-Emily Bedard.

Meridians are hardened to 56 Rockwell hardness C, making them hard enough to hold their edge for a long period of time, while it is easy to restore their edge with a steel. Messermeister is a company whose mission has always been to manufacture the finest forged cutlery available. When purchasing cutlery and cooking tools for their kitchens, discerning consumers and professional chef's are looking for quality and features first, and this is why Messermeister forged cutlery is recognized by culinary professionals and cutlery enthusiasts alike as the finest forged cutlery.

The Twin Cuisine 8-inch chef's knife is practically a kitchen necessity. The pointed, curved blade allows the knife to rock with ease, which enhances the speed and precision of slicing carrots, mincing garlic and parsley, and dicing onions. The weight of the large knife may take some getting used to, but the superb balance lends itself to every task. An all-purpose workhorse of a knife with a very satisfying feel, the Twin Cuisine chef's knife makes an excellent gift for any seasoned or aspiring chef. -Ann Bieri From the Manufacturer Twin Cuisine is the first quality forged knife to combine the comfort of a truly ergonomic, molded handle with the precision weight and balance of a full horizontal tang. Plus, the Twin Cuisine’s exclusive, award-winning patented handle design is a new standard in fine cutlery (U. S. design patent #D524,121). The series is available in many styles for numerous cutting tasks. Twin Cuisine is also available in a variety of block sets and gift sets. The Twin Cuisine series truly is a masterful blend of form and function. A Higher Standard in Knife Construction Twin Cuisine knives are traditionally forged from a single piece of J. A. Henckels’s exclusive high-carbon, no-stain steel formula. The result is a knife with high durability, professional strength, and weight. Twin Cuisine also uses J. A. Henckels’s Friodur ice-hardening process, which results in a blade that has excellent cutting-edge retention and corrosion resistance. The blade edge is precision honed and laser controlled to maintain a sharper and consistent blade angle. New Ergonomic Handle Technology The Twin Cuisine handle features exclusive new and innovative handle technology: a full horizontal tang without rivets. High-impact polypropylene is bonded with J. A. Henckels’s high-carbon, no-stain steel, resulting in a remarkably comfortable handle with a smooth shape and no gaps. The world-famous Zwilling J. A. Henckels logo is etched on the end of every Twin Cuisine knife handle, indicating its quality. Features Traditional one-piece hot drop-forged construction: Provides high durability, strength, and weight. Laser-controlled edge: Is sharper and stays sharper longer. Has a more consistent blade angle. Friodur ice hardening: Maximum no-stain properties and more blade strength. Improved resistance to corrosion and pitting. Super bolster: Provides weight, insures safety, and adds balance. New, patented full horizontal handle tang without rivets: Provides a strong, smooth, comfortable handle with great control and balanced design. High-carbon no-stain steel, an exclusive J. A. Henckels formula: Nonstaining, nonrusting. Precision-honed blade: Is sharper and stays sharper longer. Dishwasher-safe: Easy care (although hand washing is recommended by J. A. Henckels). Full warranty: J. A. Henckels stands behind all its knives.

Polypropylene Handles (bonded with seamless accuracy) Comfortable molded handle. Hygienic, Food safe. Easy care Full warranty. This is one of the world's most popular knife, a fully forged knife with a unique molded handle. First introduced in 1976, the Four Star range today is still one of the world's most popular knife series. The Four Star series features high impact polypropylene handles that are permanently bonded to the knife blades without any gaps. These comfortable, molded handles are break-proof, sanitary, and colorfast. In addition, the super bolster and full rat-tail tang provides weight, insures safety, and adds balance. Four Star knives are precision forged from a single piece of J. A. Henckels exclusive high-carbon, no-stain steel formula under the all-new SIGMAFORGE standard. As a result, Four Star knives have improved quality consistency, lasting sharpness, and perfect geometry. SIGMAFORGE one-piece construction also provides high precision and improved stability of the blade and steel structure, thus improving cutting-edge retention for lasting sharpness. In addition, Four Star knives use J. A. Henckels' FRIODUR ice hardening for corrosion resistance, a process that also contributes to cutting-edge retention. Manufactured in Germany. A 12-inch chef's knife is the largest made, suitable for professional chefs and serious cooks with good knife skills. Its curved, stainless-steel blade is perfect for rocking through chopping and mincing tasks; as a kitchen workhorse, the knife is also useful for cutting and slicing. Like other top-grade Henckels knives, Four Star blades are formed by a high-tech welding process that combines three steel types into what appears to be a single piece, so a knife's parts have distinct characteristics. Traditionalists might insist on single-piece forging for strength, but Henckels says the invisible welds are stronger than the steel. Knife handles don't have full tangs, but they're made of tough polypropylene. -Fred Brack From the Manufacturer First introduced in 1976, the Four Star® Series is one of the world's most popular knife lines. Four Star® knives were designed and developed in close cooperation with renowned professional chefs. The result was a fully forged knife with a unique molded handle. The Four Star® line contains knives for all tasks, and includes the following open stock knife types: parer, bread, peeling, sandwich, utility, carving, chef’s, granton edge slicer, santoku, and others. Four Star® knives are also available in a range of block sets and gift sets. A Higher Standard in Knife Construction Four Star® knives are precision forged from a single piece of exclusive-formula, high-carbon, no-stain steel under the all-new Sigmaforge standard. As a result, Four Star® knives have improved quality consistency, lasting sharpness, and perfect geometry. Sigmaforge one-piece construction also provides high precision and improved stability of the blade and steel structure, thus improving cutting-edge retention for lasting sharpness. In addition, Four Star® knives use J. A. Henckels’ Friodur ice hardening for corrosion resistance, a process that also contributes to cutting-edge retention. It's All in The Grip: The Four Star® series features high impact polypropylene handles that are permanently bonded to the knife blades without any gaps. These comfortable handles are break-proof, sanitary, and colorfast. In addition, the super bolster provides weight, insures safety, and adds balance. Features: SIGMAFORGE 1-piece, precision forged construction: Provides perfect geometry, high precision, and improved stability of the blade and steel structure, thus improving cutting edge retention for lasting sharpness. Laser controlled edge: Is sharper and stays sharper longer. Has a more consistent blade angle. Friodur ice hardening: Maximum no-stain properties and more blade strength. Improved resistance to corrosion and pitting. Super bolster: Provides weight, insures safety, and adds balance. Full rat-tail tang: Provides a proper balance and greater strength. High-carbon no-stain steel, an exclusive J. A. Henckels formula: Non-staining, non-rusting. Hand, precision honed blade: Is sharper and stays sharper longer. Bonded polypropylene handles: Comfortable molded handles and food safe Dishwasher safe: Easy care (Although hand-washing is recommended by J. A. Henckels). Full warranty: J. A. Henckels stands behind all its knives.