Wusthof makes the best knife blades in the business, and in my opinion the best quality knives. Cheaper knives generally dull more quickly, and some never get truly sharp at all. Wusthof knives, in contrast, get clean, exact cuts every time, and are a joy to use.
These Culinar knives are a cut above even the Wusthof Classic design on which Wusthof made their reputation. When one picks up a Culinar knife, it feels like the handle molds itself to one's hand, as if the knife is an extension of oneself, rather than a mere implement.
A close look at the shape of the handle will show why. Wusthof Classic and Grand Prix knives along with the knives of most other manufacturers have a traditional handle shape, thicker in the middle with a straight back. That does provide a good strong grip if your hand is the right size and they are pretty good for me, since my hands are of average size.
The gently curved shape of the Culinar handles, though, while providing just as strong a grip, allows more control over the cutting action and the precise angle of the blade. The convex back of the hilt fills out the palm, providing more contact for a more secure hold. The taper in the handle makes it a perfect fit not just for average size hands, but for any size hand: a smaller hand will stay toward the bolster, where the handle is thinner, but a bigger hand will cover the handle further back, where it is thicker.
The bolster the thick part at the base of the blade has also been refined for the Culinar line. The transition from blade to bolster is gentler, and rather than being cut straight across the blade, the bolster is angled slightly to facilitate the forward hold used by some chefs. In this forward hold, the index finger is angled down on the right side of the blade the left side for left handers just past the bolster and the tip of the thumb is on the blade on the opposite side from the index finger. The forward hold facilitates a rapid rocking cut where the edge of the blade near the tip is held in contact with the cutting board, and the rest of the blade is rolled down on the food to be cut. A rapid rocking action with one hand while feeding the food through with the other can reduce the food to the desired slices, strips, or dice in record time.
The Culinar chef's knife is available in several lengths. The 20 cm (8") length is the one most commonly used, and the one I have; it works well for almost any cutting task in the kitchen. There are times when it feels like a larger size might work even better, such as when using a rocking cut on a large vegetable, but the 8" blade length always seems to be sufficient in the end. Note that the length is measured along the cutting edge of the blade; the back of the blade is slightly longer in Culinar knives due to the refinements in the bolster shape.
When first introduced in 1999, Wusthof Culinar knives cost about double the equivalent Classic knives. They were worth it if you could afford them, but many could not. Now, though, the prices on the Culinar knives have been reduced to only about one third more than that for the Classic knives. If you are in the market for a chef's knife, stretch a bit and buy a Culinar. You won't regret it.
My husband splurged on this knife for my birthday this year and I love it! It has a nice weight and feel. I also like the all-metal design! I am looking forward to lots of great cutting and chopping with this great knife.
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My daughter in law loves the brand of knife and this one was on her wish list for Xmas. I didn't expect it to arrive before then as they did not promise until 4 days later. It arrived the 24th and was under the tree for the 25th. Thank you.
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I have wanted the Wustof Culinar knives for many years, and finally decided to start with the 8-inch Chef's Knife and add as I go along. I have a fairly decent set of knives, but this has always been something I wished I had. I received the knife and was having a dinner party the next day so I got to use it to prepare for my dinner party and it was a dream! The weight and balance of this knife is fantastic, and it looks beautiful and modern. I'm glad that I finally treated myself to this knife and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys cooking. A fantastic Chef's knife really makes a difference!
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Just had to continue to complete series of knives. This is great for small chores in the Kitchen. My wife loves it.
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As a working chef, I have seen offset serrated knives come to dominate the workplace in the last 15 years. They are used by most prep cooks instead of a chef's knife for primary work. It is in that light that I found this knife wanting. The build quality and ergonomics are very good, every bit what I expect from Wustoff, and if you only use it to cut sandwiches, you will never have a problem.
