No matter where you are, you probably have heard of the legendary Swiss Army knife. This pocket knife has become a timeless icon known for its outstanding quality and reliability. Regardless of how old your Swiss Army knife is, you can always expect it to work like it’s brand new. Despite the battering, it might endure, you can always rely on it whenever and wherever you may be.
However, these pocket knives were meant to be used in an outdoor setting. What if the same durability, quality, and reliability can be found inside the kitchen? You don’t have to look any further because its manufacturer, Victorinox, has an entire collection of kitchen knives that live up to its centuries-old reputation of craftsmanship and premium quality.
Read more to learn about the industry-leading Victorinox Fibrox kitchen knives!
What Are Kitchen Knives?
As you may already know, not all knives are meant to be used in the same situations. Some are better suited for outdoor scenarios like hunting knives, while others are meant to be used in the kitchen. A kitchen knife can be any of the highly specialized knives found in the kitchen. That’s why professional chefs and cooking enthusiasts often have an entire collection of kitchen knives.
Below are some kinds of kitchen knives that you might find in professional and home kitchens:
- Chefs knife (such as the Victorinox Fibrox chef knife)
- Utility knife
- Paring knife
- Bread knife
- Carving knife
- Cleaver or butcher knife
- Boning knife
- Filleting knife
- Salmon knife
- Santoku knife
- Nakiri knife
- Tomato knife
- Peeling knife
What Are the Leading Kitchen Knife Brands?
Whether you’re looking for a brand new set of knives or are aiming to expand your already existing one, you have plenty of options in the market. From cheap ones with subpar quality to expensive ones that can last you for years, there truly is an immensely wide selection of kitchen knives.
Before you step foot in your local store to look for knives, you have to be aware of the leading brands in the industry. Professional chefs often recommend certain kitchen knife brands for a good reason. Most of the time, you can expect the same level of quality every time you purchase a knife from reputable knife companies.
To help you be familiar with the kitchen knife scene, here are some of the leading kitchen knife brands:
Wusthof
German steel is hailed as one of the best in the world. Among the centuries-old cutlery companies in Germany, Wusthof is deemed the most popular among professional chefs and cooking enthusiasts across the world. In fact, their knives are often described as the pinnacle of German engineering.
The company traces its origins back to 1814 as a family-owned business. Since then, Wusthof has always been ahead of its competitors, making it an industry leader. In the present day, the company uses the latest innovations and incorporates them in the production of their premium quality knives.
Zwilling J.A. Henckels
Aside from Wusthof, Zwilling J.A. Henckels is also another company that hails from the City of Blades. Solingen knives are known worldwide for their impressive quality and outstanding craftsmanship. You can bet on Zwilling J.A. Henckels to live up to the world-renowned Solingen tradition of producing sharp knives that last for decades.
Most knives belonging to the company’s portfolio are made of high-carbon stainless steel. Thanks to their unique manufacturing processes, the blades are extremely sharp and hard, and also exhibit strong stain resistance. Unlike other knives in the market, their blades are forged rather than stamped, making them more durable and reliable.
Global Knives
In contrast to the first two brands so far, Global hails from the Land of the Rising Sun. Aside from German steel, Japanese blades also dominate the market and are recommended by professional chefs as well. One of the leading brands from the Eastern hemisphere is Global, taking pride in its manufacturing processes that were inspired by traditional Japanese sword-making techniques.
Primarily, Global has three cutlery collections: Classic, SAI, and UKON. Being the most extensive collection, Classic bears the original designs by Global and features an all-steel design. Inspired by samurai swords, SAI is the newcomer among the three cutlery collections from Global. Lastly, UKON boasts marginally sharper blades compared to the Classic collection.
Shun Cutlery
While officially established only in 2002, Shun Cutlery traces its origins even further back to 1908 when its parent company, the KAI Group, was founded. The company was established in what you may consider as the Japanese equivalent to Solingen. The city of Seki has a very long history of forging and blacksmithing, spanning over 800 years.
In a market dominated by Western cutlery, Shun helped Japanese blades enter the mainstream and introduce Japanese kitchen knives to kitchens across the world. Compared to kitchen knives at the time, blades from Shun were noticeably thinner and sharper, which became one of their recognizable features.
Mercer Culinary
For the budget-constrained chefs and cooking enthusiasts, the premium brands mentioned above might be too expensive. If you’re just starting out your career as a cook, you may prefer a brand that offers bang for the buck offerings. As such, Mercer Culinary fills this space with competitive options that won’t break the bank.
Some people consider their wide selection of quality kitchen knives as a stepping stone for more premium ones. As you master your way around a kitchen, blades from Mercer Culinary will do just fine. Despite their more affordable prices, these kitchen knives are made from durable steel and are of high quality.
What Makes Victorinox Stand Out Among Its Competitors?
Now that you know some of the leading kitchen knife brands in the market today, you may be curious which among them is a cut above the rest. Having become synonymous with excellent craftsmanship, Victorinox has been deemed the epitome of knife making. Here are some of the reasons why you should consider purchasing kitchen knives from Victorinox.
Swiss Army Knife Reliability
Famous worldwide for its Swiss Army knives, the company lends the same level of reliability it has become known for to its Victorinox Fibrox knife set. Even if you’re not camping outdoors or in outer space (NASA astronauts are equipped with Swiss Army knives), you can expect the long-lasting durability and sharpness in each Victorinox kitchen knife.
Forged Not Stamped
While the mass production of commodities did make products cheaper and faster to produce, it did take its toll on the quality of those products. Knife enthusiasts would immediately recognize a blade that has been merely cut from a sheet of steel versus a knife that’s been forged in the highest temperatures.
Victorinox does offer both forged and stamped blades. However, their stamped kitchen knives are not merely a way for them to cut into the lower price segment of the market. Victorinox recognizes the benefits that stamped knives can offer you, such as easier maintenance. That’s why you can expect high quality and reliability from their stamped Victorinox Fibrox knives.
Myriad of Options
Aside from giving you the option between more affordable stamped knives and premium quality forged knives, Victorinox also offers different kinds of knife handles. Not to be treated as a mere afterthought, knife handles are important for your safety and workflow.
For example, the Victorinox 8 chef knife is equipped with a non-slip Fibrox handle that also works great with your ergonomics. This was made possible by the thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) material it is made out of. You can peruse their extensive catalog of knife handles to find the most suitable one for you.
Final Thoughts
The name Victorinox entails premium quality, prestige, and luxury. Its level of craftsmanship is impeccable as it has demonstrated with the Victorinox Swiss Army knife. The Fibrox Pro 8 chef's knife also carries the same quality the brand has become known for. Without a shred of doubt, Victorinox lives up to its name as professional chefs worldwide will attest.
If you’re not sure which kind of kitchen knife to purchase, read our helpful guide about the different types of kitchen knives now.
August 18, 2022
