The Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife is a great example of the high-end ultra-sharp Japanese knives that are now all the rage.
It is made from premium VG-10 steel — a high-carbon, molybdenum and vanadium blend which is known for its extreme sharpness. The blade is hardened to a Rockwell hardness of 61, making it one of the hardest and sharpest kitchen knives available on the market.
The blade is encased in 16 layers of SUS410 that protects the cutting edge and provides stain-resistance. Despite this, it should be cared for properly and hand-cleaned promptly after use.
Shun Classic knives are works of art, having intricate patterns like Damascus knives. You’ll want to display these knives on a magnetic knife strip so that others can see them.
The handle is a D-shape, rather than round, for better stability while cutting and the handle is also smaller, like many Asian knives, making it an especially good choice for those with smaller hands.
The knife handle is crafted from Pakkawood veneers that are fused together with resin giving it the durability of plastic and yet still look like the real wood that it is. It has a stainless steel bolster that is offset, making it safer to use while still being comfortable to grasp.
The Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife comes with a limited lifetime warranty. It is dishwasher-safe, though that is not recommended for this kind of steel.
Twenty-five buyers have written about this item on Amazon.com and have assigned it a mean rating of 5.0 stars.That’s a mighty fine recommendation in and of itself.
Check out our review of the Shun Classic 7-piece Set as well.
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March 31st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
[...] Chef’s Knife is a must, whether a professional chef or a home cook. This one compares to the Shun Classic Chef’s Knife reviewed here [...]
April 4th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Hi Greg- thanks for your comment and for bringing me to your great site. I just tested this Shun out in a knife class and really loved it. The only catch was that the handle seemed a bit small - though during the class I was also told that my grip was wrong so I think that may have contributed to the akwardness. My boyfriend LOVED it but I know that it’s a little on the pricey side (though totally worth it I think). Any suggestions for under $50 that might hold us over in the meantime while we save up?
April 5th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Amy, thanks for stopping by — glad you like the site. There’s a Henckel’s here that a lot of people like and is a bit less expensive than this one. Or there’s a Santoku-style knife from Chicago Cutlery that’s very inexpensive and a great value. And finally, there’s also a Forschner Chef’s knife that’s also inexpensive that people really like. Let me know how you make out.
– Greg
April 10th, 2008 at 11:53 am
[...] a bit smaller than the Shun Chef’s Knife we reviewed a while back. This also has the Santoku [...]
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:50 am
[...] If you’re in the market for this kind of knife in this price range, you should also check out the Henckel’s Chef’s Knife as well as the Chef’s knife from Shun. [...]
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:06 pm
[...] If you’re looking for the sharpest knife in the block that is guaranteed not to chip or shatter, look at a premium-steel Japanese knife like a Shun Classic. [...]
July 1st, 2008 at 2:18 pm
[...] though, make no mistake. If you think you might want to try out the real deal, check out the Shun Classic Chef’s Knife. That knife will be a little bit thinner, lighter and [...]
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:47 pm
[...] Chef’s knife from any of our recommended sets and you’ll never look back. Either the Shun Classic or the MAC Professional would make a great start to a new Japanese-themed [...]
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:56 am
Howdy,
I agree that the Shun Classic series is a fine choice for many users if properly honed & maintained.
BUT ……
Their Classic line utilizes a “D” shaped handle that, while comfortable for many right handed users, is downright UN-comfortable for lefties. Shun is apparently aware of this as they also now make a mirror-image “D” handled line that is equally unsuited for most righties. In my experience, most retailers are totally unaware of this option and I have found none that carry the left-handed version in stock.
Hmmmmmm …… I wonder why!!!
Just thought this aspect should be brought up for consideration.