Cutco vs. Wusthof Knives, German-based brands of knives in the market of quality kitchen knives, reign supreme. But that does not mean they don’t face intense competition from their American counterparts.
Indeed, the German company. Wusthof is one of the most popular brands.
On the other hand, the Cutco knife brand has been proudly producing American-made knives for several decades. Let’s go on a deep comparison of Cutco vs. Wusthof to see which company is superior.
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Where Are Cutco Knives Made?
For over 70 years, Cutco Knives have been proudly manufactured at our Olean, New York factory. Their commitment to producing quality knives in America goes beyond our manufacturing process.
Are Wusthof Knives Worth the Money?
Yes, Wusthof knives are worth the money. Wusthof has a solid reputation. And their knives give enormous value. In terms of quality, construction, and design, Wusthof knives are second to none.
Their precision blades are crafted from high-quality steel. And offer exceptional sharpness and durability. Furthermore, their sleek and stylish designs will complement any kitchen.
Are Cutco Kitchen Knives of Good Quality?
Yes. Cutco Kitchen Knives offer good value. For more than 50 years, Cutco has produced high-quality knives. Their knives are known for precision, durability, and ease of use.
Nonetheless, you can find a high-quality forged knife from brands like Wusthof or Zwilling for a similar price or less, not to mention numerous designs.
Some Background
Besides the differences in their products, these companies also had very different beginnings. Let’s look at how they started compared to where they are now.
Wusthof
Wusthof is based in Solingen, Germany. And is known as the “City of Blades” since it is home to many other knife brands. It was founded in 1814 and since then.
The brand has made a name by producing quality knives from top German stainless steel and excellent craftsmanship. Wusthof continues its successful endeavors globally by developing knives with modern features that address the needs of its ever-expanding customers.
For this reason, renowned culinary professionals such as Gordon Ramsey have chosen to praise Wusthof knife block sets and use them in their restaurants.
knives.
Wusthof includes several knife lines with various designs, each with a purpose. The collections under the Wusthof brand are the Amici and Amici 1814, Aeon, Ikon, Crafter, Gourmet, Performer and Wusthof classic knife set.
A Wusthof knife comes with a long-established quality. Purchasing such a knife guarantees a durable knife with a blade that retains its edge.
Moreover, the company offers many knives and knife sets to please even the people with the highest expectations.
Cutco
Cutco prides itself on being a small-town and family-owned business based in Olean, New York. The company puts its American values front and center, providing jobs that support many American families.
Created by ALCOA, Cutco started becoming the company it is today in 1982. Later expanding its operations nationwide and in Canada. In 2019, Cutco celebrated its 70th anniversary.
Another thing that the company is exceptionally proud of is that it has been manufacturing Cutco knives exclusively in the United States for decades, offering high-quality products.
The company states that it is the largest manufacturer of kitchen cutlery in North America. Cutco’s collections of knife sets are Homemaker, Galley, Studio, Essentials, and more.
Comparison
A more direct comparison of the two brands will make it easier to determine which is better.
Blade
Cutco knives come in three different styles of blades, Double-D edge, Straight edge, and Santoku. Knives with the Double-D edge have serrated-like blades, perfect for cutting slippery surfaces like bread.
Straight-edged knives are closer to typical chef’s knives. A knife with this blade might need more frequent sharpening, but it can be sharpened at home.
Unlike the Double-D edge. Santoku-edged knives are based on the popular style many other companies include in their sets. Moreover, all the blades on Cutco knives are stamped.
Wusthof offers more blade options than Cutco knives do, seven different ones, to be exact.
However, several of those are very similar to each other. While most of its blades are forged, one laser-cut stamped Wusthof knife is also available.
Manufacturing Process
As mentioned, all Cutco knives are stamped, which means laser-cut from steel sheets. The brand has advanced its crafting processes and ensures top-quality products.
On the other hand, Wusthof has mainly forged knife options and only one stamped blade. A forged knife goes through several steps and is made from a single piece of stainless steel.
The forging method is usually preferred because it increases the strength of the knives and allows for sharper edges and durability.
Even though differences between stamped and forged knives would not be immediately apparent to a non-expert. They would slowly become evident with use and time, as forged knives last much longer.
Wusthof mainly offers knives made through highly-praised techniques and top-quality steel. Cutco offers more regular quality knives, indicating that customers might prefer the German brand.
Handle
Cutco knives come with ergonomic handles that make for a comfortable grip. They are designed so the user will not get fatigued while using the knife. Cutco uses thermo-resin to create its handles.
All of its knives come with the same style of handle. Wusthof has a variety of handle styles for different knives. Some knives come with handles made with polyoxyethylene.
While others are made from natural wood, Wusthof also creates an ergonomic design, and the materials used for its handles are both natural and synthetic.
Price
Both Cutco knives and Wusthof knives are similarly priced. Both brands stand higher on the top regarding the standard market price.
This is because customers are expected to get what they pay for, meaning that buying from these brands guarantees a quality product that will last long.
However, since Wusthof has more variety as a brand and uses premium techniques to create its knives, buying from Wusthof would make more sense.
