Henkel knives are products of the legendary J.A. Henckels Company, that was founded almost 300 years ago, in Solingen, Germany. Solingen is a fomous name in the craft of knife-making, and Henkels is still recognized as a symbol of that craft. The Henkel knives company has stood by its reputation of making quality forged knives, that can last generations of use.
Henkel knives range
The Zwilling J.A. Henckels brand, which is the original in the Henkel knives.
The premium brand, where the knives are mainly made in Germany for the forged knives.
Spain, for the mid-range forged and stamped knives.
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.
Henkel knives twelve different lines
Although the company has received a lot of criticism on their move to make less expensive 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 Henkel knives have stood on for centuries. Presently, Henkel knives 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 Henkel knives are made from steel that is heated to the most extremes of temperature, and then,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 they are more expensive than stamped knives. Prices for these knives can reach up to $300 or more.
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 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 this Henkel knives set, is very attractive to the low end users, and these are still quality knives.