Wüsthof
Dreizackwerk - (en)
Wüsthof Dreizackwerk (Wüsthof Trident in English) is a world
renowned knife-maker based in Solingen, Germany. The company is noted
for its very high quality and excellently balanced knives. All Wüsthof
knives are drop-forged from a single piece of high-carbon steel,
except for the stamped-blade Silverpoint series and the Gourmet series.
While mainly a kitchen-knife maker, the company also produces kitchen
shears, pocket knives and other cooking accessories, although on a
smaller scale than its main competitor Henckels.
All Wüsthof knives are made in Solingen by a family-owned operation
that dates back to 1814. Silverpoint (stamped-blade, low end), Gourmet
(stamped blade) Culinar (metal ergonomic handle with no exposed rivets),
Grand Prix (rubberized plastic handle with no exposed rivets), Grand
Prix 2 (same handle material as Grand Prix, with ergonomic handle
design similar to Culinar) and Classic (traditional forged knives with
a two-piece handle and exposed rivets) are its major series', though
the Grand Prix is no longer in production (having been superceded by
the Grand Prix 2). Wüsthof also sells a signature line endorsed by TV
chef Emeril Lagasse.
The Classic line has a common three-rivet handle made of polypropylene.
The knives in the collection feature the full-tang, and like all Wüsthof
knives, have the formula “X 50 Cr Mo 15” etched into the blade.
The Grand Prix line has a rivetless concealed tang. Both the Classic
and Grand Prix lines along with two lines made by Henckels were the
top rated knives in a test of knives by Consumer Reports in November
2005, and are consistently given high ratings by Cook's Illustrated
magazine as well. The Culinar line is made purely from steel, is
rivetless and has a concealed tang.
Wüsthof's trademark is a trident encompassed in a circle.
