Parts of a Henckels Knife
There are several parts to a Henckels knife as seen in the picture below. Some of these parts include the edge, blade, tip, bolster, finger guard, handguard, handle scales, handle head, tang, and rivets.
The shape of the handle determines whether a knife feels comfortable and is convenient to use. As soon as you pick up a Henckels knife you can tell that it suits you. Henckels pays particular attention
to the balance of a knife, i.e. the proper distribution of weight between the handle and the blade, plays an important role. In addition the handle must be well shaped and neatly finished, so that the knife can be used for prolonged periods without causing discomfort or
strain.
The handle is an important part of a Henckels knife. The tang is the part of the blade which extends into the handle. There are two types: The concealed tang (Henckels Four-Star cutlery and Henckels Five-Star knives and Henckels Twin Select Cutlery) and the exposed tang (Henckels Pro S cutlery). In the latter case a
distinction is made between a full tang, half tang and quarter tang, depending on the length of the tang. Concealed tangs are cast into the plastic handle and secured with synthetic resin. The purpose
of the rivets is to secure the handle or scales to the exposed tang. In many cases, however, the rivets in cheap knives offered by some manufacturers are actually dummies. A well shaped handle has
a pronounced front guard which provides a safe buffer for the hand. This is either incorporated in the shape of the handle or, in the case of high-quality cooks' knives, integrated as a steel bolster.
