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Wusthof Classic 8" Review

Heavy duty and well-balanced, the finest German-style knife that can accomplish any task
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Wusthof Classic 8" Review
Credit: Bradley Nichols
Price:  $170 List
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Manufacturer:   Wüsthof
By Bradley Nichols ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Sep 25, 2024
91
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#1 of 13
  • Cutting Performance - 30% 9.0
  • Practicality - 30% 9.0
  • Ergonomics - 25% 9.5
  • Build Quality - 15% 9.0

Our Verdict

The Wusthof Classic 8" chef knife is a perfect choice for anyone who wants a heavy-duty knife that can do it all in the kitchen. It's a workhorse of a blade that stands up to heavy handling and difficult-to-cut food items. Though it's a tad on the heavy side, our culinary testing team found its balance and hand feel to be top-notch. This sharp chef knife holds its edge well, continuing to slice through tomatoes with ease. We tested the version with a full bolster, which makes this knife easy to grip with control and precision. If you're not a bolster fan, there's a version of this same knife without one, just for you. For anyone who needs a sharp, high-quality knife that will stand the test of time (and heavy-handedness), there's no other chef knife we like and recommend more than this classic eight-inch model from Wusthof.
REASONS TO BUY
Well-balanced
Available with or without bolster
Very sharp
Holds an edge well
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy weight is polarizing
Costly

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Bottom Line A weighty and elegant knife, this chef knife is a pleasure to useA distinctive model that is extremely capable of everything you need it forAn expert's knife that is capable of the finest cutsA fantastic value for an all-around excellent blade, offering great performance at a low costA great value for a solid knife that holds its own against stiff competition
Rating Categories Wusthof Classic 8" Shun Classic 8" Mac Professional Se... Victorinox Swiss Cl... Babish High-Carbon 8"
Cutting Performance (30%)
9.0
9.0
9.5
8.0
7.5
Practicality (30%)
9.0
9.5
8.0
8.5
6.5
Ergonomics (25%)
9.5
9.0
8.0
8.5
5.5
Build Quality (15%)
9.0
8.0
8.5
7.5
4.0
Specs Wusthof Classic 8" Shun Classic 8" Mac Professional Se... Victorinox Swiss Cl... Babish High-Carbon 8"
Reported Blade Bevel Angle 14° 16° 15° 16° 15°
Measured Blade Bevel Angle 15.75° 13° 25° 20° 12°
Reported Steel Hardness 58 HRC 60.5 HRC 60 HRC 56 HRC 55 HRC
Measured Steel Hardness 54 HRC 51 HRC 53 HRC 54 HRC 51 HRC
Measured Factory Sharpness 140 BESS 153 BESS 187 BESS 213 BESS 185 BESS
Country of Origin Germany Japan Japan Switzerland China
Construction Method Forged Forged Stamped Stamped Stamped
Model Tested Classic DM0706 MTH-80 6.8063.20G 8"
Metal Type X50CrMoV15 VG-MAX (propietary) Not specified Not specified 1.4116
Measured Weight 9.1 oz 7.4 oz 6.4 oz 5.7 oz 8.3 oz
Measured Blade Thickness at Spine 2.60 mm 1.92 mm 2.10 mm 2.20 mm 2.00 mm
Full Bolster Yes No No No No
Handle Material Polymer Pakkawood Pakkawood Nylon Polymer
Dishwasher Safe Hand wash only Hand wash only Hand wash only Dishwasher safe, hand wash reccomended Hand wash only
Interesting Features None Damascus pattern blade Dimpled blade None Babish face etched onto handle end

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Wusthof Classic 8" is an 8-inch forged steel blade made in Germany. It comes with a full bolster and a polymer handle, and the bolstered version we tested weighs 9.1 ounces.

Performance Comparison


wusthof classic 8" - the wusthof classic is a sturdy knife that feels substantial but...
The Wusthof Classic is a sturdy knife that feels substantial but cuts both delicate and hearty foods with ease.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Cutting Performance


The forged steel of the Wusthof Classic really shines here. Unlike stamped knives, which can sometimes lack the impeccably precise edge a home chef needs, this German-made blade features X50CrMoV15 steel that proved its prowess in our multitude of cutting tests.

Key Cutting Performance Scores
ProductEdge RetentionPrecision
Best54.5
Wusthof Classic 8\"4.54.5
Average3.84
Worst2.52

With a reported Rockwell Hardness (HRC) value of 58, the Wusthof is well-designed to hold an edge through many meal prep sessions. We measured an HRC value of 54 in our laboratory tests, which is still one of the hardest blades in our lineup, despite being difficult to get an accurate measurement due to the thin nature of this forged blade.

Steel Properties and Construction Methods
 Reported Steel HardnessMeasured Steel HardnessBlade ConstructionMetal Type
Wusthof Classic58 HRC54 HRCForgedX50CrMoV15
Shun Classic60.5 HRC51 HRCForgedVG-MAX (propietary)
Zwilling Professional S57 HRC53 HRCForgedFRIODUR (proprietary)
Victorinox Swiss Classic56 HRC54 HRCStampedNot specified
Henckels Classic56.5 HRC52 HRCForgedStainless steel (unspecified)

We put this knife through the wringer, breaking down a full chicken carcass, slicing through tough squash, dicing Costco-sized bags of onions, and chiffonading basil for toppings. It retained impressive chopping ability from start to finish over our many-month testing period, slicing through tomato skins with as much ease on Day 100 as Day 1.


