The Wusthof Classic Ikon knives line article is part of a series of articles we have prepared in order for you to get to know and select the best Wusthof knives for your needs. Also make sure you check out the Wusthof Epicure, Wusthof Ikon, Wusthof Classic, Wusthof Grand Prix II and Wusthof Pro lines in order to get a complete view of the entire product lines.
Wusthof Classic Ikon Knives
The Classic Ikon line features: 20 sets of knives, 7 chef knives, 4 paring knives (including bird’s beak), 4 carving knives, 3 utility knives, 3 bread knives, 2 santoku knives, 2 fillet knives, 1 boning knife, 1 Nakiri, 2 slicing knife, 2 meat forks, 1 steak knife, 1 tomato knife, 1 deli knife, 1 salad knife, 1 steel
Wusthof Classic Ikon Set
The Classic Ikon line offers the largest number of sets or bundles of knives at Wusthof compared to any other product line (with exception of the Classic). With around 20 sets of knives the Wusthof CLassic Ikon knife set line has something in store for everyone. You can get anything from large 22 piece sets with almost all that you can think of, even knives you will probably never use. But you can also get pretty well combined 2 Piece sets. And yes, you can also get anything in between.
22 Piece Classic Ikon Knife Block set
This 22 piece set is one of the largest Wusthof sets on offer. A pretty large one including most knives you will ever need. It is probably best suited for a large family kitchen where at least 4 can cook at the same time. Basically the set includes 4 chopping knives, 2 chef knives and 2 santoku knives. Two different styles of knives at two different sizes. Also, the set on offer includes 8 steak knives. So any 8 can have steak using the Classic ikon steak knives at the same time.
Then you have the basic knives, a paring knife, a bread knife, a carving knife and a boning knife. And then you have all utility knives you would ever want or not. Plus other tools like a steel, kitchen shears and block. But I think a set this size should also offer a slicing knife more than other knives. Nonetheless this set is huge and contains almost everything that you would ever want. But also most probably a overkill if you are the only one using it.
- One 3 1/2 inch Paring knife
- One 4 1/2 inch Utility knife
- Eight 4 1/2 inch Steak knife
- One 5 inch Serrated Utility knife
- One 8 inch Bread Knife
- One 5 inch Hollow Edge Santoku
- One 7 inch Hollow Edge Santoku
- One 8 inch Carving knife
- One 6 inch Utility knife
- One 6 inch Chef knife
- One 8 inch Chef knife
- One 5 inch boning knife
- One 10 inch steel
- One 22 Slot Block knife set
- One pair Kitchen Scissors
14 Piece Classic Ikon Block set
The Classic Ikon 14 piece knife block set is basically a chilled down version of the previous pumped up 22 piece Mega set. You only have 4 steak knives included which is probably more than enough for one or two people that use it plus kids or guests. You have 2 chopping knives. A 7 inch Japanese Santoku and a 8 inch chef knife. Plus the basic paring knife, bread knife, carving knife and also the utility knives, a steel , shears and the 15 slot block.
- One 3 1/2 inch Paring knife
- Four 4 1/2 inch Steak knife
- One 5 inch Serrated Utility knife
- One 8 inch Bread Knife
- One 7 inch Hollow Edge Santoku
- One 6 inch Utility knife
- One 8 inch Carving knife
- One 8 inch Chef knife
- One 10 inch steel
- One pair Kitchen Scissors
- One 15 Slot Block knife set
12 Piece Classic Ikon Block set
The Classic Ikon 12 piece block set is almost the same as the 14 piece but you won’t get a Santoku knife and a carving knife. Also the serrated utility knife from the 14 piece knife set was changed to a 4 inch normal utility knife. The rest is basically the same.
- One 3 1/2 inch Paring knife
- Four 4 1/2 inch Steak knives
- One 4 1/2 inch Utility knife
- One 6 inch Utility knife
- One 8 inch Bread Knife
- One 8 inch Chef knife
- One 10 inch steel
- One pair Kitchen Scissors
- One 15 Slot Block knife set
10 Piece Classic Ikon Block set
Now, for the 10 piece block set, the steak knives are not included anymore. And you also get a few other changes. With your 10 piece block set you receive one flat paring knife and one normal paring knife which is probably too much. But you get all of the basics at a good size, chef knife, bread knife, carving knife, utility knives, steel, shears and block set.
