My dad owns a broad assortment of knives: some German, some Japanese, some chinese. One of his santoku's is sharper (though more plain in appearance) than his Shun santoku, but it was a gift from a Japanese business partner and the guy who sharpens his knives was jealous and wanted to know where it originated. Ultimately, he has quite a hodgepodge collection of knives that have been accumulated over the years some nice some not, some even falling apart from wear.
I'm a pretty young guy (22), but came into an absurd amount of money recently. When it came time to look at buying some knives I decided to buy something I'd be able to enjoy for a very long time (hopefully my lifetime) and to do it before I crowded my kitchen with knives I wished I hadn't purchased. Shuns aren't the nicest knives under the sun, but in the retail market, they're the best you'll find.
Having used my dad's single Shun Classic 7in Hollow Ground Santoku for some time, when it came time to invest in a nice set of edges, I thought of Shun first. Then I went out and researched all the main competitors and tested their knives, Henckels, Wusthofs, and Calphalon. I only tested the high end knives from these respective companies, so I have nothing to say on their cheap counterpart editions.
Compared to Henckels and Wusthofs which are still very fine knives I prefered the edge and construction of Shuns. Shuns are just that extra little bit sharper. When you go to slice into something with a mild skin you notice the difference. When you touch a tomato with a Shun it just slides right in, no sawing, no pressure. The same is true for things like sausage, the outer wrapping cuts before you apply any pressure. Other than that slight bit of cutting power, you probably won't notice the difference. I also tried out some Calphalons which I was actually quite impressed with. They're every bit as sharp as Shuns and quite a bit cheaper. If you're on a budget, but still looking for a great set of knives, seriously give them a look. The only reason I picked Shun over Calphalon was aesthetics. If this isn't important to you, by all means buy the Calphalons.
The first thing I tested this knife out on was some green onions, and what a world of difference between it and my bargin bin Henckel. No effort perfect slices.
This isn't the ideal knife for this purpose, but my Santoku has yet to arrive so I gave this blade a go at mincing garlic. With something as sticky as garlic, the blades steel didn't help at all with keeping things from sticking, so while the design is great, don't expect miracles. This still went very well and I appreciated that a 10" knife can still be so light weight and quick for this kind of work.
Next I used it to score a flank steak to prepare it for a marinade. I actually had to be very careful not to put any pressure on the knife and pull very gently to keep from slicing too deep. During this process I must have accidentally knicked the ziplock I was using to marinate in because it kept leaking all over the counter and I thought I just hadn't shut it, turns out I put a half inch slit in it without even realizing by accident while the knife was just sitting on the cutting board. BE CAREFUL WITH THESE KNIVES THEY ARE SCAREY SHARP!
Finally I used the knife to slice the cooked flank steak nice and thin on a bias. This is the perfect job for a knife like this. Flank steak can be quite tough, but this was done without excessive sawing. The blade made quick easy work of my steak (another first in my kitchen).
These are expensive knives, and compared to Calphalons, overpriced. The blades are beautiful and among the sharpest you can find anywhere. If you have the means I recommend them, you won't be disappointed.
