Product Description

Wusthof has been making the finest knives in the world for over 190 years. Through excellent craftsmanship and engineering the Grand Prix2 knife line has become one of the finest knife lines in the world. Made by skilled craftsman in Solingen Germany these fine knives are precision forged out a single piece of the finest steel. This Grand Prix2 7-inch Hollow edge Santoku knife takes it shape from the orient as it is a cross between a cooks knife and a vegetable cleaver. The hollowed edges to the side of the blade allow for less friction when cutting and allow foods to adhere less to the blade.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4878 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Size: 6½"
• Brand: Wüsthof
• Model: 4175
• Released on: 2004-10-01
• Dimensions: 1.10" h x 3.20" w x 14.50" l, .34 pounds

Features

• 7-inch Santoku knife; multi-use kitchen tool; hollow ground to prevent sticking
• Precision-forged from a single piece of high-carbon, stain-resistant steel
• Sturdy, steel bolster; tang extends almost the full handle length for strength
• Ergonomically designed, slip-resistant handle; sleek, contemporary look
• Manufactured in Solingen, Germany; hand wash; lifetime warranty

Amazon.com Review
This 7-inch multi-use Santoku knife effortless handles any household kitchen cutting need--from chopping to dicing and slicing. Designed to prevent food from sticking to its sides and increase efficiency; "hollow ground" refers to a row of oval-shaped grooves along the blade’s cutting edge. By trapping air during chopping, food is less likely to adhere and more likely to fall to the side.

Offering superior craftsmanship and a lifetime warranty, this blade reflects the commitment to quality associated with its renowned manufacturer. Similar to other Wusthof knives, the blade, bolster, and tang are precision-forged from a single piece of high-carbon, stain-resistant steel. Additionally, the tang extends almost the full length of the handle reinforcing the tool’s strength and reliability. Thanks to a sturdy steel bolster, knuckles remain protected while the ergonomically designed handle affords a comfortable hold to reduce hand strain. Made in Solingen, Germany; hand washing is recommended. --Amy Arnold

Customer Reviews

Knife I value as a top 10 item I own - PERIOD.
I'm a young college student who works at a restaurant as a waiter. Like many young people, I one day got a fleeting aspiration that would probably go away within a couple of weeks. I wanted to be an awesome cook, so the first thing I did was ask the chef at my restaurant what tools I needed to start. He told me a good kitchen knife is THE essential tool of the chef. He recommended I go to Williams Sonoma and try out every knife possible but warned me that chef knives cost close to $100 dollars each. Whoa! He also said that Santoku blades are very popular these days because they're extremely versatile and feel good in your hands (something about balance).

Nonetheless, I went to Williams-Sonoma the next day and tried out the Henkels, Wustof Classic, Wustof Grand Prix, Wustof Grand Prix 2, Globals, and Shuns. I ultimately chose the Wustof Grand Prix 2 because of the perfect balance in the knife. The handle was much grippier than the others, extremely light, but not as thin as the Globals (which I thought might lead to a blister), or with the unnatural offset handle of the Shun (Left handers actually feel that it works perfectly - I'm a righty like the majority of people). I'm extremely paranoid of cutting myself ever since my mom cut herself pretty bad but after handling that particular knife, I was confident I would never cut myself. I eventually purchased it on Amazon with in an asian knife set (paring knife + santoku).

When I finally used it for the first time, I seriously could not believe how quickly I could cut. I always thought it was skill that the chefs at my workplace would use to dice things, slice meats, or chop veggies. Was I ever wrong! Any idiot using a knife this sharp and this balanced could cut like a master. I was cutting slices of apples so incredibly thin I started laughing! They were so thin, I could see through them! Tomatoes cut with no effort. After purchasing this knife, I started buying more and more kitchen supplies to match that same euphoria.

