solingen didn't have any of these things — nothing but forests, steep valleys, and roaring rivers as far as the eye could see. But this was a great advantage! The abundant waterpower leveraged from those streams and rivers was used to drive grinding stones and early versions of the drop forge. As a result, Solingen was home to hundreds of “kottens,” or grinding workshops, many of which were used to craft scissors, swords, and, of course, knives. One of these kottens, perched on the banks of the Wupper River, belonged to Johann Wilhem Wüsthof, the first member of WÜSTHOF’s seven generations. His son, Johann Abraham Wüsthof founded Abr. Wüsthof, Scheerenfabrik, Stahl- und Eisenwaaren Zu Weinsberg: (“Abr. Wüsthof, Shears Factory, Steel and Iron Works at Weinsberg”) in 1814.