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J.A. Henckels Classic Chef Knife Review

One of the least expensive forged knives on the market.

By Timothy Hales | Updated: November 5, 2021

J.A. Henckels Classic Chef Knife Quick Review

9.7 out of 10
JA Henckels Chef Knife

J.A Henckels makes a variety of knives of varying levels of quality. The “International” collections are made in locations outside Germany and Japan and are on the lower price end. This particular knife is made in Spain.

The International Classic Chef’s Knife is a good option for a forged blade. The knife design provides useful benefits that contribute to knife control and knife quality. I definitely recommend this knife for everyday use in your home kitchen. It remains one of the top knives that I use.

Design
9.6 out of 10
Quality
9.8 out of 10
Performance
9.7 out of 10
Usability
9.6 out of 10
Value
9.6 out of 10

Pros

Edge sharpness remains after multiple uses.

Great balance between the handle and the blade.

Blade cuts through most foods with ease.

Budget-friendly forged knife.

Cons

Some vegetables like potatoes stick to the blade after cutting them.

The back of the blade is sharp and can cause some discomfort when using a pinch grip.

Materials and Construction

The J.A. Henckels International Classic Chef’s Knife is made of high-quality German carbon no-stain steel. The blade is hot-drop forged from a single piece of steel and ground in two directions to create a 15-degree edge. The hot-drop forging process adds durability to the knife. Although this knife is made in Spain, the blade still comes from Germany.

The blade has a Rockwell Hardness (HRC) of 55-58 which is common for most German steel blades. With a Rockwell of 55-58 it is easy to sharpen and hold an edge a little longer depending on the amount of use in the kitchen.

The big feature that this forged knife provides that stamped knives do not is the bolster. The bolster provides added weight to the knife so that it is comfortably balanced in your hand. The bolster also provides safety by protecting your hand from the sharp blade.

A polyoxyethylene material is used for the handle which is more durable than many other types of plastics used for knife handles..

The handle is comprised of two scales that attach to the full tang with three rivets. The edges are ground down to create a smooth and give the appearance of a single piece. This handle is very durable and easy to clean.

Design

The first thing that I noticed about the J.A. Henckels Chef’s Knife is its weight. Weighing in at 8.6 ounces, this knife has a noticeable difference from many of the stamped knives. I don’t see the weight as a negative trait but more as a positive since it is connected to many of its benefits. The full tang contributes to the weight, which is where the knife blade extends all the way through the handle. This knife also has a bolster that adds weight but provides balance and safety.

The blade of this chef’s knife is thicker at the spine measuring 0.095″ and tapers down 0.018″ just before the edge.

J.A. Henckels Classic Chef Knife Spine Measurement
The J.A. Henckels Classic Chef Knife measured at 0.095 inches at the thickest part of the spine.

The thicker blade provides stability and leverage while cutting. The edge is sharpened at a 15-degree angle on each side to create an edge angle of 30 degrees.

JA Henckels Classic Knife Blade Cross Section

This sharpened angle is useful for many cuts such as butchering, chopping, slicing, mincing, and dicing. The blade’s spine is not ground smooth at the edge and has a slight sharp feel to it, which did cause a little discomfort with a pinch grip. I wish that the edge would have been rounded.

The handle’s design provides an excellent grip. I especially liked how comfortable using a pinch grip was with this handle and bolster. The texture of the handle is smooth and was a little slippery while using with oily hands. The design of the handle creates the look and feel that a knife is a single unit. The way the handle is put together feels good in your hand and makes it easy to clean by keeping food particles out of any crevices.

Design Details

Weight8.6 oz
LengthBlade: 9.9375″ (actual)
Full length: 15.375″ (actual)
WidthMax: 2.000″ (actual)
BladeForged German Stainless Steel
x50crMoV15
Rockwell Hardness55-58
HandleRiveted Polyoxymethylene (POM)
TangFull Tang
Edge Angle15 degrees
Made InSpain

Kitchen Usability

Each knife goes through a series of usage tests in my own kitchen over a period of several weeks. Trying a knife in an isolated test environment does not accurately represent a true home kitchen environment. I have cut a variety of meats, vegetables, and herbs.

I have found the J.A. Henckels International Chef Knife to cut very well. The blade showed little wear and maintained a sharp edge after many uses. The only minor issue I encountered was certain vegetables sticking to the blade.

Chicken: I tested chicken by making two different cuts: butterflying chicken breast and slicing chicken breast into thin layers. It sliced through the meat and fatty portions without any problem.

Carrots: Carrots are harder than some of the other vegetables that I test. The knife sliced thin and thick circle slices without any problems. Even the julienne cut works very well.

Herbs: Cutting up herbs is very easy to do. Herbs are not damaged and can be minced to near perfection. I tested with a 10″ version of this knife, which gave a long straight blade instead of the curved edge designed for the rocking motion.

