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I have been told German Steel is the best numerous times by certain people. Since I am the type to try to figure things out for myself I thought I'd do a small search to see what I came up with. I found a decent article I thought I'd share...you can also search german steel for yourself and find the same things i did. I think the bolded section of the article has some main points. After all the stuff I have read on the internet it appears anyone can make German Steel. It's mainly formula used in the steel making. Same materials you can find in alot of different countrys. yes the article is posted for cutlery but that is where "German Steel" cam about. I just thought this was informative. And I believe all consumers (bowhunters, chefs, etc.) should know everything about what they are purchasing. So if anyone has anymore info on steel i would like to hear it.
The Truth About German Steel Blades
In today’s kitchen knife market the customer can be confused by the large number of knife brands that are for sale. Every company states that their brand is the best—it is sharper, holds an edge better, and is balanced for performance. Every manufacturer claims that they can turn an average cook into an excellent chef just by using their product. These are typical marketing strategies, but one strategy that the customer may not be aware of is the claim by some manufacturers that their knives are made from German stainless steel.
Some consider German steel to be superior to steel made in other countries, thus a higher quality material for knives. This is an argument best left to the metal geeks and metallurgists, but German steel is used by some of the larger knife manufacturers. This is where the problem arises. Since German steel is considered the standard for excellence and quality, manufacturers have found a marketing tool in labeling their product as being produced from German steel. Some advertise “German steel” or “German blade”, leading a customer to believe the blade was made of the finest materials, crafted in Germany. The term can be deceptive though. The term “German steel” or “German stainless steel” doesn’t necessarily mean it was produced in Germany, but rather is allowed to mean the steel was constructed using German formulas for steel composition. The steel may have actually been produced in another country other than Germany. If you feel that all steel is the same, and that German steel is no better than Brazilian steel, then you probably think that the steels are the same. This could be accurate, if weren’t for the manufacturers’ pursuit to get products made as cheap as possible.
A leading steel producing country, such as China, can offer these manufacturers low prices on steel that is supposed to be produced using the German standards. The problem arises when these Chinese firms skimp on some of the materials and produce inferior quality steel that is less structurally sound—meaning frequent blade breakage, or the blades lack the correct amount of chromium, vanadium, nickel or other elements that help make the blades more resistant to corrosion. As a customer, you would think that a manufacturer of knives or any other stainless kitchen utensil or cookware would test the steel to verify that it meets certain standards of composition. In the real world, a majority of knives on the market are not distributed by the actual manufacturer. Anyone with a little money can contact a Chinese kitchen utensil or knife maker and have them produce a product under a certain name; have them shipped to a warehouse in the US, and contract with a sales and marketing group that will introduce and advertise your product to the retail markets. If you have even more money you can have fancy TV commercials and print ads produced and give your product to a food magazine or TV show and pay for them to endorse the product. As the “manufacturer” you have no idea that the product you are selling is inferior and really don’t care to have an outside firm test your product. The Chinese company provides a document stating that the steel meets a certain standard and their word is not questioned. This practice is common with large kitchen equipment manufacturers looking to expand their product lines to generate higher revenues and capitalize on their good reputation of equipment manufacturers,
but the knives usually do not achieve the same high standards as their ovens, microwaves, mixers, etc. We won’t even discuss the discount store $5.00 chef knives private labeled cutlery produced for companies that are only concerned with having junk made for practically nothing, so they can mass distribute trash cutlery into the market.
For quality cutlery, such as kitchen and bbq knives look for brands that are actually manufactured by that company and only choose those lines that are produced in the manufacturer’s country. Be aware that some quality knife manufacturers have some of their cheap lines made in China.
For economical, quality brands check out brands such as Mundial—a Brazilian country that has roots in German knife manufacturing and have manufactured knives for brands such as Henckel. The low cost of labor and economical source of steel makes this a great choice for those searching for a commercial quality knife at a great price. Mundial is a leading brand in the US food service industry and used extensively by meat processing establishments around the orld. Be aware, that some of their cheaper cleavers and forks are made in China, though Mundial routinely tests the quality of the steel used in their products made in China.
Victorinox is another very popular and highly rated knife manufacturer, best known for their Fibrox handle stamped blade knives. Used extensively in the meat processing industry in the US, Victorinox knives are primarily Swiss made and use quality steels in the production of their products. Victorinox represents a mid-level price tier for cutlery—meaning you can get good knives, both stamped and forged, for a price that is reasonable.
Another, quality brand is the German knife company Friedr. Dick, or F. Dick. F. Dick is known world?wide for their quality products, especially their commercial line of butcher and chef knives and utensils. Unlike other brands, F. Dick manufacturers all of their products in Germany, enforcing strict quality control standards to produce some of the most durable and best looking knives on the market. Priced not much more than Victorinox, F. Dick is a major sponsor of cooking and butcher competitions in Europe and the US and have won numerous awards for their quality and design.
So in conclusion, don’t trust when a brand advertises their knives as being German steel. Buying your cutlery from an actual, long?standing knife manufacturer is assurance that you will be buying a tool that will withstand abuse and provide years of service. Purchasing your knives from an authorized dealer will also guarantee that you receive full protection by the manufacturer’s warranties—which sometime extend for the life of the knife.
