Not many groups of people know about knives better than the Japanese people. Perhaps, that explains why their knives are really popular among culinary masters around the world. The Shun brand, especially, is one of the most talked-about knife brands in the business and it’s easy to see why.
Their knives perfectly combine style, quality, and longevity, which are three attributes rarely found together in knives nowadays. Here, we have reviewed the best Shun knives currently available, so you’d have an idea of which one to choose. Not only that but we have also included a detailed buying guide, so you’d be equipped with all the knowledge you need to purchase the right fit for your needs.
Quick Shun Knives Comparison
Rank | Shun Knives | Made from Material |
---|---|---|
1 | The Classic 8″ | VG-MAX steel |
2 | The Classic Blonde 8″ | VG-MAX steel |
3 | The Cutlery Premier 8 ” | VG-MAX steel + 34 layers of Damascus cladding |
4 | The DM-0702 7-Inch | Stainless steel 16 layers |
5 | The VB0706 Sora 8 | VG10 Steel |
Different Series of Shun Knives
Classic – The Classic is one of the most popular series from the company, featuring a stunning Damascus pattern blade that is produced from sturdy, high-carbon stainless steel. Even more amazingly, the blade has an ergonomic handle.
Classic Blonde – Wooden handles can be really elegant and this classic blonde series perfectly highlights that. With its combination of an exquisitely crafted handle with a beautiful, durable blade, it gives you one of the most effective knives around.
Cutlery Premier – This handmade series is crafted for excellence. Featuring the innovative VG-MAX cutting ore technology, the knives are very lightweight, making it really easy to use. Apart from being easy to use, the knives are also sturdy and non-stick, which is amazing.
Sora – With its incredible edge-retention capacity, the Sora series allows chefs to cut through almost anything. The blade is beautifully patterned and perfectly honed. And for perfect handling, it has full tang support.
Kanso – With its incredible cutting power, this sixteen-degree honed-edged series has some of the best knives you can own. It’s elegant, durable, and classy, making it a must-have for every world-class chef. It’s also worth noting that it has a well-crafted handle.
Fuji – This is a line that is also loved by many consumers
Top 5 Best Shun Knives To Buy
If you are in the market for the best shun knives, below are our top recommendations.
1. Shun Classic 8″
Our top recommendation is the Shun Classic 8″ Chef Knife, thanks to its uniqueness. As the brand name suggests, this is a traditional knife that’s made with traditional methods. This means it was produced through incredible blade-making procedures, which guarantees excellent functionality.
Interestingly, the blade of this product is produced using VG Max steel, which makes it one of the most formidable knives in the world. This, combined with its additional tungsten, makes the knife powerful enough to slice through nearly anything that is thrown at it. Besides, it’s also one of the most durable knives around, which is large because of the high degree of carbon and cobalt involved in its manufacturing.
Amazingly, the product doesn’t rust as it features a corrosion-resistant design. This means it will keep shinning for as long as possible. while it’s probably the most expensive shun knife on the market, it’s completely worth the price.
It is also worth noting that the knife features a pakkawood handle, which is a well-built hardwood that aids cleaning and handling. The handle is also durable and easy to grip, allowing you to slice properly and cut quickly. Another benefit is its eight-inch length, which gives you enough room to smash whatever you want to smash. Whether you are an aspiring chef, a seasoned chef, this model is designed to give you amazing results at all times.
Pros and Benefits
- A sharp blade.
- Ergonomically designed handle.
- Corrosion resistance.
- Highly durable.
- Hardwood handle
Cons
- Overpriced.
2. Shun Classic Blonde 8″
Coming up next is the Classic Blonde 8″ Chef’s Knife, which is one of the most suitable knives for professional and home kitchens. Whether chopping, slicing or cutting, not many knives are as versatile as this knife. It’s a multi-purpose knife that is built to perform a wide range of cutting tasks instead of specializing in only one.
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To be honest, this model comes with everything you need. It even comes with an attractive blonde Pakkawood handle. Besides, it is built to perfection, just as seen in its sister series. It also features beautiful stainless-steel layered Damascus blades. And its proprietary VG-MAX cutting core helps to offer maximum slicing and cutting performance. Not only that but it has incredible strength, unbelievable corrosion resistance, and a razor-sharp 16-degree edge.
These handmade knives are designed with a full tang, so that each one remains lightweight but perfectly balanced. Complete with a D-shaped Pakkawood handle, this product is comfortable and offers a secure, orthodox Japanese grip.
Pros and Benefits
- Beautiful design.
- Sharp blades.
- Lightweight and balanced.
- Incredible strength.
- Maximum cutting performance.
- Comfortable grip.
Cons
- Easy to have chips
3. Shun Cutlery Premier 8 Chef’s Knife
The next on our list is the Cutlery Premier 8 Chef’s Knife, which is a multi-purpose knife that’s certain to make your experience worthwhile. It’s suitable for a wide variety of cutting purposes, including chopping, dicing, and slicing, and more. In addition, the knife features a Pakkawood handle, complete with a walnut stain. Its classic appearance also makes it suitable for any kitchen décor.
Furthermore, it is dishwasher-friendly, but we don’t recommend it as the blade might become dull due to harsh chemicals and heat. Instead, we advise you to clean it with your hands to ensure it stays sharp. It also comes with a lifetime warranty which protects it against defects, so you can rest easy knowing the company will come through if you encounter a problem.
