Gude Knives Review | Güde German Knives are Breathtaking

Their knives are forged and handmade. Here’s the history of them and what the Gude name offers today.

The History of Güde German Kitchen Knives

It all started back in 1910 when Karl Güde like many others of this era opened his first production workshop. There were thousands of little workshops popping up all over Solingen at this time, and Gude is one of the German knife brands that has survived the test of time.

Being a company that has always produced some of the highest quality knives in the world, the entire Gude range is still hand made today.

The famous Three Palms Trademark is visible on all Güde knives made from 1923 onwards and to this day represents a high-quality product that is Made in Solingen, Germany.

Although there is much speculation, there is no definite answer to why there is a ‘three palm tree’ logo on knives that are made in Germany. 1923 was also the same year that Karl Güde’s son, Franz Güde, took the reins of the company from his father.

As the years passed, Franz Güde invented a revolutionary serrated blade as well as a new cutting edge. It was also under the leadership of Franz Güde that the company moved into a new factory in Katternberger Straße, Solingen, Germany, which is still their home today.

With the 1950s error in full swing, Franz Güde hands the reins to his son Franz D. Güde, who creates a third generation knife company. Throughout this era, the company manages to keep automation for mass production out of its factory and continues with high quality handmade knives.

Some 29 years pass, then Franz Güde hands the reins to the current owner, Dr. Karl Peter Born. Under his leadership since 1983 the company has won numerous awards for long life design as well as many other design awards.

If you are searching for something a little different and unique, check it out.

In the last 10 years, the company has had more awards and has redesigned the chef’s knife to be even more comfortable and user-friendly. A unique shaped knife that you will only find from a company like Güde knife Solingen.

And don’t forget the company’s latest addition to their still handmade range. The Gude SYNCHROS, which in their own words opens a new era in knife making for the kitchen. Another unique and ergonomic design! This knife line also won an award not long after its release.

What’s in the Gude Range

There are two series in the Gude range, of which there are several lines that you can choose from. Their Knife Series consists of the following lines:

Knife Series

Image	Product	Features	Price
	Güde Alpha Series Chef's Knife 8-inch	Ice hardened stainless steel Hand sharpened Finely polished	Buy on Amazon
	Güde Kappa Series Chef Knife 8-inch	Dishwasher safe Drop-forged Double bolster	Buy on Amazon
	Güde Delta Series Chef's Knife 8-inch	Corrosion-resistant Hand sharpened One piece forged	Buy on Amazon
	Güde Delta Series Barrel Oak Chef's Knife 8-inch	Ice hardened stainless steel Güde serrated edge The perfect bread knife	Buy on Amazon

And, if you’re hunting for something even more special than what’s on offer in their Knife Series, check out their Exclusive Series. However, if you’re going for a knife or a set of knives in the Exclusive Series, then make sure your wallet is full because you will need it.

These knives are pretty expensive, and for good reason. They are handmade like the rest of the range, but they do have something unique and special about them.

Exclusive Series

Image	Product	Features	Price
	Güde Synchros Series Chef's Knife 9-inch	Unique design Quality blade Oak handle	Buy on Amazon
	Güde THE KNIFE Series Chef's Knife 10-inch	Corrosion resistant African black wood Unique design	Buy on Amazon
	Güde Briccole di Venezia Series Chefs Knife 8-inch	Single piece Wood from venetian gondola posts Classic look	Buy on Amazon
	Güde Alpha Series Chef's Knife 8-inch	Olive wood Handle 8 inch blade Stainless Steel	Buy on Amazon

How Sharp is a Gude Knife?

A Gude knife is sharp. To be specific and technical, that means Gude knives are sharpened to an angle of 17.5 degrees. This gives a total cutting angle of 35 degrees. While these knives are not the sharpest out there, they are still extremely sharp and high-quality knives at that.

When Should I Sharpen the Blade?

How to use the Gude Sharpener

A Gude Sharpener? Or a good sharpener? When it comes to Gude Knives, there are a few options.

You can always buy one of their sharpening steels or, if you prefer, you can call it a honing rod. Using one of these honing rods regularly will keep those microscopic teeth inline and give you the best cutting performance possible.

Of course, you can also use a stone, if you know what you are doing. If you’re learning or just an amateur, be careful using a sharpening stone, as it can cause damage to your knife, if you don’t know what you are doing.