Onions: The blade edge grips into the slick skin of the onion. It cuts without crushing, which helps to minimize the tears of the cutter. I have no issue dicing or cutting thin slices of onion with this knife.

Potatoes: The blade of this knife slices and dices potatoes like a warm knife through butter. I have the only issue is the potatoes slices sticking to the blade and not releasing without some assistance.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The J.A. Henckels International Classic Chef’s Knife can be cleaned in the dishwasher because it has a synthetic handle. Although J.A. Henckels recommends using caution when putting your knife in the dishwasher, I recommend that all knives be hand washed to ensure their sharpness and longevity (see: Kitchen Knife Care). This includes immediately rinsing off after use and then using warm water and soap to clean it fully.

Although the blade is made of stainless steel, they are not 100% rust-proof. Rinse off fruit and vegetable juices along with other high acid foods as soon as you are finished using it. If your knife gets rust stains, you can use a non-abrasive metal cleaner to remove them.

The blade holds its sharpness pretty well, but you should regularly hone it to keep it sharp. However, if the blade no longer comes back to being sharp with honing, you can use a whetstone to apply a fresh edge to the blade.

The scales of the handle are flush with the tang to prevent juices and food particles from getting in between. The 3 rivets firmly secure the handle so there is no cracks or crevices.

Remember that your knife is an investment. If you take proper care of your knife, it will provide you many years of great use.

Company

ZWILLING J.A. Henckels has been in the business of creating high-quality knives since 1731. Their experience has allowed them to perfect steel selection, hardening processes, blade sharpening, and handle manufacturing which helps them create extremely sharp and durable blades with optimal balance and ergonomics.

Research shows that there are not any major lawsuits, class action claims, etc., against the ZWILLING J.A. Henckels company.

Reviews for the company’s products on Amazon show to be legitimate without an abundance of false reviews or removal of reviews. This applies to the J.A. Henckels Chef knife and the 93 other products on Amazon as of the publish date of this article.

Return Policy

The warranty does not cover wood products, such as knife handles, wear from normal use, or any damage resulting from use other than the intended purpose of the item. You can file a claim by sending J.A. Henckels the knife along with a description of the issue.

Warranty

The J.A. Henckels International Classic Chef’s Knife is fully guaranteed against defects in materials and/or craftsmanship. The warranty does not cover wood products, such as knife handles, wear from normal use, or any damage resulting from use other than the intended purpose of the item. You can file a claim by sending J.A. Henckels the knife along with a description of the issue.

Value

The J.A. Henckels International Classic Chef Knife has a moderate price. In my use of this knife, I find the value to be very good for the price. I find myself reaching for this knife over my other chef knives. The J.A Henckels brand has been around for a long time. Even though this knife series is one of the lower quality ones that they offer, it still is better than many chef knives prices at or below $60.

Who Should Buy the J.A. Henckels International Classic Knife?

I would recommend the J.A. Henckels International Classic Chef’s Knife to home chef’s who want:

  • A Forged Blade: Although there are some great stamped blades on the market, you can not go wrong with a hot drop forged stain-resistant carbon steel blade. You can see and feel the durability of this knife.
  • An Affordable Choice: Getting a high-quality knife for about $60 is an excellent deal. Especially when it comes to forged blades, you’re not going to find many options cheaper than that.
  • A Solid Bolster: The bolster of this knife is an outstanding addition as it adds the perfect weight to balance out the knife. It also provides a safety feature to prevent cut while holding the knife.
  • A Durable Kitchen Tool: The overall quality of this knife can be felt from the first time you hold it. The full tang and riveted handle is an added addition to the forged blade. The blade sharpness holds up after multiple uses without needing to be honed or sharpened every time. This knife is one that will hold up in your personal home or professional business.

Summary

The J.A. Henckels International Classic Chef’s Knife is an excellent forged blade option. It has a solid handle in design and construction. The added weight not only provides balance but contributes to its quality. As a result, this knife is one that will remain in my kitchen for years to come!


Revision History

December 16, 2017 – Published.
February 21, 2021 – Updated layout.
November 5, 2021 – Updated to use Review Scoring 2.0. Added additional details for the knife blade.

4 thoughts on “J.A. Henckels Classic Chef Knife Review”

  1. I have 2 henckels, 8 inch chef knives picked up at the same tim from a thrift store for about $2.00 each. Both have been dropped, one with a bent tip (the international) and the zwilling with a broken tip, about 3 mm. Both, I know , I can repair over time while sharpening. I will probably relieve the edges on the back as I also notice the discomfort with the grip. The international (31361-210mm) has the logo on the left side, wood handle and is made in Brazil. The Zwilling (31071-200) has the logo on the right, the regular handle, and what appears to be a 12 point scale (grid) with 7 noted on it. Is there anything you can tell me about these markings?

    Reply
    • Hey Ross! Great question. The grid is a maker’s mark and used for factory purposes. Probably away for them to trace production and quality. The grid can be filled in with various combinations of solid blocks and numbers.

      Reply

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