HENCKELS INTERNATIONAL COLLECTION
A manufacturer of cutlery with its beginnings in Solingen, Germany is Zwilling JA Henckels. Created in 1731, it lays claim to many "firsts": including the blades of the first stainless steel, multi-purpose kitchen shears, forged knives with molded handles and hybrid forged knives.
Henkel is also ranked among the companies of the knife more technically perfect in any country. It seems that through 278 years of manufacturing, Henckels Four Star Knife sets can be regarded as the strongest knives in the block. Today they are one of the largest, if not the largest manufacturer with more classes and lines in more countries than the competition.
Almost all Henckels knives are constructed of high quality German carbon, no stain steel blades, which were soaked with ice to increase blade strength and resistance to rust. The process is called Friodur Hardening Well, almost, Henckels now manufactures all over the world and the product in your hand might not be what you expected. The expression "New world Order" had little to do with world domination as it did with world trade. Many companies manufacture raw materials in country of origin and use the cheaper labor available in other countries to finish the product.
THE HENCKELS MIKADO SERIES
I have the Mikados as they filled in a couple slots on my blocks for knives I do not use as much and being frugal, they were less expensive than Shuns. I have the bread knife, I call it the Crouton / Brushetta knife. The other was the french boning knife, I usually grab anything close when hacking a bird or trimming on some meats. I honed this one and it does do a good job on trimming fat and close boning. Heres the shell game.
Though they come in Henckels packaging, a close inspection of the blade indicates and is stamped German steel. In smaller type for the myoptically inclined it is also stamped "Made in China".
Though they come in Henckels packaging, a close inspection of the blade indicates and is stamped German steel. In smaller type for the myoptically inclined it is also stamped "Made in China".
For the financially conscious they appear and in use work well. But like anything else you will get what you pay for and I always hear it in statements like "I can get this and that for the price of one of those". Logically thats good thinking if you are a knife thrower or outfitting your Army and thinking either frugal or quantity over quality. Almost any blade can cut, miss or kill something. But it's all in how well it does the job, how it fits you and comfort level and amount of usage it will get.
I have suspicions that Henckels like many other companies who make things world wide, try smaller lots to see if they will sell. The Mikado line pops up in Bed Bath and Beyond, a good price point item against Calpathlon, Kichenaid and Cuisinart with the Henckels name and Japanese styling. The also have a Petty or Paring knife, a Nakiri, a Deba and a Chefs knife in the collection. Henckels makes knives or finishes them in Germany, Spain, China and possibly Austria or Switzerland. Thats why they have 11 lines. So far they have performed well for the price and I'm not afraid to put them in the travel box. Kramers, Onions, Shuns and Wusthofs stay home.