Zwilling Four Star 7-Piece Knife And Accessories Set (Black)
Zwilling Professional S (3 Piece Set, Silver/Black)
Zwilling Four Star Self-Sharpening (Brown Ash Block, 7-Piece)
Zwilling Four Star Self-Sharpening Knife Block (7 Piece, Black Ash)
Zwilling 36133-000-0 Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set (7-Piece, Brown)
Zwilling Gourmet Knife Block (7 Pieces, Black Handle, Natural Bamboo)
Zwilling has made blades in Solingen, Germany, since 1731, and the Pro is its modern take on the classic European chef's knife. The shape is familiar: a pointed tip, a gently curved belly for rocking and a tall heel for chopping. What's new is the bolster. Most German knives have a thick, square block of steel where the blade meets the handle. On the Pro it sweeps down at an angle, a design Zwilling commissioned from Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez in Milan.
That curve does two jobs. Your thumb and index finger rest on it naturally, so you hold the blade the way professional chefs are taught, which gives better control and less wrist fatigue. And because the bolster stops short of the cutting edge, you can sharpen the whole length of the blade right back to the heel. On a knife with a full bolster the heel slowly turns into a step that stops it touching the board.
The blade itself is forged from one piece of Zwilling's special formula stainless steel (the SIGMAFORGE process) and then ice-hardened for sharpness that lasts and corrosion resistance. Zwilling quotes 55-58 HRC on the Rockwell scale, and BBC Good Food measured 57 in its test. It is ground to a symmetrical V of about 15 degrees per side. The ergonomic plastic handle is fixed to a full tang with three rivets, and the high blade keeps your knuckles clear of the board when cutting.
The 20cm chef's knife (item 38401-201-0) is the one most people buy. These figures come from Zwilling UK and the BBC Good Food review:
| Spec | Zwilling Pro 20cm chef's knife |
|---|---|
| Blade length | 20 cm (handle 13 cm, 33 cm overall) |
| Weight | About 260g (BBC weighed 254-259g) |
| Steel | Special formula stainless steel, FRIODUR ice-hardened |
| Hardness | 55-58 HRC (57 measured) |
| Edge | Smooth V-edge, around 15 degrees each side |
| Construction | One piece of steel, full tang, curved bolster |
| Handle | Black ergonomic plastic handle, three rivets |
| Care | Dishwasher safe up to 55°C, hand washing recommended |
| Made in | Germany, with Zwilling's lifetime cover |
The Pro comes in several lengths. UK stockists list a 14cm compact chef's knife (38400-141-0), a 16cm (38405-161-0), the 20cm (38401-201-0) and an 18cm Chinese chef's knife (38419-181-0) with a cleaver-style blade.
Zwilling's own guide to finding the right chef's knife compares the 20cm and compact models in more detail.
Most of the kitchen knives in this collection come from Zwilling's other ranges, and they're easy to mix up. The stainless steel and heat treatment are close across the lines, so the real differences are the handle, the shape at the heel and how the blade is made.
| Range | Bolster | Handle | Blade | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pro | Curved half bolster | Plastic, three rivets, full tang | Forged, ice-hardened | Control, sharpening to the heel |
| Professional S | Full bolster | Plastic, three rivets, full tang | Forged | Traditional feel, extra finger guard |
| Four Star | Full bolster | Seamless moulded plastic, no visible rivets | Forged | Easy cleaning, softer grip |
| Pollux (Henckels) | None | Plastic | Stamped from stainless steel | Lighter knives and lower cost |
If you like the Pro's steel but prefer a classic straight handle, Professional S is the obvious alternative - and the Professional S chef's knife in the set above weighs almost exactly the same as the Pro (257g). Four Star swaps rivets for a one-piece moulded handle with no gaps for food to collect in.
One good chef's knife covers most jobs, but a few partners make cooking easier: a paring knife for peeling and trimming, a serrated knife for bread and tomatoes and a steel to keep the edge straight. The sets here bundle those together.
The self-sharpening block is the low-effort option: the 20cm chef's knife in it is light at 185g, and the ceramic slots hone the stainless steel blade as you go. The Pollux 7-piece block is the budget route - stamped blades, a plain heel and a sharpening steel included. For a full kitchen, the Henckels International 20-piece block adds eight steak knives, a santoku, boning and carving knives. You'll find more combinations in our chef knife sets.
BBC Good Food gave the 20cm Pro 4 out of 5, praising its comfort, precise pointed tip, versatility and lifetime warranty. It also noted the cons: it's expensive, it's heavy, it leans slightly towards the tip and its sharpness doesn't last as long as harder steels - though it resharpens easily.
Knife enthusiasts on Reddit say much the same: German blades like this have thicker spines than Japanese knives, so they can wedge in dense veg such as carrots and squash, but they shrug off bones, frozen food and the odd knock. Several also point out that Zwilling kitchen knives often go on sale, so it pays to wait for a deal.
Choose the Zwilling Pro if you want a tough, forgiving knife that's easy to sharpen, you like some weight behind the blade and you'd rather not baby your tools.
Look elsewhere if you want a thin, very hard blade that holds a razor edge for longer - our Japanese chef knives run at 60 HRC and above, and Global knives are much lighter. Our sharpest chef knives collection covers the keenest edges.
At 57 HRC the steel is soft enough to sharpen at home without fuss, which is one of the knife's strengths.
For most home cooks, yes. You get a full tang German knife with a lifetime warranty that will last decades if you look after it. Watch for sale prices, which are common.
The blades are very similar. The Pro has a curved half bolster for a pinch grip and full-length sharpening; Professional S has a traditional full bolster and a straighter handle.
It's the same company. Zwilling J.A. Henckels makes the premium Zwilling ranges in Germany and sells lower-priced knives under the Henckels name.
The Pro chef's knife is made by Zwilling in Germany - the company has been based in Solingen since 1731.
It's rated dishwasher safe up to 55°C, but Zwilling recommends hand washing to protect the blade and the plastic handle.
Yes. It's illegal to sell a knife to anyone under 18 in the UK, and Amazon checks age on delivery. The gov.uk guide to buying and carrying knives has the rules.
Still comparing? Browse our top rated chef knives, premium chef knives or, on a tighter budget, budget chef knives.
