Henkel knives are products of the legendary J.A. Henckels Company that was founded almost 300 years ago in Solingen, Germany. Solingen is a byword in the craft of knife making and Henkels is still recognized as a symbol of that craft. The company has stood by its reputation of making quality forged knives that can last generations or more of use.
There are two distinct and separate Henkel brands: the Zwilling J.A. Henckels brand which is the original as well as the premium brand where the knives are mainly made in Germany for the forged knives, and Spain, for the mid-range forged and stamped knives. Then there is the J.A. Henckels International which is labelled as the “Value Brand” and produces cheaper and mostly stamped blade knives, most often made in China and Taiwan.
Although the company has received a lot of criticisms on their move to make less quality types of Henkel knives to compete with the lower end market, their stamped knives are still marvels of craftsmanship and has not lowered the standards that Henckels has stood on for centuries. Presently, Henckels has 12 different lines of knives, all of which are critically acclaimed and have met the customer approval ratings. To make a distinction, as well as deciding which knife is best for you, know what the differences are between forged and stamped knives.
Forged Henkels knives are made from steel that are heated to the most extreme of temperatures and set into a mold then hammered out to form a blade. The result is a heavy and dense knife that balances well on the hand. As it has more weight, it is more manoeuvrable and the strong metal can last for generations requiring less sharpening. Because of the balance, there are fewer incidents of work related accidents. The solid bolsters increases the safety factor. The only disadvantage to forged knives is that it is more expensive than stamped knives. Prices for these knives can reach up to $300+.
Stamped Henkel knives are cut out from solid sheets of metals using a template to determine their sizes and shapes. The resulting knives are flatter and thinner compared to the forged knives. Because of how they are made, the stamped knives need more sharpening and come with a 5 year lifetime warranty. The handles are fitted and fastened, so when they do eventually loosen, it is best to change the set. But then again, the price of $40 to $200 for the set is very attractive to the low end users and these are still quality knives.