Reviewed by Knives Academy team, Based on Methodology v 1.0
- Brand - WÜSTHOF
- Collection - CLASSIC
- Model - 1040104120
- Manufacture Country - GERMANY
The Wusthof Classic 8 Inch Extra Wide Chef Knife is a high-quality, versatile, and reliable knife from the renowned German brand Wusthof. A part of their ‘Classic collection’, this knife is designed for both professional and home cooks, offering excellent performance in various cutting tasks. The knife is priced at $200 and is NSF certified, making it a reliable and valuable addition to any kitchen.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Wusthof Classic 8 Extra Wide Chef’s Knife is a high-quality, versatile, and well-balanced knife that offers good sharpness, durability, and safety features. Its comfortable and ergonomic handle ensures a secure grip and pleasant cutting experience, while its wide blade and classic design make it suitable for various cutting tasks. The knife is a bit heavy, which may cause some fatigue during extended periods of use. It does come at a higher price tag, but its overall performance and value make it a worthwhile investment for both professionals and home cooks.
PRICE : From $200
THE GOOD
- High-quality construction and materials
- Versatile and well-balanced design
- Good sharpness and cutting performance
- Exceptional balance
- Suitable for all cutting tasks and grip techniques
- Durable and low-maintenance high-carbon stainless steel blade
- Great safety features
THE BAD
- A bit heavy, which may cause fatigue during extended use
- We have found edge retention less optimal than promised
- The full bolster may contribute some inconvenience to the sharpening process.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
- Professional chefs
- Home cooks
- Culinary enthusiasts
BEST USED FOR
- General-purpose kitchen tasks requiring a versatile and reliable chef knife
- Not ideal for fileting tasks, but can do the job if needed
GET TO KNOW THE KNIFE
KNIFE SPECIFICATIONS & VISUAL INSPECTION
DIMENSIONS
Knife Attribute | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
Knife Length | 12.4 inches | 31.5 cm |
Knife Weight | 9.73 ounces | 276 g |
Blade Length | 7.874 inches | 19.9 cm |
Blade Spine Length | 0.118 inches | 3 mm |
Blade Heel Length | 2.205 inches | 5.6 cm |
Handle Length | 4.528 in | 10.81 cm |
CONSTRUCTION
Knife Attribute | Value | Knife Forging Method | Forged |
|---|---|
Knife Tang Type | Full Tang |
Hardness (HRC) | 58 |
Blade Material | Stainless Steel |
Blade Steel Grade | X50CrMoV15 |
Blade Finish | Hand Polished |
Blade Geometry Grind | Flat |
Blade Grind Angle | 14 (each side) |
Blade Bevels | Double |
Handle Material | Polyoxymethylene (POM) |
UNBOXING
THE KNIFE
The knife comes at an overall length of 12.4 inches, with a blade length of 7.8 inches and a handle length of 4.5 inches. It weighs 9.7 ounces, making it slightly heavier than most chef knives in this dimension range. The blade is made from high-carbon stainless steel. Its full tang construction, high-quality blade and handle materials, and excellent sharpness, make it suitable for a wide range of cutting tasks.
THE BLADE
The blade is made from high-carbon stainless steel, using Wusthof’s proprietary X50CrMoV1 steel formula, which ensures excellent sharpness, edge retention, and durability, and is hand-polished. It has a Rockwell hardness rating of 58, which contributes to its strength and toughness. The blade’s edge grind is flat with double bevels and ground to a 14-degree angle (on each side).
One of the most unique features of the knife is the wide blade which is 2.2 inches long. The blade’s spine width is 3mm at the heel, which is relatively thick, and features a distal taper towards the tip. The blade also features a full bolster with a rounded and outward-facing point for added safety and control.
THE HANDLE
The handle is made from polyoxymethylene (POM), a durable and comfortable material. The handle has a contoured shape and a smooth texture. It comes in black, white, coral peach, pink himalayan salt, purple yam, tasty sumac, and velvet oyster. The handle features Wusthof’s red trident logo, three rivets, and a handle guard at the butt for added safety and stability. The handle is suitable for both left and right-handed users, ensuring versatility and ease of use for all cooks.
