History of Wusthof Knives

Wusthof is a manufacturer of cutlery with an extraordinary history. For nearly 200 years Wusthof has earned a reputation for excellence in both design and quality. So, how has Wusthof consistently maintained this acclaim?

The first record of Wusthof as a company can be found in documents in the Duchy of Berg that refer to the Wusthof factory dating back to 1814 in the town of Solingen, Germany. The name Wusthof is the last name of the founder. The company continues to be a family owned business, currently in the 7th generation of the Wusthof family tradition. With their name on the product, quality is a must. The family name continues to be the reason for such high quality. Every generation wants to out perform the last in quality and excellence.

An example of the proud tradition of the Wusthof name is Wolfgang Wusthof’s story of expanding the business. In 1960 Wusthof was nearly unknown in North America. Wolfgang spent the 1960’s and 1970’s flying to the USA with a briefcase full of knives (something you cannot do these days) and riding from town to town by bus introducing the USA and Canada to the wonder of Wusthof. It was slow going at first, but quality speaks for itself and Wusthof won the hearts and esteem of chefs and those who aspire to fine cuisine everywhere.

Eventually, the company’s exports to the USA required some organization so they established regional distributors. Eventually even this scenario was not sufficient for the demand, so Wusthof founded Wusthof-Trident of America in 1987 consolidating all distribution through one entity. In 2009, Wusthof Trident of America relocated to a state-of-the-art facility in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Today, Wolfgang Wusthof can be certain his work was not in vain. Today 65% of the knives Wusthof makes in their 2 state-of-the-art factories in Solingen, Germany are sold in the USA. Quality speaks for itself.

Harald Wusthof is the current CEO and is continuing the emphasis on excellence. In 2010, Wusthof redesigned the cutting edge of Wusthof knives. Wusthof uses PEtec (Precision Edge Technology) which means their kitchen cutlery features an edge created by precision lasers that sharpen the blade to a 28 degree angle. Before PEtec, Wusthof knives were hand sharpened to a 40 degree angle. A narrower angle means a thinner, sharper blade.

Once again, Wusthof continues to be on the forefront of advancing knife making technology.

Wusthof knives and kitchen cutlery feature a lifetime warranty from Wusthof. The company manufactures over 300 products including kitchen knives, knife blocks, manicure sets, and other cutting instruments. Compare Wusthof knife styles to help you make an informed decision.