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HORL 1993 Launches Innovative Knife Sharpening System to UK Market.

Following huge success in Germany HORL 1993 have announced the launch of their collection of three HORL® sharpeners and accessories.

The system makes it possible to sharpen knives easily and precisely for professional- level results in everyday use.

The system works in two parts; a magnetic angled sharpening block (the S-Pad) holds the knife in place and then with a simple rolling action with a diamond grinder creates the perfect angle. On the other side of the grinder sits a ceramic honing disc which, after a few movements, significantly refines the grinding and results in a smooth and clean sharpened knife edge.
“We want to make it possible for everyone to sharpen their knives so that cutting is a real pleasure. To achieve this, we develop easy-to-use, stylish products that always feel great to use” says Otmar Horl, founder of HORL 1993.

The range of HORL sharpeners, named after the surname of father and son team and located in their hometown of Freiburg in southern Germany, is as beautiful as it is effective. Each process, from selection of the wood to the final assembly, is all done by hand by a family-like collaboration with the local suppliers showcasing steel production, wood processing, laser engraving finishing and assembly to the highest precision and attention to detail the Black Forest region has to offer.

To absolutely ensure you are sharpening your knife correctly HORL 1993 recommends The Marker Pen Method: draw a thin line along the edge of your blade, so that the line appears on both sides of the blade. Then sharpen with the HORL 15° angle for a few minutes on each side of the blade. If the line disappears on both sides, the edge has learned its angle and is now sharp. If the drawn line is still visible use the 20° angle and repeat. Watch how here: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=txmJ5FTlAqA

The sharpening system is available in three options

HORL 2 Cruise
This is the all-rounder for sharpness. The 20° grinding angle and the proven combination of diamond and stainless steel ensure precise grinding results.
Design: The chalk-coloured paint finish gives the sharpener a modern look that is at home in any kitchen.
Use: Ideal for your favourite everyday knives and particularly suitable for classic kitchen knives.
RRP: £99

HORL 2
This offers interchangeable grinding discs, a 15° grinding angle for a filigree edge and a 20° grinding angle for more robust blades.
Design: Available in oak or nut finish.
Use: Classic and Asian kitchen knives and Damascus knives.
RRP: £139

HORL 2 PRO
This is the masterwork of Otmar and Timo Horl. The planetary gearing inside provides a transmission ratio of 1:3. That means the desired sharpness is achieved three times faster than with our other sharpeners.
Design: Aluminium and stainless-steel parts along with a dark bronze finish give it an elegant appearance.
Use: Asian or European kitchen and Damascus knives
RRP: £299
There is also a selection of accessories including grinding disks, holders and HORL® leather to free the blade from grinding residue.

HORL products are available at www.horl.com or Borough Kitchen online and in stores.
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Editors Notes

Press quotes

(from leading German publications):
“The Horl 2 is perhaps the best sharpening system, my knives were almost as sharp as they were when they came from the factory.”
Peter Wagner, SPIEGEL Online
“The result is phenomenal. Even the old dinner knives are unrecognisable after treatment with the Horl roller grinder. And so sharp that you now have to be a little careful even when handling them.”
Perer Badenhop, FAZ
“From now on, women and men no longer have to be professionals to sharpen kitchen knives precisely. The “Horl” sharpener holds and grinds the knife at the ideal 15 degree angle on each side. The result. Sharp!”
Claudia Muir, essen & trinken

The Grinding Angles & Magentic Pad

20° grinding angle for robust sharpness results in a stable, easy care blade, ideal for general tasks in the kitchen European kitchen knives, hard or soft steel, stainless and rust-resistant steels, universal blades with a large spine, very dull knives, outdoor knives
15° grinding angle for filigree sharpness results in a thin edge, with less resistance while cutting, ideal for knives for fine cutting work fine blades, Damascus knives, Asian kitchen knives, particularly hard steels with a high carbon content

S-Pad

The silicone membrane with anti-slip effect makes it possible to fix even small knives at the desired height.

Accessories Available

Premium Sharpness Set

Exquisite accessory for the finest kitchen knives. The white corundum whetstones with grits of #3000 and #6000 in the Premium Sharpness Set maximises the sharpening potential of particularly fine blades and ensure an even finer sharpening pattern. Both whetstones can be used without water. For the final sharp finish, the knife can be stropped with the HOL leather.
HORL Sharpener Station
Always at hand. Exclusively presented.
The station provides ideal storage for the sharpening duo and is an eye-catching design milled from a block of solid wood from the Black Forest with stylist filigree bevels. Available in oak or nut finish.
Grinding Disc Station
Everything in its place. Order is a must. The Grinding Disc Station presents the round components attractively and has space for four grinding discs. The station is milled from solid wood blocks from the Black Forest and features filigree bevels. Exclusively available in oak or nut finish.

About Horl 1993

Horl 1993 is a company that specialises in the manufacture of knife sharpeners. In 2016, Otmar Horl and son Timo founded the business in Freiburg and focus on combining quality and design for their products. The HORL® sharpeners produced in the Black Forest make it possible to sharpen a wide variety of kitchen knives easily and precisely for professional-level results in everyday use.

Company History

After several years of development, the 1st generation of the HORL® sharpener was launched in 2016 and 2020 saw the launch of the HORL®2 collection.

UK Availability

The HORL® range is available online at www.horl.com and Borough Kitchen.

Useful Links

Grinding a knife for the first time https://www.horl.com/l/en/blog/the-first-sharpening-process/ How to choose the grinding angle: 15° or 20°? https://www.horl.com/l/en/blog/15-or-20

Online Links

instagram.com/horl1993/
youtube.com/channel/UCs9ML3A3JAgAlxkYZyV9seg
facebook.com/horl1993/
pinterest.de/horl1993/

Sharpening Tips

Remove burr
Even after uniform grinding, an almost invisible burr can prevent you achieving the desired sharpness.You can tell if a burr has formed, either visually, or by
a scratchy feeling when wiping the knife with a cloth or leather. You can remove the burr with a few gentle grinding passes. Make sure that the blade is thoroughly stropped to obtain an impressive sharpness.

Stropping the knife

To ensure premium sharpness, your blade should be stropped and smooth. Furthermore, we recommend stropping your knife after every usage of the diamond disc or the ceramic honing disc. The smoother the blade, the more impressive the edge will be.

Production Notes:

– Filigree bevels, solid components and precise workmanship make every HORL® product unique.
– To guarantee maximum quality, the solid wood used is dried to 7-8% humidity in separate ovens by our partner companies in the Black Forest.