Wusthof reports their Classic 8" chef knife is sharpened to a 14-degree angle. Our lab goniometer measured 15.75 degrees, with a 0.5-degree margin of error.

The typical angle of a chef knife blade is between 15 and 20 degrees. There's no “right” or “wrong” angle, and as long as you keep your blade sharp and honed, it should cut most things well.

This puts the Wusthof well within the margins of an average chef knife — and more than up to the task of making fine slices.

wusthof classic 8" - the wusthof sails through food with ease, offering impressive...
The Wusthof sails through food with ease, offering impressive precision for a blade this hefty and excellent edge retention through long hours of meal prep.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Practicality


Worth noting is that the fully-bolstered Wusthof Classic is a heavy knife that we measured weighing 9.1 ounces. Although not necessarily a detriment to its usage, sometimes, when performing unique off-kilter tasks or spending long hours in the kitchen toiling over excessive meal prep, this added weight can feel cumbersome. This didn't bother all of our testers, but those with smaller hands and those who are shorter (i.e., closer to the cutting surface) felt it was overly heavy at times.

Key Practicality Test Scores
ProductUnusual CutsBreak Down ChickenWet Handle
Best554.5
Wusthof Classic 8\"554.5
Average43.63.5
Worst222

On the other hand, the weight of this chef knife was actually quite useful in several circumstances. When cutting though root vegetables, oversized pineapples, or a particularly tough cut of meat, the extra weight gave our testers more confidence in their cutting.


The handle of the knife is well designed so that it never feels slippy even when breaking apart chickens or cutting through wet fruit and veg. The thick, full bolster provides an excellent grip even as we failed to dry our hands between cutting different items. This burly knife always felt confidently secured in the hands of all our testers in every situation we encountered.

wusthof classic 8" - the polymer handle and full bolster of the wusthof provide excellent...
The polymer handle and full bolster of the Wusthof provide excellent grip for even the hardest of foods and strangest of cuts - even with wet hands.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Ergonomics


The Wusthof is one of the most consistently comfortable and ergonomic knives we tested. Across all of our testers, we found it to have a universally loved hand feel. The polymer handle doesn't look like anything special, but as we directly compared it to all the other knives in our full lineup, it feels better than all the other similarly-designed handles.

Key Ergonomics Test Scores
ProductComfortBalanceBolster
Best555
Wusthof Classic 8\"4.555
Average3.53.53.5
Worst221

Although the Wusthof was one of the heaviest knives we tested, at 9.1 ounces, its weight was so perfectly balanced that it never felt clumsy. Indeed, most of our testers appreciated the heft in their hand and agreed that they could feel the quality with which this knife was made.

Physical Characteristics
 Measured WeightMeasured Spine ThicknessBolsterHandle Material
Wusthof Classic9.1 oz2.60 mmPolymer
Shun Classic7.4 oz1.92 mmPakkawood
Zwilling Professional S8.5 oz2.60 mmPolymer
Victorinox Swiss Classic5.7 oz2.20 mmNylon
Henckels Classic8.1 oz1.87 mmPolymer

The version we tested includes a full bolster that is thin enough to be unobtrusive while still giving a good grip when needed. It is well-designed and slim enough that testers who preferred knives without them didn't mind having it there.


Wusthof makes another line of cutlery that is similar in quality to this one called the Ikon, which does not include a bolster if that's more your style.

wusthof classic 8" - whether chopping using the rocker motion or slicing with the...
Whether chopping using the rocker motion or slicing with the push-and-pull strategy, the Wusthof Classic is well-balanced and fits well in our hands.
Credit: Bradley Nichols

Build Quality


The Wusthof is made in Germany by a company with a reputation for making fine-quality knives for hundreds of years — and it shows. Every detail of this knife, straight out of the box, was perfect, and we were unable to find any manufacturing flaws whatsoever.

Key Build Quality Test Scores
ProductPaper Slice TestManufacturing Finish
Best55
Wusthof Classic 8\"55
Average4.24
Worst2.53

We performed a paper slice test with every chef's knife we tested, straight out of the box. The Wusthof sailed easily and cleanly through the paper without any catching that might indicate a flaw in the blade's manufacturing or irregularities in its sharpened edge.


Though understated and unassuming, we feel the Classic 8" chef's knife gives an air of authority to anyone who owns one. It's both a workhorse in the kitchen and offers a clean, functional, elevated look to your knife collection.

wusthof classic 8" - even under a microscope, the wusthof classic proves its high-quality...
Even under a microscope, the Wusthof Classic proves its high-quality manufacturing.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Should You Buy the Wusthof Classic 8"?


In a word, absolutely. The Wusthof is a knife that nearly everyone will be extremely pleased with. From a highly experienced chef to a novice cook, the Wusthof will perform what you need aptly and enjoyably. Though it's on the pricy end of the spectrum, this knife is built to last for years of heavy use.

wusthof classic 8" - the wusthof is an exceptional chef's knife that we think is worth...
The Wusthof is an exceptional chef's knife that we think is worth the investment for any home cook looking for a top tier upgrade to their cutting implements.
Credit: Bradley Nichols

What Other Chef Knives Should You Consider?


The Zwilling Professional S is a very similar knife in many ways, including its forged German construction and heavy-duty capabilities. While the Wusthof has just a bit more polish and precision, the Zwilling still offers impressive performance for a more affordable price. If you want the best performance around, prefer a more eye-catching knife aesthetic, and aren't someone who is hard on their belongings, we also love the top-tier performance and gorgeous design of the Shun Classic 8".

Bradley Nichols
 

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