What you should know about knives

Terminology, materials, edge and blade

The initial sharpness essentially depends on the profile of the blade and the shape of the cutting
edge. The durability depends on the composition of the steel and its heat treatment.

Durability stands for the effective cutting life of the blades.

There are two types of profiles with differing characteristics.

Straight tapered profile

This shape is ideal because

• the cutting edge is stabilised and
  
• it is easily re-sharpened.

This shape is therefore being used for knives by
ZWILLING J.A. HENCKELS.

Hollow ground profile

This shape is unsatisfactory because the edge

• has insufficiently stability and
  
• is therefore easily damaged.