Wenger is launching a new line of prestigious kitchen knives, each forged from a single piece of stainless steel. They are designed for the kitchens of great chefs as well as for anyone who is passionate about the art of cuisine and enjoys fine-design. They are perfectly balanced to prevent fatigue. Designed and manufactured to last a lifetime, and made to be essential tools for gourmet food preparation, they are at the same time valuable and decorative interior design objects.

Knives are a great Chef’s most important tools -like a master photographer’s camera or fine artist’s paint brushes, they’re often purchased with one’s first salary following the completion of their apprenticeship; they go on to serve loyally for an entire career. Wenger, of Delémont, Switzerland, which makes the famous multipurpose Swiss Army knives and professional kitchen knives, has been making some of the world’s best cutlery for 116 years. This latest introduction utilizes the time-honored tradition of forging each knife from a single piece of high-quality stainless steel.

“Today, there are many ways to manufacture kitchen cutlery. We’ve witnessed countless new introductions from companies who have found ways to make inexpensive forged knives, in fact. We felt it was our duty to respect traditional methods and create a line of forged, single-piece cutlery that’s worthy of the Wenger name”, stated Peter Hug, Wenger CEO.

The quality of a knife depends by and large on the quality of the steel that is utilized in fabrication. In this particular case, Wenger’s experience combined with 116 years of manufacturing expertise makes all the difference. To create a single knife in the new Wenger forged line, more than forty production steps are necessary. The blade and tang (the tapered part of the blade which fits into the handle) are forged from a single piece of stainless steel – all the way from tip to the butt of the handle. This work is done in a traditional family forge.

Quality heat treatment provides Wenger forged knife blades with ideal hardness and enhances its ability to hold a sharp edge, which ensures efficient and precise cutting results. The handle is designed to give perfect balance to the knife and fit comfortably in the hand. A perfectly balanced knife eliminates fatigue – a common occurrence amongst professional chefs.

Development
The development of the new collection of Wenger forged knives drew its inspiration from several sources:

The consumer - who wants a first-class knife with an optimal price/quality ratio.

The genuine Swiss Army knife - synonymous with top quality materials, guaranteed sharpness, and over 116 years of manufacturing expertise.

Japanese knives - for a fluid, pure, streamlined blade and handle design.

European knives - for blades designed to suit the various uses in a modern kitchen.

Tradition – for the fabrication of high-grade forged knives to further enhance quality and performance.

Design – second to performance, aesthetics and the true beauty of each knife was important.

Quality
The surfaces of the blade and handle are finely polished, a distinctive sign of high quality kitchen cutlery. “There is a connection between the quality of manual polishing and corrosion resistance. Manual polishing removes imperfections that mechanical polishing will not so years down the road the knives look and perform as wonderfully as the did when they were brand new”, said Hug. Hand sharpening creates almost flawless uniformity that, combined with the hardness of top quality polished stainless steel, results in incomparable cutting performance.

Wenger forged knives are dishwasher-safe, but hand washing is recommended as it prevents dulling of the blade.

Imprints
Like the markings found on high quality jewellery or those emblazoned on the most expensive automobiles, the Wenger logo was positioned to be seen on these knives. The Wenger logo engraved on the blade guarantees its authenticity. On the back of the handle, the stamped Wenger logo is the unmistakeable, world-famous signature of the genuine Swiss army knife manufacturer.