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You are upgrading your kitchen and improving your cooking and food preparation skills. Good for you. There are so many options when it comes to finding the ideal kitchen knife. And when it comes to finding the right one, it boils down to narrowing down what you want and what you don’t want in a knife. Do you prefer to have a Japanese or German-made blade? If you’re going to go for the German knife because it is more durable and versatile than the Japanese-made knife, then you made your decision.
Then you narrowed the brand down to Wusthof when it comes to investing in the best knife. Wusthof is a high-quality German knife brand, and there are several knives that you will want to investigate. The standard blades from Wusthoff are the Classic and the Ikon. Which one is ideal for your needs? Let’s go over the overview for both knives, and you can make that determination after comparing them.
The Overview Of The Wusthof Classic
Wusthof is a German knife-making company that is over 200 years old, and the establishment of it took place in Solingen, Germany, by the Wusthof company. Wusthof forges most of its knives as it goes through a 40-step process that involves heat molding from a piece of high-carbon, rust-resistant stainless steel, and Wusthof forges the Classic. The company stamps some of their knives, such as the Gourmet line, which is less involved than forging.
That is why the Classic line is durable, rugged, and performs very well. Additionally, it is incredibly sharp as the manufacturers sharpen the edges at 14-degree angles on each side, making the total angle at 28-degrees. The knife handles consist of polyoxyethylene or POM, and this material features a tight molecular frame, which is why the handle is sturdy and stable.
That is why this knife will last a long time as it is resistant to water, extreme temperatures, fading, and discoloration. POM is a synthetic material, and the design of the handle is to fit comfortably in your hand when you use the knife. You must handwash these knives. Now, let’s talk about the overview of the Ikon.
The Overview Of The Wusthof Ikon
The Wusthof Ikon is another option that the company offers, and that is also a forged knife. The blade consists of high-carbon and rust-resistant stainless steel, and the company sharpens them at 14-degree angles on each side or 28-degree angles on both sides. The handles of the Ikon knives consist of Grenadilla wood or African Blackwood.
The wood features a high resin content, and it is a dense material with low porosity. Therefore, African Blackwood is one of the world’s heaviest and hardest wood types. Thus, the Ikon handles that consist of this wood is stable, durable, and is water-resistant. That is because African Blackwood does not contact or expand when there is moisture exposure, and there will not be any damage. Now that you have a general overview of the Classic and Ikon knives, let’s take the time to compare both of them, and you can determine which is the better fit for you.
The Comparison Between Ikon And Classic Wusthof Knives
After reading the Wusthof Classic and Ikon overviews, you likely saw that there are plenty of similarities between the blades. The Classic and Ikon knives are part of the Wusthof forged lines, and the blades consist of high-carbon and rust-resistant stainless steel. The blades also feature the same level of sharpness. The manufacturer sharpens both at a 14-degree angle on each side or a 28-degree angle on both sides. Therefore, the Wusthoff Classic and Ikon models share identical blades. However, their handles are different from one another.
The Classic handle consists of the synthetic material, polyoxyethylene or POM, which features a tight molecular structure. That is what makes the handle sturdy, durable, and water and temperature-resistant. POM is also easy to maintain as all you need to do is hand wash the knives with soap and water after each use. There is nothing else you need to do to maintain it other than storing the Classic in a safe area.
However, the Ikon handle consists of African Blackwood, a high-quality wooden material considering this wood is the densest type in the world. That is why the Ikon is more elegant and beautiful than the Classic, even though the Classic has a sophisticated appearance. The Ikon handles feature smoother curves as well.
However, bear in mind, African Blackwood is challenging to maintain because it is high-maintenance. It is a natural material, and you must polish the wood now and then so it keeps its luster. Additionally, African Blackwood is costly to transform into handles or anything else such as instruments. Thus, the Ikon model is about 40 percent more expensive than the Classic because synthetic materials are simpler to make and transform into handles.
Therefore, the functionality of both knives is the same. Appearances are different. If you have an elegant or fancy kitchen, then you may want to go with the Ikon. However, if you have a typical kitchen, even with upgrades, and you are busy, you are better off with the Classic. The Ikon requires more of your time because it is higher maintenance than the Classic. The best knife is the right one for your wants and needs.
Conclusion
If you are looking at different Wusthof models, you will want to learn about each one and what they offer, and the advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, the knives compared are the Wusthof Classic and Ikon. The functionality is virtually the same as these forged knives possess the same sharpness. However, the difference between these knives is that the Classic handle consists of synthetic material, polyoxyethylene, or POM. The Ikon handle consists of African Blackwood, which is natural, and a lot more expensive to maintain, even though it is more elegant than the Classic. Which is the best option for you? That is for you to decide based on what you want and need.