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Classic Chef's Knife 20 cm | 8 inch

Classic Chef's Knife 20 cm | 8 inch featuring a forged German stainless steel blade and a black ergonomic handle with three rivets for expert kitchen performance.
Classic Chef's Knife 20 cm | 8 inch featuring a forged stainless steel blade with a full bolster and a black handle secured by a single rivet for balanced cutting.
Classic Chef's Knife 20 cm | 8 inch showcasing a black ergonomic handle with polished rivets and a subtle red logo for comfortable, durable kitchen use.
Classic Chef's Knife 20 cm | 8 inch featuring a full tang forged blade and a black ergonomic handle secured with three rivets for balanced kitchen performance
Classic Chef's Knife 20 cm | 8 inch with a forged German steel blade and black ergonomic handle placed on a cutting board alongside chopped vegetables.
Classic Chef's Knife 20 cm | 8 inch featuring a forged German stainless steel blade and a black handle with three rivets, shown with chopped herbs on a wooden board.

Classic Chef's Knife 20 cm | 8 inch

£145.00
£145.00
Price incl. VAT
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Color: Black
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Product Details

The WÜSTHOF Classic Chef's Knife is the essential all-rounder for every kitchen, making slicing and dicing a pleasure. Precision-forged from high-quality Solingen steel, it offers exceptional durability and optimal balance.
Chopping

Chopping

Cutting

Cutting

Fish

Fish

Fruit

Fruit

Herbs

Herbs

Meat

Meat

Vegetables

Vegetables

Specifications

Handle

Length
11.5 cm

Production

SKU
1040100120
Method
Forged
Rockwell hardness
58 HRC
Country of Origin
Germany, Solingen

Blade

Length
20 cm
Width
4.7000 cm

Cutlery

Type
Chef's knife
Series
Classic

Care Instructions

  • Wash by hand and immediately towel-dry. 
  • Avoid using abrasive sponges or leaving your knife soaking in the sink. 
  • Safely store your knife using a storage solution. 
  • Avoid cutting on hard surfaces such as metal, glass or hardwoods like bamboo.
  • Regular honing is essential to keep your knife performing at its best. 
  • Sharpen as needed using a whetstone, sharpening steel, or hand-held knife sharpener.

Frequently Bought Together

When you use a WÜSTHOF knife, you can be sure that you are holding one of world’s best kitchen tools in your hand.

We have been developing and manufacturing our products in Solingen, Germany, the “City of Blades,” since 1814 – loyalty that pays off in the quality and reliability of our family business, knife by knife.

wusthof logo

High quality WÜSTHOF steel: Our special stainless steel is durable, corrosion resistant, easy to sharpen, and reduces wear on the blade. Ideal for chef’s knives.

Unrivaled performance: Our superbly balanced and ergonomically designed handles ensure that every knife fits perfectly in the hand. Ideal for you.

WÜSTHOF stands for knives. For the moment when your knife glides effortlessly through your fresh ingredients.
WÜSTHOF Knives
WÜSTHOF Knives
Other Knives
Other Knives
Material Premium forged steel engineered for lasting strength and corrosion resistance. Often stamped or made from standard steel blends that may sacrifice durability or rust resistance.
Sharpness 20% sharper than standard knives, thanks to laser-guided PEtec technology. Factory-sharpened blades that start strong but dull faster and lack precision honing.
Craftsmanship Hand-finished in Solingen, Germany with 200+ years of expertise and precision in every detail. Mass-produced or partially outsourced craftsmanship that lacks the same heritage and consistency.
Corrosion Resistance
 Exceptional rust resistance for a blade that stays beautiful for decades. Prone to staining or rust if not carefully maintained—especially with frequent kitchen use.
Edge Retention Stays sharper twice as long as ordinary knives, reducing the need to re-sharpen. Edges wear faster over time, requiring more frequent sharpening and touch-ups.
Limited Lifetime Warranty Limited lifetime warranty – a promise backed by generations of quality. Lifetime coverage may exist, but with less transparency and variable service depending on the brand.

Looking for a different balance of price, weight, or style?

Compare All WÜSTHOF Series

Questions? We Have Answers

What sets WÜSTHOF knives apart from other brands?

WÜSTHOF is one of the few brands permitted to use the label “Made in Solingen” on our knives rather than the less restricted “Made in Germany.” Solingen, Germany is the steel manufacturing capital of the world and, as such, needed to take precautionary measures against fraudulent products bearing the prestigious name, “Solingen.” In 1938, Solingen became the only city in the world whose name is a registered trademark. To bear the name Solingen, all key manufacturing stages must have been processed and finished within Solingen, and the product must meet strict quality standards. This means that even cutlery manufactured entirely within Solingen’s town boundary may not be entitled to bear the name Solingen if it does not meet these required quality standards.

Some of our competitors use the label “Made in Germany,” which does not carry the same significance. We have the honor of labeling our products “Made in Solingen.”

What is Precision Edge Technology (PEtec)

WÜSTHOF’s proprietary state-of-the-art technology incorporates a computer-controlled method for putting the edge on forged knives. Using laser-guided precision, our knives are 20% sharper with twice the edge retention. All forged knives are manufactured using PEtec.

What do the numbers printed on my blade mean?

The number etched on your blade indicates the year it was made — just add “20” in front of it.