A year has passed, and for my recent birthday, my friends got me a gift certificate to Williams Sonoma. I am known amongst my friends as the guy who can cook an amazing meal. I owe it all to this knife! I'm very lazy, and if I took the same time cutting stuff as a I used to before I owned this knife, I simply would not cook for myself let alone others. I take this knife with me wherever I cook - I refuse to use other people's knives. Even at work, I hate trying out my coworkers knives. They feel unnatural. I've even gotten comments when I cut up fruit for friends. They literally hear it come out of the knife block and look to see what made that sweet shimmering noise.

I rank this as #4 on my list of top 10 things I own. The first 3 being my North Face Goretex Jacket to get me through the winter walking to classes in Michigan. The second being my Computer so I can buy stuff and write reviews here. The third being my waterproof sneakers (again for the winter). I place this knife before my mp3 player, my stereo, my TV, my xbox, my Playstation 2, and all my Calphalon pans put together. I might even go so far as to put it in front of my absolutely adorable toy maltese-poodle mix (he's related to Jessica Simpson's dog). This review may seem a little far-fetched, but I am simply in love with my knife.

Pros - Extremely good construction, Perfect Balance, Good Grip, Easy to Clean, Comes presharpened, Haven't needed to resharpen or even hone since I've owned it, looks good, grooves prevent food from sticking, able to cut extremely thin, Handle allows multiple grips to be used.

Cons - Not dishwashable, my girlfriend left it in water overnight to soak, left permanent watermarks on my blade. Grr. Not cheap! Have no clue how to claim lifetime warranty, Tang is only 3/4 length (but also makes the knife lighter).

Try out as many knives before you purchase. Only 1 type will feel "right" to you. But if you think like me (safety first) then you'll love this knife.

Quick action, cheap handle
I am lucky enough to own three very beautiful blades: a Shun Santoku 7", the Wusthof Grand Prix II 7", and the Henckel 8". Of these three the Wusthof is my least favorite. The blade is somewhat thinner than the Shun, which may be a positive point for those who prefer lighter blades. The black plastic handle also contributes to a lighter weight. However, I personally prefer the heavier better quality steel of the Shun as well as the beautiful wooden handle. Makes for very satisfactory action on the cutting board--solid thunks. Of those three knives, the Henckel is by far my favorite. It is so incredibly versatile, nice quality materials, and the weight and length are perfect for very fast action using both hands. If you have a choice, I would definitely research Shun and Henckel. That said, the Wusthof is a wonderful knife and you should be very pleased with it. As I said, some of the things that I find less attractive about it may very well be a draw for others. It's a good quality blade and with proper care should last many years. If you've ever wondered what the fuss about knives was, then you really must borrow a nice knife for an evening of cooking. It makes all the difference.

Go ahead. Live a little.
When my Wusthof Grand Prix II 7" Hollow Ground Santoku knife arrived from Amazon as a mid-year birthday present to myself, I tore open the packaging and immediately bonded with the high carbon no-stain steel beauty inside. The knife *gleamed*, was obviously surgically sharp and, for an intermediate cook who had been using a 1980s-era Chicago Cutlery chef's knife all her life, it was a bit...intimidating.

After several days of regarding the knife (and it doubtless regarding me), of hefting it and testing its balance, I decided to put it to work on ingredients for guacamole, and within seconds had not only sliced an onion to delightfully transparent thinness (oh, to watch the sun set through a slice of Walla Walla Sweet) but also the top-most layer of my little finger. We were off to a good start.

I had researched and compared the Wusthof Grand Prix II to Wusthof's classic and the original Grand Prix, as well as to various Henkels knives. The Grand Prix II came out ahead for me, primarily because of Wusthof' quality and because I personally wanted to experience a change from the chef's blade and classic straight handle I'd been using for so many years, to a santoku blade and ergonomic handle.

I recommend this knife to anyone who has used vintage or department-store quality knives all their lives, who has envied the ease in which chefs on the Food Channel slice and dice (now you, too, can do it!), who wants to better enjoy food preparation, or who wants to work with the most modern and well-made knife the market offers. With little effort on your part, you can just sit back and watch it perform like a manual food processor, precisely cutting onions, bell peppers, etc., into cubes of perfect symmetry. Enjoy.