Bolster Knife

Wusthof bread knife, stamped or forged?

I want to get a Wusthof bread knife and I was wondering if there were any reasons why I should get a forged one versus a stamped one. I know forged blades have a bolster and way more, but is there any difference in quality between the two styles?

Unless you are comparing 3$ flea market stamped knife vs. 100$ Forged piece from Sur La Table(overpriced as usual) then in terms of cutting performance and edge holding as well as quality wise there is no difference. Metallurgists can point out that in a forged knives carbide grains will be aligned slightly differently, but in a real life you can’t detect actual performance difference.

I have conducted various cutting tests to compare forged and stamped knives from the same maker, Global to be specific and there was nothing that’d indicate forged one was better. To the contrary. forged knife was considerably heavier and caused more fatigue during prolonged cutting sessions.
Those two are the ones – http://www.zknives.com/knives/kitchen/ktknv/global/glogf33.shtml and http://www.zknives.com/knives/kitchen/ktknv/global/glog61.shtml

In general that’s one of the common knife marketing myths to make you pay more money for the features you don’t really need.

For one, in today’s knife factory things are so mixed up it’s really hard to determine what is a forged or stamped knife. Certain parts are laser cut, then drop forged… So, in the end, there is no expert blacksmith pounding red hot metal bar, it’s all machines.

Full tang is another myth. Marketing tells us you need it for strength. While full tang does give additional strength to the knfie handle, it isn’t really needed in the kitchen. Think about it, neither Japanese katana swords nor American bowie knives have full tangs, nor do the Nepalese kukris. All three are designed to chop through the armor, leather, bones,ropes etc… If they can hold up without full tang then you in your kitchen should do fine. The real truth is that full tangs appeared as soon as the makers started using machines to assembly the knives. They are a lot easier for assembly lines. Rat tail tang requires more effort and not as automatable. But you call that a great, must have feature and then you can charge extra money for it

Bolsters – Another BS. If you ask knife marketing guys bolster is a sign of a quality knife. And it’s there for safety and balance.
The only tie when bolster is needed for safety is on narrow knives liek boning knives. For all other knives it’s the blade/handle height difference that prevents your hand form slipping down on the edge, not the bolster. Knives can be balanced in numerous ways w/o bolsters. And having bolster makes sharpening the knife real pain..

The top quality Japanese kitchen knives never have neither bolster, not full tang. And those are the knives that cost few $$$$ and top chefs swear by them…

If you are interested about all that you can check this out – How to choose kitchen knives – http://www.zknives.com/knives/kitchen/misc/articles/kkchoser/index.shtml

Bolster Release Automatic Custom Knife

Wusthof Classic Chef’s Knife $90.00 The heft of a chef’s knife is intended to let gravity do most of the work. And because a firm, comfortable grip is essential, choose several knives from a wide variety of sizes that conform to your hand. About Wusthof Classic:• Precision-forged blades of Wusthof’s own high-carbon, stain-resistant steel alloy, for a lasting edge that is easy to resharpen.• Distinctive bolster prevents you…

Mercer Cutlery Genesis 6-Piece Knife Set with Tempered-Glass Block $129.00 A supplier to the vast majority of cooking academies, Mercer Cutlery offers the Genesis Collection of kitchen knives to provide professional quality to the home chef. Comfortable, durable, and efficient, Genesis knives feature fully forged, single-piece blades made from high-carbon, no-stain German steel. Their taper-grind edges are polished by hand, and their substantial bolsters provide helpful …

Mercer Cutlery Genesis 5-Inch Utility Knife $24.95 A supplier to the vast majority of cooking academies, Mercer Cutlery offers the Genesis Collection of kitchen knives to provide professional quality to the home chef. Comfortable, durable, and efficient, Genesis knives feature fully forged, single-piece blades made from high-carbon, no-stain German steel. Their taper-grind edges are polished by hand, and their substantial bolsters provide helpful …

Buck 112 Ranger, Lockback Folding Knife $34.20 Smaller version of Buck’s famous Folding Hunter. Brass bolsters liners and rivets. Classic wood handle. Sheath included. Weight: 5.6 oz.Handle Material: Natural WoodgrainBlade Steel: 420HC Length Closed: 4 1/4″Blade Length: 3″Sheath Included…

Gerber 22-41052 Stag Lock-Back Double Bolster Fine Edge Pocket Knife $21.55 The Stockman – 2.5″ Double Bolster Stage knife has a safe, locking blade and features genuine stag handles and filigree etched bolsters. Comes with a velveteen gift bag. Lifetime warranty….

Buck 112FG Ranger with Finger Grooves, Lockback Folding Knife $39.63 Classic reliable tool. Smaller version of the 110 Folding Hunter®. Easy opening and closing with the nail notch and lockback design. With Finger Grooves for added grip support. Blade Length: 3 (7.6 cm)Blade Material: Satin Finish 420HC Stainless SteelCarry System: Black leather sheathHandle Material: Natural woodgrainLength Closed: 4 1/4 (10.8 cm)Locking: Yes…

Contouring Bolsters with a Drill Press (Dvd) $40.00 Weldon began making knives for the public in 1965. With a background in machining, he has been able to apply many of his machining skills to the trade of knife making. Weldon does his own embellishments to include engraving, scrimshaw, and file work in an effort to be the sole artist on his work. He and his wife Doris reside in Odessa, Texas where he now works as a full time knife maker. Making …

Farberware Platinum 5042312 13-Piece German Stainless Steel Cutlery Set w/Butchers Block & Removable Steak Knife Block Be the envy of all your culinary friends!The Farberware Platinum 5042312 13 Piece German Steel Cutlery Set is forged from superior quality, high-carbon German stainless steel for the ultimate in strength and durability. Each knife in this set boasts full-tang construction for balance and control, and features comfort-grip, ergonomically contoured triple-riveted handles. Included in this set is a r…

Mercer Cutlery Genesis 7-Inch Santoku Knife $31.20 Mercer cutlery 7″forged santoku – granton edge knife, m20707 this is mercer cutlery’s premier brand. the m20707 7″ genesis forged santoku – granton edge knife is perfect for cutting vegetables. one-piece, fully forged german steel with ergonomic handle utilizes santoprene a high performance material that feels soft and comfortable, while offering a nonslip grip whether your hands are wet or dry. i…

Mercer Cutlery Genesis 3-1/2-Inch Paring Knife $15.99 A supplier to the vast majority of cooking academies, Mercer Cutlery offers the Genesis Collection of kitchen knives to provide professional quality to the home chef. Comfortable, durable, and efficient, Genesis knives feature fully forged, single-piece blades made from high-carbon, no-stain German steel. Their taper-grind edges are polished by hand, and their substantial bolsters provide helpful …