By Daniel Clay, Mad Cow Cutlery, www.madcowcutlery.com
Read more: http://www.skinnymoose.com/dryrubbedrat/2010/03/28/some-thoughts-on-german-steel/#ixzz27rxuocJB
The Truth About German Steel Blades
In today’s kitchen knife market the customer can be confused by the large number of knife brands that are for sale. Every company states that their brand is the best—it is sharper, holds an edge better, and is balanced for performance. Every manufacturer claims that they can turn an average cook into an excellent chef just by using their product. These are typical marketing strategies, but one strategy that the customer may not be aware of is the claim by some manufacturers that their knives are made from German stainless steel.
Some consider German steel to be superior to steel made in other countries, thus a higher quality material for knives. This is an argument best left to the metal geeks and metallurgists, but German steel is used by some of the larger knife manufacturers. This is where the problem arises. Since German steel is considered the standard for excellence and quality, manufacturers have found a marketing tool in labeling their product as being produced from German steel. Some advertise “German steel” or “German blade”, leading a customer to believe the blade was made of the finest materials, crafted in Germany. The term can be deceptive though. The term “German steel” or “German stainless steel” doesn’t necessarily mean it was produced in Germany, but rather is allowed to mean the steel was constructed using German formulas for steel composition. The steel may have actually been produced in another country other than Germany. If you feel that all steel is the same, and that German steel is no better than Brazilian steel, then you probably think that the steels are the same. This could be accurate, if weren’t for the manufacturers’ pursuit to get products made as cheap as possible.
A leading steel producing country, such as China, can offer these manufacturers low prices on steel that is supposed to be produced using the German standards. The problem arises when these Chinese firms skimp on some of the materials and produce inferior quality steel that is less structurally sound—meaning frequent blade breakage, or the blades lack the correct amount of chromium, vanadium, nickel or other elements that help make the blades more resistant to corrosion. As a customer, you would think that a manufacturer of knives or any other stainless kitchen utensil or cookware would test the steel to verify that it meets certain standards of composition. In the real world, a majority of knives on the market are not distributed by the actual manufacturer. Anyone with a little money can contact a Chinese kitchen utensil or knife maker and have them produce a product under a certain name; have them shipped to a warehouse in the US, and contract with a sales and marketing group that will introduce and advertise your product to the retail markets. If you have even more money you can have fancy TV commercials and print ads produced and give your product to a food magazine or TV show and pay for them to endorse the product. As the “manufacturer” you have no idea that the product you are selling is inferior and really don’t care to have an outside firm test your product. The Chinese company provides a document stating that the steel meets a certain standard and their word is not questioned. This practice is common with large kitchen equipment manufacturers looking to expand their product lines to generate higher revenues and capitalize on their good reputation of equipment manufacturers,
but the knives usually do not achieve the same high standards as their ovens, microwaves, mixers, etc. We won’t even discuss the discount store $5.00 chef knives private labeled cutlery produced for companies that are only concerned with having junk made for practically nothing, so they can mass distribute trash cutlery into the market.
For quality cutlery, such as kitchen and bbq knives look for brands that are actually manufactured by that company and only choose those lines that are produced in the manufacturer’s country. Be aware that some quality knife manufacturers have some of their cheap lines made in China.
For economical, quality brands check out brands such as Mundial—a Brazilian country that has roots in German knife manufacturing and have manufactured knives for brands such as Henckel. The low cost of labor and economical source of steel makes this a great choice for those searching for a commercial quality knife at a great price. Mundial is a leading brand in the US food service industry and used extensively by meat processing establishments around the orld. Be aware, that some of their cheaper cleavers and forks are made in China, though Mundial routinely tests the quality of the steel used in their products made in China.
Victorinox is another very popular and highly rated knife manufacturer, best known for their Fibrox handle stamped blade knives. Used extensively in the meat processing industry in the US, Victorinox knives are primarily Swiss made and use quality steels in the production of their products. Victorinox represents a mid-level price tier for cutlery—meaning you can get good knives, both stamped and forged, for a price that is reasonable.
Another, quality brand is the German knife company Friedr. Dick, or F. Dick. F. Dick is known world?wide for their quality products, especially their commercial line of butcher and chef knives and utensils. Unlike other brands, F. Dick manufacturers all of their products in Germany, enforcing strict quality control standards to produce some of the most durable and best looking knives on the market. Priced not much more than Victorinox, F. Dick is a major sponsor of cooking and butcher competitions in Europe and the US and have won numerous awards for their quality and design.
So in conclusion, don’t trust when a brand advertises their knives as being German steel. Buying your cutlery from an actual, long?standing knife manufacturer is assurance that you will be buying a tool that will withstand abuse and provide years of service. Purchasing your knives from an authorized dealer will also guarantee that you receive full protection by the manufacturer’s warranties—which sometime extend for the life of the knife.
By Daniel Clay, Mad Cow Cutlery, www.madcowcutlery.com
Read more: http://www.skinnymoose.com/dryrubbedrat/2010/03/28/some-thoughts-on-german-steel/#ixzz27rxuocJB