Warranty
Cutco’s Forever Guarantee is a great feature that offers sharpening (for a small fee) and free replacement at any time. Whether the knife is purchased or even second-hand.
This unlimited feature shows that the company is very confident about the quality of its products. Of course, this warranty is valid as long you use the blades as intended. They also require no receipts.
Wusthof offers a lifetime warranty for their knives. However, this only covers manufacturing defects. It is guaranteed to be defect-free when you buy a Wusthof knife like Cutco.
Wusthof’s warranty is valid if the product is used as intended. Wusthof offers sharpening services for a fee as well.
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Best Item From Each Brand
Wüsthof Classic 15-Piece Knife Block Set
This knife set includes all the top-quality knives you will ever need. Wusthof’s classic blades are made from high-carbon stainless steel. These knives are highly durable.
They last for many years and can be used in several ways, simplifying every cooking task.
The knives in this set are hand-honed and retain intense sharpness because they are made with carbon steel. A honing steel is also provided to sharpen as needed.
However, it is recommended that a knife should not need to be sharpened more than once per year with regular use and occasional honing.
The set includes a paring knife, a 4 1/2″ utility knife, a 6″ utility knife, a chef’s knife, a santoku knife, six steak knives, a bread knife, honing steel, and pull-apart shears, all stored within an acacia wood block.
- Full tang triple-riveted synthetic polypropylene handles resist fading, discoloration, heat, and impact.
- Made with Wusthof’s Precision Edge Technology (PEtec) that ensures a 20% sharper blade with twice the edge retention than previous models
- Resist corrosion and dulling and comes with a limited lifetime warranty
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Cutco 21 Piece Kitchen Knife Set
This Cutco knife set includes one of the company’s three razor-sharp edges, the Double-D recessed edge. The edge allows the blade to cut in multiple ways easily.
Its pointed teeth protect it from dulling the knife through contact with the surface.
The hard blades have balance, flexibility, rust and stain resistance, and edge retention.
Handle molding incorporates an ergonomic thermo-resin handle design that fits all hands.
The two-piece handle is riveted to the blade with high-quality nickel-silver alloy rivets. Rivets are sanded flush with the handle surface for a comfortable grip. Cutco offers a forever performance guarantee for all their knives.
This set includes. A paring knife, a Santoku-style trimmer, a Santoku-style carver, a Santoku-style slicer, a traditional cheese knife, a gourmet prep knife, a tuning fork, super shears, a vegetable peeler, eight table knives, a sharpener, all within a cherry finish oak block.
- 440A high-carbon stainless steel with a full tang design, triple-rivet, and thermo-resin ergonomic handles
- The Forever Guarantee backs all Cutco knives.
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Which Brand Is Better?
Both Cutco and Wusthof offer top-quality knives and are famous for their craftsmanship. Generally, the customer reviews for both brands.
Indicate that customers keep selecting these companies because they trust that they can purchase products that will last them for years, are durable, and are as sharp as a knife.
Concerning warranty, Cutco offers a much superior feature with its knives thanks to the Forever Guarantee.
Cutco will replace your knife no matter when you purchased it, even after a decade. In some cases, Cutco could even replace it if you were gifted the knife or passed it down.
Moreover, Cutco will not require any receipts from you.
This is different from Wusthof, which offers a lifetime warranty but only for defects that occur from manufacturing. Cutco does cover manufacturing defects. But its warranty goes beyond that.
They will not replace your knife if something happens to it during use or if the issue is not related to a primary defect. Therefore, Cutco’s warranty is superior.
Showing how much the company believes in the quality of its products. Regarding craftsmanship, both companies have had the chance to perfect their manufacturing processes because they have been active for several decades in the kitchenware market.
Both have been able to make a name for themselves due to the quality they provide. However, Wusthof’s processes are more highly regarded. Wusthof offers mainly forged knives, the technique that creates the most durable blades.
And only one stamped knife. It also uses world-renowned German steel. Cutco solely offers stamped knives, considered inferior while still solid compared to forged knives. Therefore in terms of manufacturing techniques.
Wusthof is the clear winner. See for yourself All Purpose Wüsthof Classic 8-Inch Chef Knife.
Besides quality, another thing that is very important to customers is variety. Many of Wusthof’s blades are similar but still provide different features. Read up on How To Choose German Knives
Cutco offers three types of blades for its knives, while Wusthof provides seven. Moreover, Cutco produces only one type of handle for its knives, made from synthetic materials.
But Wusthof offers several natural and synthetic materials. Once again, Wusthof is the winner, as a more significant selection offer is essential for most customers today.
Finally, regarding the price, both companies’ products cost about the same. Of course, both brands are considered more premium, so their price points are generally higher.
However, when someone has to choose between Wusthof and Cutco and is ready to spend a certain amount of money, selecting the brand that provides them with the most features would make sense.
While Cutco’s warranty is very appealing, it is not enough to fully win over customers since buying from both brands ensures a certain quality level. Therefore, according to everything detailed above, Wusthof is superior after comparing Cutco vs. Wusthof.
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