Chefs Knife Review: Wusthof Classic Ikon Cook’s Knife

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Wusthof Classic Ikon Cook’s Knife

A contemporary update of Wusthof’s main Classic series, the Ikon is quickly becoming Wüsthof’s pride and joy in the marketplace. Favored by some of the best chefs in the world like Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver, the Ikon series is all about modern, ergonomic lines with luxurious handles to finish it all off.

The Ikon line comes in Classic black or crème and features Wusthof’s proprietary, PEtec Precision Edge Technology for the ultimate in blade sharpness. The familiar formula, “X 50 Cr Mo 15” is etched into the side of the blade, signifying a steel makeup of 0.5% carbon, 15% chromium and smaller amounts of molybdenum and vanadium for a true stainless profile and outstanding strength.

Click here to check out current prices on the Wusthof Classic Ikon.

Wusthof Classic Ikon Cook’s Knife Features

• Precision-forged from a single piece of German steel
• Innovative handle design for comfort and control
• Triple-rivet handles compression fitted into the full tang
• Made in Solingen, Germany-the Knife Capital of the World
• Lifetime guarantee

Wusthof Classic Ikon Cook’s Knife Review

The shining symbol of the “heavy European knife” for years has been the Wusthof Classic. The triple rivet handle and near-perfect balance has been a prominent representative of the Wusthof name and knife making in general of Germany. It’s been the icon, really, of what Wusthof has been offering the cutlery world for nearly decades, and so when it came time to name to a successor you just can’t fault Wusthof for their decision to call it the Ikon.
The Wusthof Classic Ikon has two major upgrades over the regular Classic line-both in looks and performance. The Ikon’s first improvement is in a tapered bolster, which probably came about through user feedback. This gives the Ikon a sleeker look than the Classic but more importantly aids in future sharpening. Over time, a large bolster can jut out as it doesn’t get sharpened along with the rest of the blade. By tapering the bolster, Wusthof has built in much needed longevity to the future of this chef’s knife.

The second major improvement to the Classic is in pure aesthetics. The modern, sleek handle design is curved for a more comfortable fit and dare we say it’s sexy. Wusthof has adapted to the growing competition in handle ergonomics-and it really adds to the beauty and control of this heavy cook’s knife.

Yes, they’re still “Wusthof heavy,” but with the new handle design we’d say the company has been listening to its critics. For years the Wusthof Classic was difficult to wield for smaller hands and gave us the image of the burly German chef and his trusty weapon. Those with slighter builds found the knives to be tiring in the kitchen, and over time started to prefer the more advanced handle shapes of the Shun line for better balance.

Wusthof has answered this critique in spades and then some. Even inexperienced chefs will find they now can appreciate all the balance and control qualities that make up the best chef knives.

The Ikon’s fit and finish is near perfection, and we like the little touches Wusthof has added as well. A polished edge makes a luxurious impression, and the Wusthof logo is now prominently formed into the blade itself. The spine has been slightly ground down to remove the sharp edge and really makes for clean lines overall. A composite material gives the Ikon the look of having rich, wooden handles without the bacteria-harboring nooks and crannies inherent in wooden knives.

So how’s the blade stack up? Out-of-the-box crazy sharp. Wusthof has poured a ton of resources over the past few years into their PEtec Precision Edge blade technology and it shows. The blend of steel in the single-piece forging gives the Ikon a superior edge and ensures long-lasting stainless strength. The Ikon simply glides through food effortlessly. With its tapered bolster maintaining this edge properly for years to come will be a snap. This is finally a Wusthof that we can imagine lasting for decades. With a proper sharpening steel and a few swipes each time before use, your grandchildren will brag someday on how great this knife is.

User reviews online bear out the love as well for the Ikon, with comments like:

“This knife is ridiculously nice. It has seen use 4x per week, thirty minutes at a time on average for 6 months now, and I’ve still not had to sharpen it.”

-From Amazon.com

And,

“These knives meet every idea of great kitchen utensils. They are lightweight and the fit and feel in the hand are perfect. And, believe me, they are very sharp! ”

-User review from Williams-Sonoma

We found many more like the above, and it should be noted at this moment it’s the highest-rated knife on Amazon.com with an average of 4.9 our of 5 stars. Clearly a candidate for the Best Chef’s Knife award?

Okay, so what’s the downside? First, for all its balance this is still a heavy knife. In conducting our chef knife reviews we’ve grown to appreciate the delicate flexibility in certain Global and Shun knives lately and if your tastes still run light then this might not fit your bill. Second, the Wusthof Ikon comes at a bit of a premium over the Classic-even though technically it’s a successor. In a perfect world the Ikon would completely replace the Classic line and maintain the same price points. Maybe that’s a bit of wishful thinking. The best news is that the Ikon is still an affordable option when compared to other high end knives and when you look at it that way it’s a very good deal.

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We fell in love with this knife. Period. The modern look paired up with the Wusthof name and unbelievable sharpness make this a worthy successor to the Classic. The tapered bolster design future-proofs any sharpening and ensures you’ll have this in service for many years to come. As knives of this type move into investment-type prices, you can’t go very wrong with putting your money behind the Wusthof Classic Ikon.

Where to Buy

Suggested retail price for the 10-inch is around $225. As always, Amazon.com offers some real competition to the brick-and-mortars like Williams Sonoma. Click here to check out the current price for the Wusthof Classic Ikon at Amazon.com.