A Look Inside the Cutlery Center of the World

Solingen, Germany

The City of Blades

Solingen, a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, has been renowned for its production of high-quality cutlery since the Middle Ages, and it’s still an international destination for premier knife manufacturing. First mentioned in 965 CE, it was officially founded in 1374 and quickly became a lodestar for skilled knife, scissor, and sword makers seeking to perfect their craftsmanship. Over the following centuries, Solingen’s concentration of the world’s best blade artisans manifested into influential companies, factories, and guilds. By the late 20th century, Germany was responsible for making most of the world’s cutlery, and well over half of such goods came from Solingen.

There are a couple of things that made Solingen a prime location for a grand title like “The City of Blades.” One, it was located along the Wupper River, a natural source of hydropower in the Weinsberg Valley that offered a stable, potent supply of energy. Heavy machinery for tools like shears, scissors, and knives hummed away in riverside huts called kottens. Grinding equipment was fueled by waterpower so reliable it revolutionized the world of cutlery by doing something deceptively simple: introducing consistent high quality. When steam power was introduced in the 19th century, it proved to be an easy upgrade to water wheels.

Two, Solingen is less than an hour from the major trading city of Cologne. As Solingen’s reputation as the cradle of the cutlery trade grew, so did its role as a central hive for European knifemaking. German innovators were among the first to introduce a new kind of smelting that resulted in early iterations of the metal we now know as stainless steel. Stainless steel revolutionized the blade industry with the addition of carbon and chrome, this novel metal didn’t rust or discolor. With proper care, it could be forged into a sharp-edged blade that resisted moisture, damage, and even deterioration, despite frequent use.

The WÜSTHOF Factory

So, how did WÜSTHOF enter the picture? When did the factory evolve to become known as the “Masters of Solingen” — or, in other words, the central knifemakers in the geographical heart of the blade industry? Worldwide, professional chefs and home cooks alike have distinguished WÜSTHOF for its outstanding high quality, unparalleled sharpness, and unique fusion of technology and artisanship.

It all started in 1814 on the banks of the Wupper River, when 38-year-old Johann Abraham Wüsthof converted his father’s iron workshop into Abr. Wüsthof, Scheerenfabrik, Stahl- und Eisenwaaren Zu Weinsberg: “Abr. Wüsthof, Shears Factory, Steel and Iron Works at Weinsberg." Two-hundred years and seven generations of family ownership later, the name WÜSTHOF has become synonymous with the European chef’s knife. Our company has earned its reputation by continuously improving knife craftsmanship, and today, WÜSTHOF is known as one of the best modern knife companies in the world.

On any given day at our Solingen factory, one hundred and twenty robots have merged hands-on knifemaking with state-of-the-art precision science. Thanks to our team of talented knife artisans, we also preserve the human touch during every step of the process. It takes over 54 steps to turn a piece of WÜSTHOF steel — a special mixture of chrome, vanadium, molybdenum, and stainless steel — into a perfect knife.

When it comes to exceptionally heavy lifting or millimeter-precise work, we employ the latest robotics or lasers. Yet when intuition, experienced craftsmanship, and a seasoned eye are required, we rely on our four hundred employees to make our premium knives truly exceptional. Each one of the 1.7 million knives we produce per year passes through the hands of a trained specialist before sale. We especially love it when our wonderful customers — chefs, home cooks, and specialty knife collectors — come visit us for a factory tour, so they can witness the production firsthand.

While production may be less expensive in other international locations, we know continuity, community, and a long-term sense of place are paramount to a vision of excellence.

The German Blade Museum

Alongside WÜSTHOF, there is one more place in Solingen we would love to mention, because it speaks to the city’s continued role as an international destination for knife craft.

The German Blade Museum in Solingen is among the largest blade museums in Europe, and its internationally renowned collection of knives speaks both to the history of knifemaking and to our heritage within it. The museum opened in 1954 in the former town hall of Gräfrath, and its awe-inspiring collection of blades quickly made it a destination for knife afficionados across the globe. As the museum acquired more rare exhibitions, it outgrew the town hall. In 1991, it moved to its current location, the recently restored Gräfrath Monastry.

The oft-expanding collection showcases cutlery of every ilk from the Bronze Age to present day. Around thirty-thousand blades are housed there, ranging from kitchen knives to samurai swords to nail scissors. The Wolfgang Wüsthof Foundation has supported the German Blade Museum since the 90’s, because we understand a crucial tenet of hometown support: always give back to your roots.