The Wusthof Classic Chef Knife is part of their best selling kitchen knife collection.

By Timothy Hales | Updated: October 25, 2021

Wusthof Classic Chef Knife Quick Review

The Classic line of Wüsthof knives lives up to its name — the Classic is the company’s best-selling collection and the 6” knife gives you dependable performance with a classic look. The German company Wüsthof offers a wide collection of traditional-forged cutlery, and they produce durable, high-quality knives made for the home cook and professional chef alike.

The Chef’s Knife is an essential tool for performing virtually any kitchen task, and the 6” blade can handle diverse tasks from cutting and slicing meats to mincing, dicing, and even peeling produce. The curvature of the bolster allows for a safe, solid pinch grip, and the fade-resistant polyoxymethylene (POM) handle provides optimal comfort for frequent everyday use.

I have gone into further review details below, but to be honest you can just skip the details and go out and buy this knife. The 6 inch version of the Wusthof Class Chef Knife is my trusty go-to knife. It is easy to handle and is perfect for most kitchen tasks.

Pros

Elegant design of the blade and handle
Comfortable and easy to handle
Blade remains sharp but is also easy to sharpen
Knife is easy to clean

Cons

Chef knife can be a little expensive
Red logo fades off after many uses

Check Price

Materials and Construction

Wüsthof’s history of using superior materials like all-German, single-blank stainless steel continues with this knife. The chromium-molybdenum-vanadium no-stain steel blade melds seamlessly with the triple-riveted handle. This type of handle gives this chef’s knife solid construction with a nice weight.

A synthetic material called polyoxymethylene (POM) comprises the handle. POM resists discoloration and fading while providing lightweight durability. The triple-riveted forged tang gives added stability and a professional look and feel without joints. The full bolster construction offers excellent balance and sturdiness, along with the comfort-grip handle design to enhance safety and control.

Razor-sharp right out of the package, the 6” Chef Knife’s 15-degree blade angle is sharpened with laser-cut, precision-edge technology (PEtech), which provides 20% enhanced sharpness designed to last for years of repeated use.

Wüsthof’s 6” Chef’s Knife blade is precision-forged with high-carbon steel that is tempered to 58 degrees Rockwell (HRC) for a hardy structure. Tempering to 58 HRC provides a steel hardness that stays sharp for longer with less manual sharpening.

Design

The design of the Wüsthof Classic Chef Knife presents a single-block carved German steel blade, ergonomic handle, and a seamless design. A final expert polishing on the blade gives a mirror-like shine and professional look to this knife.

The blade is polished via Precision Edge Technology (PEtech), meaning that it’s precision-polished on a whetstone during production. PEtech blade edges tout exceptionally high cutting performance as well as long-lasting edge retention and sharpness. The steel is triple-riveted into the quality POM handle, which is stamped with the distinctive Wüsthof trident logo—a signature of the Classic knife line.

Wüsthof’s 6” Chef’s Knife is well-balanced and feels secure in the hand at only 6.1 oz. It features a full bolster and finger guard that allows for a natural pinch grip in addition to enhanced safety while in use. The full-tang handle gives you a good balance and sturdiness while cutting and chopping since the single-block steel extends all the way through to the butt of the knife.

The three rivets in the fade-resistant POM handle give this knife a signature classic look while providing extra durability. The handle material is flush with the tang, which prevents food particles and liquids from seeping into the knife. Overall, the 6” Wusthof Chef Knife has a streamlined design that is easy to clean and maintain.

The knife is stamped with the NSF hygiene mark, indicating that it has been tested by a third-party certifier and all claims about the product have been verified.

Design Details

Weight	6.1 oz
Length	Blade: 6.0″ (actual) Full length: 11.375″ (actual)
Blade	Forged German Stainless Steel x50crMoV1
Handle	Riveted Polyoxymethylene (POM)
Tang	Full Tang
Edge Angle	15 degrees
Made In	Germany

Kitchen Usability

The Wusthof Chef Knife is one of the easiest knives to use. Specifically, the 6” length is perfect for cutting most meats, fruits, and vegetables. It is not ideal for cutting larger food such as watermelon or butternut squash. I like using a 10” chef knife for the larger foods.

The weight of the knife at 6.1 oz keeps your hand from getting tired while holding it. The handle has a smooth edge and is comfortable in your hand.

The knife is weighted a little heavier in the handle over the blade. Since the blade is shorter this allows the knife to sit perfectly in your hand without having to firmly grip it.

