Güde Knives Güde is a traditional manufacturer based in Solingen, known for inventing the serrated edge for bread knives. Güde knives are forged from a single piece of Solingen steel and are processed and sharpened by hand, with a hardness of 56 HRC. The handles are made from old oak barrels, olive wood, or POM. There is a special series of hand-forged Damascus steel, consisting of 300 layers of non-corrosive Damascus, with a hardness of 61 HRC, and handles made from desert ironwood (fossilized wood). Güde Sharpening Steel The Alpha sharpening rod is ideal for honing. The finely polished handle of the Alpha sharpening rod is made from durable and easy-to-care-for plastic. With each cut, a knife loses some sharpness. Therefore, a knife should be regularly honed with the Alpha sharpening rod. Application tip: Right-handed users should hold the Alpha sharpening rod in their left hand and the knife in their right hand (left-handed users should do the opposite) and draw both sides of the blade along the full length about 10 times at an angle of approximately 15°. With just a little practice, honing becomes easy, and the knives remain sharp and ready for use with regular application.