- One Flat Cut 3 inch Paring knife
- One 3 1/2 inch Paring knife
- One 5 inch Serrated Utility knife
- One 8 inch Bread Knife
- One 6 inch Utility knife
- One 8 inch Carving knife
- One 8 inch Chef knife
- One 9 inch steel
- Come apart Kitchen Shears
- One 15 Slot Block knife set
2 X 8 Piece Classic Ikon Knife Block set
There are 2 variations in the 8 piece block sets and the only difference is the block of knives itself. One is made out of the usual Wusthof wood and the other one is made out of Walnut wood. But the selection of knives is practically the same. You get the basic paring knife bread knife and chef knife all at good sizes. Plus you get your utility knives steel shears and block.
- One 3 1/2 inch Paring knife
- One 4 1/2 inch Utility knife
- One 8 inch Bread Knife
- One 6 inch Utility knife
- One 8 inch Chef knife
- One 10 inch steel
- Come apart Kitchen Shears
- One 15 Slot Block knife set / One 15 Slot Walnut Block knife set
2 X 7 Piece Classic Ikon Knife Block set
Same as for the two 8 inch knife sets, the two 7 inch Classic Ikon sets only differ by the knife block material. One is made of the wood we are all used to from Wusthof and the other has a Walnut wood block. It is a balanced set and I think this is one of the best high end, beginner knife sets from Wusthof. You get all you need in one place. As usual I would change the 6 inch utility knife with a slicing knife. But that is a small issue then when you get 2, 3 or even 4 knives you will probably never use.
- One 3 1/2 inch Paring knife
- One 8 inch Bread Knife
- One 6 inch Utility knife
- One 8 inch Chef knife
- Come apart Kitchen Shears
- One 10 inch steel
- One 15 Slot Walnut Block / One 15 Slot Block set
5 Piece Studio Classic Ikon Knife Block set
The 5 piece block knife set is really a set for a studio or someone who intends on doing just some cooking from time to time. It has a chef knife and paring knife plus a utility knife and kitchen shears. I would have liked to see a steel and a bread knife instead of the utility and shears. But that is just me.
2 X 4 Piece Classic Ikon steak knives set
The Classic Ikon steak knives come in two ways. One set comes in a black colored presentation gift box and one comes just as a bundle of knives. Both of them have the same features and same stunning design as any Classic Ikon knives.
- Four 4 1/2 inch Steak knives Set
- Four 4 1/2 inch Steak knives Set Presentation
2 X 3 Piece Classic Ikon Knife Set
The two 3 piece Classic Ikon knife sets seem to be made for either strater cooks or just day to day cooks. The only difference between them is that one has a slicing knife and one a bread knife. I can not differentiate why someone would need one more than the other but both are good packs for beginners. Personally I would tend to pick the Starter pack as it has a bread knife and nothing cuts bread like a bread knife. But a carving knife comes in handy too sometimes. Which one is your favorite set?
- One 3 Piece Cook’s set
- One 3 Piece Starter Set
7 X 2 Piece Classic Ikon Knife set
The 2 piece Classic Ikon knife sets on offer from Wusthof target different type of users with multiple preferences.
Extra Wide Chef Knife Set
Has one 6 inch Extra Wide Chef knife and one 4 inch Extra Wide Paring knife.
Classic Ikon Cook’s Set
This is probably the best small set you could buy as a beginner. With a good size chef knife and a great paring knife you can achieve almost anything in the kitchen. Remember, in your daily cooking endeavors you will use your chef knife and paring knife more than 90% of the time.
2 Piece Classic Ikon Mini Japanese Style Set
This set features a 3 Inch Flat Cut Paring and 5 inch Santoku for people who like asian style knives but love the Classic Ikon line also. At the same time, this set is intended for people who are not that comfortable with longer blades like beginners or people with small hands.
2 Piece Classic Ikon Japanese Style Set
Features a 3 Inch Flat Cut Paring and 7 inch Santoku this time. In this case we see the same style set as the previous one but with its santoku knife of the regular size.
Classic Ikon 2 piece Prep Set
Features one 3 1/2 inch Paring knife and a 6 inch Chef Knife. Great set for lots of prep work but also if you are a beginner and not that comfortable with big blades.