Here are a few sharpening stones to choose from, if that’s what you’re looking for. And, of course, they are also made in Germany.

The other option, which is most likely to be of use, if you damage your knife blade somehow, is the Gude sharpening service. You can ship your knives back to the manufacturer from anywhere in the world, and they will sharpen them for you.

This will bring the blade back to its original state, and you’ll be able to once again enjoy that Gude quality that’s in every knife they produce. If by chance you reside in Germany, they can be dropped directly to their workshop in Solingen, if you desire.

How to use the Gude Sharpening Steel

When you purchase any Gude handmade knife or set of knives, it’s a good idea to purchase a honing rod at the same time. If you were to zoom in on a knife blade with a microscope, you would see microscopic teeth all the way down the blade. These teeth become unaligned over time, and when this happens you can feel that your knife is blunt.

In this case, a honing rod is used, which would help straighten these teeth, resulting in your knife once again being sharp.

An easy way to sharpen your knife is to hold the sharpening steel with the handle down to a cutting board. Then swiping the entire length of the knife blade down the honing rod. Do this 5-6 times, slowly but firmly down the blade, and you’ll have a sharp knife again.

There’s no reason to do this in a harsh way, as all you are doing is realigning the teeth on the blade. Check this video out, as it’s a good example of what to do to not ruin your knives while sharpening them.

Image	Product	Features	Price
	Güde Alpha Series Sharpening Steel 10-inch	Alloyed chrome-vanadium-moly cutlery steel Finely polished grip Ice hardened stainless steel	Buy on Amazon
	Güde Kappa Sharpening Steel 10-inch	Alloyed chrome-vanadium-moly cutlery steel Finely polished grip Ice hardened stainless steel	Buy on Amazon
	Güde Delta Series Sharpening Steel 10-Inch	Alloyed chrome-vanadium-moly cutlery steel Finely polished grip Ice hardened stainless steel	Buy on Amazon

Are Güde Knives going to last a lifetime?

Any of the knives you purchase from the Gude range will last longer than your lifetime. Of course, like anything, you need to take proper care of them. Gude knives are constructed by hand from the finest raw materials and given every chance will last a lifetime and beyond.

Looking After your Steel Gude Knife

Being that you are prepared to pay a premium for an exceptional knife, one would think you wouldn’t want to damage it.

Is There a Lifetime Warranty

If you’re after a good warranty, then you should be impressed. It may not be a lifetime warranty, but it’s close. All Gude knives come with a 2-year manufacturers warranty against any faulty workmanship or product defects.

Replacing the Handle

The easiest route to take here is simply contact the manufacturer to confirm whether they will replace the broken handle under warranty. 

Either Gude or another professional knife maker would be able to help you with this.

Is there a Series Good for Home Cooking

Although you can use any of the Gude Knives range at home, here are three sets that would compliment any home kitchen bench.

The Alpha series has everything you would need at home, right down to forks, knives and spoons.

Another series, which would be suited to people, who don’t want to worry about looking after wooden handles, is the Kappa series. This is Gude’s all steel range, no wood to see here.

Which Cutlery is for the Pro’s

Of course, one of the many highlights of the Gude range is the uniquely shaped chef’s knife called simply THE KNIFE. This is a beautiful, stylish knife that would fit right into any chef’s collection, be it home or commercial.

Another collection and the newest addition to the Gude range is the ergonomically designed SYNCHROS range.

This knife design, as its name suggests, was created to synchronize the knife and the hand holding it. It has an entirely new design that is shaped in such a way to fit comfortably into the palm of any cooking enthusiast.

And, the last that we have selected as a pro blade is the Delta range. This line is the anniversary range from Gude. It was introduced in 2010 to celebrate the company’s 100 birthday, a huge milestone for any family-owned company.

Your Search is Over for High-Quality Knives

As an overlooked brand of knife, in our opinion, Gude Knives are unique in their own right. If you’re looking for a high standard and still handcrafted German knife, that’s still made in Germany, look no further than the Gude range of Knives.

Don’t forget, their modern, yet different looking knives will be a stand-out in any kitchen, either commercial or home.

Not only would you never want to use any other knife again, you would also impress your family and friends when you have such a treasure in your kitchen.