Forschner blades are among my favorite, low-cost blades. They are not the highest-end blades on the market, but the value they provide is nearly unbeatable.

Forschner Victorinox Cutlery
Numerous people know that Forschner cutlery is made by Victorinox - the creators of Swiss Army Knives. What most people aren't familiar with is the origin of the "Forschner" side of the story.

The Forschner Group, founded in the 1800s as The Forschner Butcher Scale Company, was a well-known American commercial kitchen supplier. In the late 1930s, Forschner began bringing in Victorinox cutlery, and marketed them with the now-famous name "Swiss Army Knife". The success of the Swiss Army Knives turned out to be overwhelming, so following the end of WWII, The Forschner Group quit selling meat cutter scales and concentrated primarily on cutlery.

Forschner went public in 1981, making it possible for Victorinox to become a minor shareholder in the organization. Victorinox was increasingly intrigued by Forschner and bought a larger stake in 1995. They finally gained full control of the organization in 2002. By that time Forschner had been rebranded "Swiss Army Brands Inc.", but the Forschner name remained recognizable in the US. Consequently, that name was revived for Victorinox's premiere kitchen knife collection. That collection was made available in the 1990s.

Forschner Fibrox
The Forschner Fibrox series is among Victorinox's best selling. The series' inexpensive price combined with their thin razor-sharp lightweight edges make them the preferred knives of many budget-conscious amateur cooks. Cook's Illustrated has awarded the Fibrox set their recommendation many years in a row.

The Fibrox blades are created in Solingen, Germany, home to some of the world's most famous cutlers. The knives are then completed and put together in Ibach, Switzerland, Victorinox's base for over a century.

A high-carbon blended alloy is used to make the blade. This allows the blades to retain their sharpness. The blades are heat treated and hardened to a rating of 55-56 on the Rockwell C scale. This allows for sharpness without causing fragility. These components and heat treatment is similar to what Wusthof and other high-end makers offer Each bears the distinctive "RH Forschner" stamp on the blade.

Although the Fibrox’s grip appears similar to plastic, it is really a synthetic material. The grip is comfortable and precludes sliding. It is likewise tough and withstands usual wear and tear. Although it is not advised to place sharp knives in the dishwasher, these grips would not be damaged if they went through that handling.

Knife Sets and Individual Knives
Forschner markets their cutlery in different sized sets. I typically suggest hobbyist cooks buy their cutlery one at a time, as each chef has different needs. You might decide to buy one premium Japanese Chef's knife to accomplish the bulk of the work in your kitchen, and round out your collection with less expensive cutlery such as Forschner Knives. This is a great way to procure the right equipment for a gourmet kitchen while still keeping to a budget.

For those who prefer the convenience of buying a collection of blades, Forschner sells a reasonably-priced eight-piece offering that includes all of the essential knives a well-equipped cooking station needs. Larger collections are available as well.

More Info
Victorinox's webpage is an excellent source of information on this cutlery.