Fillet knife and Leather Sheath
This 2 piece knife set is straightforward and contains exactly what is in the title, a 7 inch Fillet knife and Leather Sheath. Both are of very high quality and will last a lifetime if cared for properly.
Classic Ikon Carving Set
Features a 6 inch Double Bolster straight meat fork and a 8 inch Carving knife to cut those perfect slices of roast.
Wusthof Classic Ikon Chef Knife
10 inch Classic Ikon Chef Knife
The 10 inch Chef knife is intended for professional chefs who have a lot of cutting on their hands. The 10 inch size, the cutting performance as well as the handle material and design, all come together to make one of the best professional chef knives on the market.
9 inch Classic Ikon Chef Knife
The 9 inch chef knife is a intermediate between the most used 8 inch chef knife and the big 10 inch. For some chefs 10 inch might be too big and a 8 inch too small and then you have the 9 inch.
2 X 8 inch Classic Ikon Chef Knife
The 8 inch chef knife is one of the most used chef knife size on the market. Plus the Classic Ikon 8 inch comes in two types. A normal blade and a hollow edge 8 inch chef knife. Both are some of the best Wusthof chef knives sold on the market today. But if you want to know more about them read our full Wusthof Classic Ikon chef knife review.
3 X 6 inch Classic Ikon Chef Knife
The 6 inch Classic ikon chef knives are great for beginners who are uncomfortable with larger blades or for prep work. Wusthof provides 3 types of 6 inch Classic Ikon chef knives. The regular 6 inch chef knife, the wide blade 6 inch chef knife and the hollow edge 6 inch chef knives.
- 6 inch Chef Knife
- Wide Blade 6 inch Chef Knife
- Hollow Edge 6 inch Chef knife
Wusthof Classic Ikon Paring Knife
The Classic Ikon line offers a wider selection of paring knives when compared to most Wusthof lines. You get a regular 3 1/2 inch paring knife, a 4 inch Wide Blade paring knife, a japanese style 3 inch flat paring knife and a 2 3/4 inch peeling knife (bird’s beak paring knife).
- 4 inch Extra Wide Paring knife
- 3 1/2 inch Paring knife
- 2 3/4 inch Peeling knife (bird’s beak paring knife)
- 3 inch Flat Paring knife
Wusthof Classic Ikon Carving Knife
The Classic Ikon carving knives come in two sizes. One 8 inch knife and one 9 inch knife. Also the knives have 2 different blade types. One comes with a regular blade and one with a hollow edge. The addition of the hollow edge prevents your slices from sticking to the blade.
- 9 inch Carving Knife
- 9 inch Hollow Edge Carving Knife
- 8 inch Carving Knife
- 8 inch Hollow Edge Carving Knife
Wusthof Classic Ikon Bread Knife
The Classic ikon bread knives come in two sizes, a 8 inch and a 9 inch version plus a double serrated 9 inch chef knife. The double serrations help to prevent lots of crumbs when slicing a crusty bread or anything with hard interior and soft interior by that matter.
- 8 inch Bread Knife
- 9 inch Bread Knife
- 9 inch Double Serrated Bread
Wusthof Classic Ikon Utility Knife
There are 3 types of utility knives offered in the Classic Ikon line. A Utility knife is best for cutting meats like salami or any type of sandwich meat or veg. Something in between of a paring knife and a chef knife. So you get a regular 4 inch utility knife, a 6 inch version and a 4 inch serrated version.
- 4 1/2 inch Utility Knife
- 5 inch Serrated Utility Knife
- 6 inch Utility Knife
Wusthof Classic Ikon Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
There are two types of santoku knives in the Classic Ikon line. Simply put there is one 7 inch hollow edge santoku knife and a smaller 5 inch version. The hollow edge helps against food sticking to the blade. Wide blades are usually prone to slices sticking to the blade.
- 5 inch Hollow Edge
- 7 inch Hollow Edge
Wusthof Classic Ikon Fillet Knife
For fillet knives there are also two versions. A 7 inch and a 6 inch flexible fillet knife. The flexible fillet knife is exceptionally good as it can slightly bend, moving around small bones easily. Also because of its flexibility it makes it very easy to remove the fish skin from fillets of fish.
