In 2002, Paul Hellman, a Mechanical engineer with a passion for cooking, had a dream: to make the highest quality German forged knives at a fraction of the cost. On a shoestring budget, Paul interviewed over a hundred chefs in New York City about what they thought of the current German forged knives in the market. The chefs wanted a more balanced, heftier knife with a sharp heel and smooth corners. They wanted a balance of form and function; a knife to match the artistry of their signature dishes. In response to the chef's requests, Hellman developed and patented the "Triple Tang" concept, allowing the weight and balance of the knife to enhance its feel and performance. Out of all this research and development, Gunter Wilhelm was born.

Hellman sought out a German steel manufacturer in Solingen, Germany, and contracted with the best cutlery factory in Asia to manufacture only the finest quality Gunter Wilhelm knives. As a small company, Gunter Wilhelm knives go through a rigorous quality control process ensuring the ultimate in customer satisfaction. Gunter Wilhelm started by word of mouth, demonstrating at wine and food festivals and professional trade shows, and then slowly growing through website sales. As the company grew, Hellman took on David Malek as a partner in 2009. Malek had vast experience in running sales teams and is instrumental in coordinating more than eighty employees nationally and internationally in this rapidly growing multi-million dollar company.

The photo above shows Paul Hellman, founder of Gunter Wilhelm, and TV chef Ralph Pagano, star of Pressure Cook on the Mojo Channel. Pagano uses Gunter Wilhelm Cutlery on his show.

Celebrity chefs like David Burke and Ralph Pagano, and Hollywood stars such as Jane Seymour, have embraced Gunter Wilhelm's knives. But even through all this success, the price of Gunter Wilhelm knives are kept at a down-to-earth and accessible range.  This caught the attention of price club stores, opening up the possibility of providing professional quality knives to the impassioned amateur chef. Growth and success have not changed the ways Hellman and Malek interact with their customers. They still choose to work from their home offices in Tenafly, New Jersey to ensure a close relationship with all of their customers, handling most inquiries themselves.

We invite you to join the Gunter Wilhelm family and enjoy the best products, best price, best warranty, and best service available anywhere.