KNIVES ACADEMY TESTING
PERFORMANCE
Our testing results confirmed that the Wusthof Classic 8-inch Extra Wide Chef Knife performs exceptionally well in various tasks, such as slicing, dicing, and mincing. It demonstrated remarkable sharpness, easily cutting through various materials with minimal effort. Although the edge retention may not be as exceptional as initially claimed, the knife still maintains a sharp edge for a considerable duration and can be resharpened with ease. This combination of sharpness and edge retention makes it a dependable and efficient tool for any kitchen.
SHARPNESS
The knife exhibits impressive sharpness, allowing it to easily slice through both dense and delicate materials. In the paper test, the knife successfully and effortlessly sliced through the paper test. During the soft tomato test, the knife cut through the tomato with relative ease, but it did require a small application of force.
EDGE RETENTION
While the knife cuts very well out of the box, some testing notes indicate that the edge retention may not be as great as promised. However, the knife still maintained a sharp edge for an extended period, and was relatively easy to resharpen, making it a reliable tool in the kitchen.
FUNCTIONALITY & VERSATILITY
The Wusthof Classic 8 Inch Extra Wide Chef Knife is a highly functional and versatile tool, excelling in a wide range of cutting techniques such as chopping, dicing, mincing, slicing, peeling, filleting, butchering, and cleaving. Its full-tang forged construction and high-carbon stainless steel blade ensure strength, toughness, and durability, while the extra-wide blade and distal taper provide excellent leverage and dexterity.
LEVERAGE
The knife’s extra-wide blade and full tang construction provide excellent leverage, making it suitable for various cutting tasks. The knife’s design allows for efficient transfer of force, ensuring precise and controlled cuts. The weight of the knife does well in helping the user apply even more force upon denser ingredients.
STRENGTH, TOUGHNESS & DURABILITY
The knife is simply built to last, as it is very robust. The full tang, forged construction of the knife ensures strength, toughness, and durability. Add that to the thick spine, full bolster, and substantial weight, and you get even greater performance in terms of strength. The high carbon stainless steel blade is strong and resilient, allowing the knife to withstand rigorous use in the kitchen.
DEXTERITY & MANEUVERABILITY
The knife offers good dexterity and maneuverability, despite its slightly heavier weight. The knife’s design allows for easy handling and control, making it suitable for a wide range of cutting techniques. The distal taper (the blade thinning across the spine up to the tip) allows for more delicate knife work with the tip.
FLEXIBILITY / RIGIDITY
The knife’s blade is rigid and strong, making it ideal for tasks that require force and precision. However, its lack of flexibility may result in some meat loss during filleting tasks, so while it can definitely handle the task of filleting, you might want to use a more flexible blade for those tasks.
TECHNIQUE VERSATILITY
The Wusthof Classic 8 Inch Extra Wide Chef Knife is highly versatile, performing well in various cutting techniques such as chopping, dicing, mincing, slicing, peeling, filleting, butchering, and cleaving. Its sharpness, control, and balance make it an excellent option for both professional and home cooks.
FEEL & EXPERIENCE
The Wusthof Classic 8-inch Extra Wide Chef Knife is designed with user comfort and experience in mind. Its contoured polyoxymethylene (POM) handle, full bolster, and full tang construction contribute to a secure and comfortable grip, providing excellent stability and control during cutting tasks. The knife’s balance is impressive, responding well to various grip types and techniques. Although its slightly heavier weight may cause some fatigue during extended use, the knife’s overall balance, comfortable handle, and efficient cutting performance help to minimize this issue. The combination of these factors, along with the knife’s construction and design, make it a reliable and enjoyable tool for both professional and home cooks.
GRIP STABILITY & CONTROL
The knife’s handle design, featuring a contoured shape, smooth texture, and bolster, ensures excellent grip stability and control. The full tang construction also contributes to the knife’s control, allowing for precise and accurate cuts.
COMFORT & ERGONOMICS
The knife is definitely designed with comfort and ergonomics in mind. The contoured handle made from polyoxymethylene (POM) provides a comfortable and secure grip, while the full bolster which acts as a finger guard ensures added safety and stability. The knife feels great in hand, and the grip feels very secure, making it suitable for extended use in the kitchen.