- 7 inch Fillet Knife
- 6 inch flexible Fillet Knife
Wusthof Classic Ikon Slicing Knives
The Classic Ikon line offer 2 very good slicing knives. A 10 inch Salmon slicing knife and a 10 inch Classic Ikon Super Slicer. The salmon slicer has a 10 inch long, rounded tip, thin blade with a hollow edge design. The Super slicer has a long thin blade with a scalloped edge. Also, the knife is 10 inch long so as big as your roast gets you’ll be able to slice it.
- 10 inch Salmon Slicer
- 10 inch Super Slicer
Wusthof Classic Ikon Meat Forks
Wusthof offers a straight and a curved meat fork. There is not much difference between them except for personal preference. One argument i could add is that a curved meat fork can sometimes help in tight spots.
- 6 inch Straight Meat Fork
- 6 inch Curved Meat Fork
Speciality Knives and Sharpening
Wusthof Classic Ikon 5 inch Boning Knife
The Classic Ikon 5 inch Boning knife sharpened with PEtec technology will slide through tendons like through butter. Also the shape of the knife makes it extremely easy to move around bones.
Wusthof Classic Ikon 7 inch Nakiri Knife
The 7 inch Classic ikon Nakiri knife is again a Japanese style knife made by a high quality German knives factory. The Nakiri knife is a vegetable knife designed for a up and down cutting motion. Because of the wide blade food is prone to sticking on the surface of the blade. Thus Wusthof has equipped the base with a hollow edge
Wusthof Classic Ikon 5 inch Tomato Knife
A tomato knife, as the name implies is used to cut, oc course, tomatoes. Bassically the knives edge is designed to slide through produce with a hard exterior and soft interior without squishing the inside. It also features a small fork at the tip used to easily pick up thin slices. .
Wusthof Classic Ikon 8 inch Deli knife
The Deli knife is a specialised blade made specifically for the task of preparing sandwiches. The longer scalloped edge will slide through tomatoes without squishing them. It will easily slide through crusty bread without making to many crumb on the cutting board. And will slice meat without damaging it.
Wusthof Classic Ikon 6 inch Salad knife
The Classic Ikon Salad knife is equipped with small serrated teeth on the edge which help the blade cleanly slide through fruit or veg. The wide blade also makes it easy to take the chopped salad or veg of the cutting board
Wusthof Classic Ikon 10 inch Steel
If you intend on buying knives that will last you a lifetime you have to keep in mind that those knives have to be maintained in order to keep they cutting edge. Thus, a sharpening steel is a very important tool. Always check for the knives Rockwell scale in order to know what steel you should buy. If the material is softer on the steel on the knife it will not help at all. If you don’t know or want to keep it easy just buy the recommended steel for each line.
Wusthof Classic Ikon Features
The Wusthof Classic Ikon line of knives is the second Ikon line to come to market. It is much more varied in the types of knives than the Ikon line offers. Thus we could say it is intended for professional users more. The entire design and built is the same though. The only different factor is the POM handle which makes it even more intended for professional use.
Design
The design of the Classic Ikon as well as the Ikon come from a modernised vision of the Classic. With curved lines, partial double bolsters, and rounded edge handle we can clearly see that the classic was completely redesigned. Both the Ikon and the Classic Ikon knives bassically look the same. The Only difference is the variety of the knives offered and the handle material of the knife.
The Wusthof Ikon is designed more for home cooks who would like a wooden handle and would mostly use just a few of all the variety of knives offered by Wusthof Classic. The Classic Ikon, on the other hand, is much more intended for professional users who want to upgrade from their Classic knife line. Featuring a POM handle which damages extremely hard and with over 20 types of sets, basic knives and a handful of speciality knives, it is clear. The line is intended more for specialized use.
Steel
If you ever had a Wusthof knife you might know that all Wusthof knives are made from the same great steel. But you might not know that this High Carbon Stainless Steel is made exclusively for Wusthof. Whenever a Wusthof knife is made a sheet of “X50 Cr MoV 15” steel gets forged or stamped in order to create the perfect knife for your needs.
The name “X50 Cr MoV 15” represents the composition of metals in the alloy. Simply put the material is a High Carbon Stainless Steel. Meaning it is a high carbon steel with a concentration of Chromium and other elements in order to give the steel corrosion and rust free properties.