Although the blade has a smooth surface, there wasn’t much of an issue with food sticking to the blade.

Even though this is not a kid’s chef knife, my eight-year-old gravitates to it every time he helps me in the kitchen. It is lite enough for him to maneuver the blade when cutting potatoes and apples without feeling overwhelmed.

Cut Test Results

Apples: I cut more apples with this knife than I do with a paring knife. It’s long enough to cut through the apple but small enough to easily remove the core.

Cilantro: It worked well for cutting small portions of the herb. If I was doing larger amounts then I would want a longer blade.

Onions: The sharpness of the blade’s edge allowed the cutting of onions to be easy without crushing it with each pass. There were no problems with slicing and dicing onions.

Potatoes: This knife sliced through potatoes without any problems. Like most knives, the potato pieces tend to stick a little bit to the blade. For larger potatoes, the 6 inch blade did not work for cutting with a rocking motion as it wasn’t long enough.

Chicken: Cutting both raw and cooked chicken with this knife was easy to do as the blade went through the meat without any trouble.

Beef: I was able to cut thin and regular slices of steak without tearing through the meat.

Cleaning and Maintenance

To keep your kitchen knives performing at their best, Wüsthof recommends cleaning your knives right after using them. Using a dishwasher is not recommended. Instead, hand wash your Wüsthof Chef Knife using warm water, dish soap, and a damp cloth. Then, dry carefully using a soft towel.

Be sure to wash off sauces, juices, or anything acidic as soon as possible. They can cause rust or corrosion, even on stainless steel blades. If you do find evidence of rust or corrosion on your knife, you can use a standard, non-abrasive steel cleaning fluid to remove it.

To keep the 6” Chef’s Knife sharp over time, you’ll need to maintain it with regular honing. A honing steel should be used regularly to keep the edge sharp.

If your knife dulls and needs more of an edge reset, you can use a whetstone to freshen the edge of the blade.

Even after using this knife every day, I found that using a whetstone was only needed only 1 time a year.
With the right care and proper storage, you can keep your knives in great shape for many years. Learn more about caring for your knives for tips and recommendations to keep your knives in top condition.

Company

The family-owned company Wüsthof has a reputation for German steel products and quality crafted cutlery that’s all manufactured in Solingen, Germany. The city of Solingen is known for its quality steel production and is nicknamed the steel capital of the world.

Wüsthof has been based in Solingen for seven generations. Its reputation still stands as a fine producer of mid-priced and high-quality German steel kitchen knives.

Looking at the reviews on Amazon for this product at the time this review was written shows 4.8 out of 5 stars. The reviews overall seem to be legitimate. The company has an extremely positive presence with not just this knife but their 172 other products.

Return Policy

The warranty does not cover wood products, such as knife handles, wear from normal use, or any damage resulting

Wüsthof will accept returns as long as they meet certain criteria. You can return the knife within 28 days of delivery, unused, and in its original packaging. If the purchase was made on Wüsthof’s website, you can process the return through their site. Purchases from a third-party retailer like Amazon must be processed through the third-party’s website.

If there are any quality issues or manufacturing defects in the chef knife, see the warranty information below.

Warranty

In alignment with Wüsthof’s claims for product quality, the 6” Wüsthof Classic Chef Knife is fully guaranteed to be free of defects in craftsmanship and materials. Wüsthof offers a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects.

Of course, the warranty doesn’t cover wear that results from normal use or damage caused by using the knife for unintended purposes. You can return your knife to the warranty return address listed on Wüsthof’s website with a note stating your claim and reason for the return.

Value

The Wusthof Classic Chef Knife is priced at a little over $100. This price may seem a little high if this is your first time shopping for knives. When you consider the quality of the Wusthof brand and specifically this knife, I find it to be worth the purchase price. For an all-purpose knife, it works very well. It has been my go-to over many of my other knives when doing basic food prep. With a little maintenance, that price tag is well worth it as I can see this knife not only lasting a lifetime but also being used a lifetime.

Who Should Buy the Wusthof ?

Summary

There’s a reason the Classic is Wusthof’s best-selling knife series. I can confirm from using this knife on a regular basis that it’s well worth the price to have a dependable knife in your kitchen. From being easy use by a child to having all-around functionality in your kitchen, you can’t go wrong with purchasing the Wusthof Class Chef Knife.