The knife is also produced using layered Damascus steel, which makes it sturdier than other models. Besides, it has a hand-hammered finish, which helps guarantee longevity and makes it more beautiful. And since it’s hand-hammered, the chef’s knife helps to prevent knife drag. Lastly, this product is non-stick, so your food won’t stick to its blade.
Pros and Benefits
- Easy to clean
- Easy to use
- Non-sticky blade
- Ergonomically designed with pakkawood handle
- Resistant to rust and stain
- Nice appearance
Cons
- May become dull after a while.
4. Shun DM-0702 7-Inch
On the fourth spot on our list is the Shun DM-0702 7-Inch Stainless-Steel Knife, which with its outstanding appearance and durable construction, is an embodiment of high quality. As you already know, Shun is a company that has built a reputation for manufacturing high-quality knives for several years, so it’s not really surprising that they have made such a knife with a spectacular design and remarkable performance.
Furthermore, the 7-inch blade is made of precision-forged high-carbon stainless steel that offers great edge retention and improved sharpness. For additional strength and a stylish appearance, the blade’s side has been steel-pressed. The blade is also designed with a full tang, which gives it a lightweight but balanced construction. Apart from that, it features a Pakkawood handle, which is both easy to grip and easy maintain.
However, while the knife is dishwasher-safe, we don’t recommend it. The knife is clad with sixteen stainless steel layers to create a rust-free Damascus appearance. The multipurpose knife can comfortably handle any cutting tasks from mincing to dicing, slicing, and chopping. The knife also has a large blade, giving it all the versatility in the world.
Pros and Benefits
- Durable construction
- Multi-purpose and highly versatile
- Wide blade
- Easy to grip
- Great edge retention
- Lightweight but balanced
Cons
- Not suitable for strong bones
5. Shun VB0706 Sora 8″
Manufactured using an innovative blade-making system, this product is one of the most remarkable knives in the world. For its production, the makers combined 420J Japanese stainless-steel blade and a VG10 san mai cutting-edge, helping to birth a high-quality knife with a durable and long-lasting blade. The mai edge of the knife also makes it stain-resistant, which aids easy maintenance.
Furthermore, the knife has a sharp blade and cutting edge, which allows it to cut through a wide range of things with utmost ease. The knife’s handle is also produced using a textured PTE polymer material, which gives it a comfortable grip and an outstanding appearance. Another thing worthy of note is the easy maintenance of this product, which is a result of its moisture resistance.
If the handle is cleaned regularly, it neither swells nor shrinks. The outstanding look of the knife’s handle is complimented further by a stainless-steel logo. It’s also worth noting that the knife is very durable, thanks to its mix of two steel materials.
Pros and Benefits
- Strong and long-lasting blade
- Two steel materials
- Moisture-resistant
- Extreme cutting precision
- Stain-resistance
- Easy to maintain
Cons
- Not dishwasher-friendly.
What is the best Shun knife set?
If you’d rather by a set rather than a single knife, then we recommend the Shun Classic 6-Piece Knife Block Set. Read our review below to see if it’s a worthwhile investment.
Shun Classic 6-Piece Knife Block Set
The Set is a great set that comes with a wide variety of knives. It includes a paring knife, multi-purpose kitchen shears, santoku knife, combination honing steel, a dark wood knife block, and a chef’s knife. The Damascus-clad blades are rated 60-61 when it comes to hardness, which is impressive.
Furthermore, the Japanese double-bevel blades are hand-sharped, which on its own is amazing. But they also have an angle of 16 degrees, which is perfect for accurate cutting. Each cutlery also has a D-shaped Pakkawood handle, which makes it durable, strong, and moisture-resistant.
It’s also worth adding that the classic handle was built to fit into the user’s palm, giving you more control be reducing the gap between your hand and the handle. This is excellent for left-handed individuals as well.
In general, we give out words that this is an exceptional knife set. Its blades are durable and sharp, plus dicing and slicing are easy as pie, thanks to the blade’s extreme sharpness. If you are an aspiring chef looking to upgrade your kitchen, you can trust this recommendation from us as it’s the best shun knife set.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you need a sharp, ergonomic, and well-crafted blade, Shun is one of the few brands you can trust. Their knives are of the highest quality, which explains why most culinary masters rely on them.
Both collections are excellent choices, so the right one for you will depend on your personal preference. In our opinion, none of them is better than the other.
Of course, these knives are made with genuine Damascus steel. This is one of the reasons their knives are often expensive.
Shun is a Japanese brand, so all their knives are produced in Japan, using age-old knife-making techniques. They are made in one of the country’s traditional sword-making centers in Seki.
We recommend you to sharpen your Shun knife before every use, using honing steel. Apart from that, we recommend that you maintain your knife with a grindstone every month to keep it in peak conditions.
The Shun Classic Eight-Inch Chef Knife is the best option for cutting meat, thanks to its super-durable VG-MAX steel.
While most Shun knives are dishwasher-safe, we often discourage owners from washing them in a dishwasher as it usually facilitates corrosion.
So, what is the best shun knife?
Shun is probably the most reliable knife brand in the world, thanks to their long history of manufacturing high-quality knives. However, while we have reviewed some of the most incredible knives ever made by the company in this article, the Shun Classic 8 Chef Knife is best shun chef knife and our top recommendation.
That said, all the options we have reviewed in this shun knives review are excellent, so even if you prefer a different model from this list, we guarantee you will have a remarkable experience.
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