But let me break it down for you. The high carbon stainless steel part of the name s represented by “X50”. Where “X” is the basic steel and “50” the 0.5% carbon content. This makes your basic high carbon steel. But when you add Chromium to the mix you get high carbon with stainless steel properties. Thus “Cr” and the number 15 at the end make up for the 15% chromium content. But this does not make it more special than any other high carbon stainless steels. Thus in order to raise edge retention and corrosion resistance properties Molybdenum and Vanadium ware added. And this is where you get the “MoV” in the name.
The super steel arrives at factories in large metal sheets from which different Wusthof product lines get forged or stamped. The Classic Ikon Line as well as most Wusthof lines are forged knives. The only exception is made with the Pro, the Gourmet and Grand Prix II which are stamped.
Hardening the Blade
The properties of the “X50 Cr MoV 15” steel are great but not enough to have a exceptional blade. The steel has to be hardened in order to have edge retention but also tention has to be removed from the steel to increase flexibility. If the steel was only hard it would also be brittle. Which could make your blade break. Thus making the blade also flexible, largely increases the lifetime of the knife.
The Classic Ikon line of knives are forged knives that reach a hardness of 58 on the Rockwell scale. This is achieved by forging, tempering and annealing the knife blades in special conditions. But how does Wusthof do it?
The super steel is first received and heated up at 1093 Celsius, precision forged, cut into shape by robotic arms and quality checked. Second, in order to reach the desired hardness the blades are tempered. Through this process the blades are heated up again at 1010 Celsius then rapidly cooled down. Third, the blade will be very hard but still brittle. Thus a annealing process is needed in order to remove tension from the blade and improve flexibility, The Classic Ikon knives are heated up again at 198 Celsius then slowly cooled down.
The production process at the Wusthof factory is almost fully automated. Wusthof actually employs around 350 employees in total. This makes it not only efficient but helps maintain its quality consistency in every product. Robotic arms and transport robots achieve almost everything from cutting forging and moving the blades around the factory autonomously. But flaws can happen thus manual quality control is required. Cleaning and quality controls happen at the wusthof factory in between every stage of production until the product is packaged.
The building blocks for a great knife are by now achieved. Only finely tuning the knife with a great handle, grinding, sharpening and polishing it is left and the iconic Wusthof Classic Ikon knife is made.
Assembly, Grinding and Sharpening
The Classic Ikon line is first ground at the specific 14 degree angle on each side. Then, corrosion protected and polished. With the blade now almost finished, it is thoroughly cleaned in order for the handle sides to be fixed in place by strong stainless steel rivets. In the case of the Classic Ikon the handle is made of POM (Polyoxymethylene) which is firmly fixed on the full tanged knife. Now, only the finishing steps are required.
The knife is polished on the entire surface. The handle, the knife spine and bolster are all finely tuned. Only sharpening is left and this is not as simple as you might think. As you probably got used to, at Wusthof everything is a mixture of high end technology and world class engineering. Thus sharpening of your Classic Ikon knives is not let to chance.
In order to sharpen your blade Wusthof employes its registered PEtec technology. It is a fairly simple process that involves lasers and robotic arms to measure and precisely sharpen each knife. First each knife’s blade is measured by leaders in order to establish the optimum sharpening angle. Then a robotic arms applies this information in order for you to receive perfect, quality consistency with every edge. The knives are then polished and cleaned before quality tested and packaged.
Handle
All Ikon knives have basically the same design. There are only two differences between them. First, some lines have a bigger variety of knives, like the Classic Ikon and some a smaller like the Ikon line. Second, the Wusthof Ikon line has a natural Blackwood handle, while The Classic Ikon has a POM handle
You might think that these differences are just random. But in fact they are not. The Wusthof Ikon line has a smaller variety of knives and features a natural wood handle. These facts will appeal more to home cooks then a professional chefs. As a professional you will use a larger range of knives more often than a home cook. Plus a wooden handle is harder to maintain. If scratched water might sip in and damage the wood. On the other hand a POM handle does not react to water in any way and is very resistant to scratching or damage.
The shapes of the handles is the same for all Wusthof ikon series of knives. As stated before only the material is different. The Ikon has a Natural Blackwood handle, the Classic Ikon has a Black POM handle and the Classic Ikon Creme has a “creme” POM handle.
Warranty
Wusthof prides itself with the Classic Ikon line of knives. All consistently produced with high end technology and great german engineering. Thus, Wusthof provides a lifetime warranty for their Classic Ikon line.