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Consider a similar item
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
Frequently bought together
$169.95
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
In Stock
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
From the manufacturer
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
Shun“Shun” (shoon) is a concept at the very heart of Japanese cuisine. In Japanese, shun is the word used to describe local, seasonal food when it is at the peak of its flavor and freshness—at the peak of its perfection. Shun Cutlery is known for its exquisite beauty and ultra-premium performance. Yet as beautiful as Shun is on the outside, and as beautifully as it performs in your kitchen, its true beauty may be in what you don’t see. |
Handcrafted in JapanShun is dedicated to maintaining this ancient tradition by continuing to handcraft each knife in our Seki City facilities. Each piece of this fine kitchen cutlery takes at least 100 individual steps to complete. While we maintain these ancient traditions of handcrafted quality, we also take advantage of thoroughly modern, premium materials and state-of-the-art technology to provide that traditional quality to millions of professional chefs and avid home cooks throughout the world. |
Knife Steel is EssentialHeat treatment—an invisible, yet vital, process. This exacting process is fundamentally important to ensuring that your Shun provides lasting value. In heat treatment, the metal is heated and cooled to change its microstructure, bringing out its very best properties. With precise heat treatment, blade steel becomes finer grained, making it stronger and harder so blades can be thinner, sharper, and give you a longer-lasting edge. Shun’s experts are, quite simply, masters of the heat treatment process. |
Quality and PerformanceShun is the exact moment when a fruit has reached its ideal ripeness, when a vegetable is at its very best, or when meat is at its most flavorful. Home cooks and professional chefs alike celebrate shun in their kitchens, eagerly awaiting each season’s bounty and serving every ingredient in its proper time. Shun Cutlery proudly takes its name from this Japanese culinary tradition of eating the freshest food at the perfect moment. We took this name to honor this seasonal, mindful way of eating and as a mark of our dedication to making kitchen cutlery that is always at the peak of its perfection, too. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sora | Kanso | Classic | Premier | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Customer Reviews |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| Price | — | — | — | — |
| VG-Max Cutting Core | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| VG10 Cutting Core | ✓ | |||
| Solid AUS10A | ✓ | |||
| Composite Blade | ✓ | |||
| Double Bevel (16 Degree each side) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Handle | Textured PP/TPE | Tagayasan | PakkaWood | PakkaWood |
| Handle Grip | Symmetrical | Symmetrical | Asymmetrical | Symmetrical |
| Tsuchime (“hammered”) Finish | ✓ |
Shun Classic
Shun Classics are the original Shuns, the first Japanese-style knives to be made available to a wider audience in North America. Instead of heavy ponderous blades, Shun Classic blades are lighter with razor-sharp edges and crafted from advanced steel. Rather than weighty, Western handles, Shun Classic offers the graceful control of a traditional Japanese handle.
With Shun Classic, you'll discover a wide selection of traditional blade shapes as well as unique shapes - so you can always find the right handcrafted knife for every kitchen task.
Classic Handle
Flawless Cutting Ability
Layered Steel
Free Sharpening
Videos
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
Videos for this product
1:52
Click to play video
This is My GO TO Daily Knife! It is Spoiling
Cameron Alder Jade
Videos for this product
1:08
Click to play video
What you need to know about this Shun Knife
🟠🟢 LGJ Reviews 🟢🟠
Videos for this product
3:13
Click to play video
Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife Review (After 3+ Years)
Prudent Reviews
Compare with similar items
This Item  Shun Cutlery Classic Chef's Knife 8”, Thin, Light Kitchen Knife, Ideal for All-Around Food Preparation, Authentic, Handcrafted Japanese Knife, Professional Chef Knife,Black |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $169.95 | $199.95 | $148.99 | $170.00 | $199.95 | $339.95 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 15 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Giftable | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| Easy to hold | ||||||
| Ergonomic | ||||||
| Maneuverability | ||||||
| Sold By | Amazon.com | Cutlery and More | E-BOSS | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| number of pieces | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| blade edge | Plain | Plain | Plain | Plain | Plain | Chef's Knife |
| blade material | Alloy Steel | Alloy Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| blade length | 8 inches | 8 inches | 7 inches | 8 inches | 8 inches | 8 inches |
| blade color | Silver | Silver | Silver | Silver | Silver | Silver |
| handle material | Ebony color PakkaWood® | Pakkawood | Walnut color PakkaWood® | Stainless Steel | Walnut color PakkaWood® | Wood |
Reviews with images
Very Nice Knife
I am a fan of Shun knife. The knife is extremely sharp. I am happy that I could purchase the 10” for the same price as 8”. I thought 10” was a bit long but it’s perfect for slicing. In the picture below is the difference between 8” and 10”
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2007
Top reviews from other countries
Matheus
Linda faca
Reviewed in Brazil on December 18, 2023Size: 8 InchColor: BlondeVerified Purchase
Matheus
Reviewed in Brazil on December 18, 2023
Images in this review
Jose de Jesus Perez Avila
Hecho en Japon, realmente Filoso
Reviewed in Mexico on September 8, 2021Size: 8 InchColor: BlackVerified Purchase