BALANCE
The knife offers impressive balance and precision for any cutting task. Our balance testing showed the knife responding remarkably well to all grip types, including the pinch grip, handshake/thumb grip, and finger point grip.
FATIGUE
The knife’s slightly heavier weight may cause some fatigue during extended use. However, its excellent balance, comfortable handle, and efficient cutting performance help to minimize said fatigue. Users with a more delicate grip and wrist may find the knife not as comfortable for extended use.
MAINTENANCE
Overall, the Wusthof Classic 8-inch Extra Wide Chef Knife offers a great balance between ease of maintenance and performance. Its high-carbon stainless steel blade, hand-polished finish, full tang, and forged construction contribute to its resistance against corrosion, rust, stains, blemishes, wear, tear, and scratches, ensuring the knife’s strength, toughness, and durability. Edge restoration (sharpening) is fairly straightforward large thanks to the flat grind and moderate hardness, and regular honing and proper sharpening techniques will help maintain its performance.
CORROSION & RUST RESISTANCE
The high carbon stainless steel blade offers good corrosion and rust resistance, ensuring the knife’s longevity and performance. The build quality is also excellent, with no visible crevices or cracks.
WEAR, TEAR & SCRATCH RESISTANCE
The knife’s blade material and hand-polished finish contribute to its wear, tear, and scratch resistance. The high-quality construction ensures that the knife remains in good condition even after extensive use.
EDGE RESTORATION (EASE OF SHARPENING)
The knife’s relatively easy to sharpen, both in terms of the materials and the expertise required to do so. The knife’s not too hard, and the flat grind makes it relatively easy to sharpen. Proper sharpening techniques and tools will help maintain the knife’s edge and prolong its lifespan.
EDGE RETENTION
As mentioned earlier, the knife’s edge retention may not be as great as promised, but it still maintains a sharp edge for an extended period. Regular honing and proper sharpening will help maintain the knife’s performance.
STRENGTH, TOUGHNESS & DURABILITY
The full tang, forged construction, and high carbon stainless steel blade of the knife ensure its strength, toughness, and durability, ensuring the longevity of the knife.
SAFETY
The Wusthof Classic 8-inch Extra Wide Chef Knife incorporates numerous safety features, such as a full bolster, contoured handle, and full tang construction for stability and secure grip. Additional safety elements include a handle guard, rounded choil tip, and a blade edge facing away from the user’s fingers. Despite its slightly heavier weight, the knife’s balance and comfortable handle minimize fatigue-related risks, making it a safe choice for users of varying skill levels.
THE KNIVES’ SAFETY FEATURES
The knife is designed with several safety features to ensure a secure and comfortable experience in the kitchen. The full bolster provides added stability and prevents finger slippage, while the contoured handle made from polyoxymethylene (POM) offers a comfortable and secure grip. The full tang construction also contributes to the knife’s overall safety, providing balance and control during use. The handle offers an additional guard on its butt for better control. The knife’s choil (the bottom of the blade’s heel) design is also exceptionally safe, featuring a rounded tip, and facing away from the user’s fingers.
THE KNIVES’ LESS SAFE FEATURES
While the Wusthof Classic 8 Inch Extra Wide Chef Knife is generally a safe tool, its slightly heavier weight may cause some fatigue during extended use, potentially leading to a loss of control. However, the knife’s excellent balance, comfortable handle, and efficient cutting performance help to minimize this risk.
VALUE ESTIMATION
The Wusthof Classic 8 Inch Extra Wide Chef Knife is priced at $200, which is a reasonable investment considering its high-quality construction and materials, excellent performance, and durability. The knife’s full-tang forged construction, and high-carbon stainless steel blade ensures its longevity and reliability in the kitchen. Its versatility and suitability for various cutting tasks make it an excellent option for both professional and home cooks. The manufacturer is well-regarded and dependable. Overall, the knife offers good value for its price, providing a dependable and versatile tool for any kitchen. It is worth noting that similar quality knives can be found at a much lower price.
ADDITIONAL CHEF KNIFE REVIEWS
5 Best Chef Knives
10 Best Damascus Chef Knives
Best Left-Handed Chef Knives