In some cases, you might see a second number, which shows the blade length in centimeters.

There is no item number printed on the blade.

Examples:

• “25” means the blade was made in 2025.

• “22 / 20” means the blade was made in 2022 and is 20 cm long.

What is the difference between forged and laser-cut stamped knives?

Forged knives go through over 40 steps in our factory to create the top quality blades WÜSTHOF has to offer. Forged knives include a bolster, which helps to balance the knife. Laser-cut stamped blades go through 14 steps in our factory, and are more economically priced. They are lighter in weight, and do not have a bolster.

What are the most important knives to start a set?

The most important knife in any kitchen is the chef’s knife, and after that, it depends on your own personal preferences when cooking.

How do I keep my knives sharp?

WÜSTHOF knives can be honed and sharpened using a hand-held sharpener, an electric sharpener, a sharpening or honing steel, or a whetstone. We recommend using the same brand sharpener as your knife collection, to ensure that the material used is the correct hardness for the steel on your knives. Our sharpening angle for standard blades is 14˚ per side, and for Asian-style blades (Santokus, Nakiris) is 10˚ per side. We offer a variety of sharpening products with pre-set angles.

Read our full knife sharpening guide here.

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Reviews

Overall rating: 4.882353 / 5 from 476 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

The WÜSTHOF Classic Chef's Knife is highly regarded for its precise cuts, exceptional balance, and outstanding quality. Customers praise its sharp edge, perfect weight, and secure feel, making it a versatile and reliable tool for any kitchen. The knife's durability and customer service are also frequently highlighted in reviews.

Summary topics

  • Precision of Cuts (3%): It was reported by customers that the cuts made by this product are perfectly balanced and make precise cuts.
  • Feel in Hand (5%): It was reported by customers that the knife has a great feel and feels secure in the hand.
  • Quality (11%): Customers appreciated the exceptional quality of the knife, which was mentioned multiple times in the reviews.
  • Kitchen Tool (3%): It was reported by customers that the Wüsthof chef's knife is a perfect tool for the kitchen.
  • Product Balance (9%): Customers keep praising the perfect balance of the product, which is mentioned multiple times in the reviews.

Review topics: ["size","color","replacement","handle","weight","quality","customer service","issues","look","shipping","value","set","balance","warranty","craftsmanship","edge","maintenance","husband","pleasure","service","construction","work","piece","price","feels","use","knife","tool","cuts","chef"].

Review highlights

  • "Handling, balancing, cutting, and looks, are terrific." — James S.
  • "Great feel, good weight, and high quality." — Brian S.
  • "Loves the weight the great grip of the handle and the triple rivets through the metal." — Paula C.

Reviews

Come for the Knives, Stay for the lifetime warranty

"Purchased this as a warranty replacement, the knives are of course very high quality, but you won't appreciate how good until you have to replace one. I expected lots of hassle and delay as you have to send the knife to them in MA. So dropped mine in the mail and crossed my fingers. Four days later I had an email, with a link to replace the knife. You really have to believe in your product to offer a lifetime warranty, and not making me wait 3 weeks to get a new one was most appreciated"

— John T. (5/5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Absolute Gold Standard in the Kitchen

"If you are looking for the one knife that will completely transform your prep work, look no further. The Wüsthof Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife isn't just a kitchen tool—it is an absolute powerhouse of German engineering and an absolute joy to use."

— russell w. (5/5)

Wonderful knife

"Great knife, beautiful and cuts great. Bought this for my daughter who’s an executive chef. She loves it! Says it cuts thick meant like butter!"

— Brandy G. (5/5)

The knife is the perfect

"The knife is the perfect size. I already have a 12" Chef's Knife but it can be unwieldy for certain things"

— Linda H. (5/5)

Nice quality german kitchen knives

"I got the 8 inch chefs knife, and the 5 inch santoku knife. Both are wonderful knives and my wife loves cutting and dicing vegetables with her Santoku knife."

— Mark L. (5/5)

Top Tier Kitchen Knife

"I absolutely love this knife. The quality and craftsmanship are second to none. The blade is so sharp it is a please to use and the but and handle are extremely soft and comfortable to hold and grip when rock cutting. 10/10"

— Peter W. (5/5)

This was a gift for

"This was a gift for my husband, and he has raved about it since receiving it. It is his new favorite! Thinking he will need more for his collection!"

— Patricia C. (5/5)

Good knife

"Very well balanced and a nice weight. Not overly sharp after unboxing."

— Ronald M. (5/5)

Knife Series

"I bought the same knife for my sister that I have had for 30 years to replace her Wustof Gourmet knife, which she purchased without knowing that it would not be the same quality"

— karen b. (5/5)

Fehlschärfe

"Das Kochmesser ist nicht bis zum Kropf ausgeschliffen . Dadurch eingeschränkte Nutzbarkeit."

— Jens D. (5/5)

Q&A

My knife fell and broke, the blade broke a couple of cm from the handle. I have never see. A knife do this before. Is this covered under warranty? I have only had this knife for less than 2 years
We're so sorry to hear about what happened to your knife! Please contact our Customer Support Team at +1-800-289-9878 or by email at info@wusthof.com so that we can assist you with your warranty claim.
What degree angle to sharpen model 4582?
Our Classic 8" Chef's Knife should be sharpened to a 14.5-degree angle at the edge.

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