If the kitchen is a battlefield and your warrior is the chef, you need a reliable and trusty weapon to win the battle. A knife is one of the essential tools that a chef carries with him inside a kitchen.
Out of all the knives out in the market, one brand seems to be standing out and is dominating the world of knives. This article will discuss more about the Shun Knives. You will also read through the Shun Knives review to provide the information you need regarding these sought-after sets of knives.
Shun Knives
This now-famous cutlery line is developed by the Kai Group, which hailed from Seki City, Japan. The Kai Group was founded by Saijiro Endo which dated back to 1908, and have been in the business of creating various cutlery. Throughout the 20th century, they have developed folding knives, kitchen knives, and razors.
It was in 2002 when the Kai Group first introduced the Shun Knives to the Western market. At present, the Shun Knives are distributed and sold to more than 30 countries worldwide. Since its rise in popularity, the Shun brand has been recognized at the Atlanta Blade Show, which is held annually.
Shun Knives Technology
Over the years, the Shun Knives have gradually gained popularity because of its premier quality.
One of the key features of a knife is its blade. A knife needs to be sharp and of excellent quality to showcase outstanding performance in the kitchen. The Shun Knives are known to have different types of blade technologies that go into them.
First is the San Mai blade technology, which is a sword-making technique based on ancient samurai. The process calls for sandwiching hard steel between two stainless steel blade sections. As a result, this process produces a stain-resistant and high-performing blade.
Other Shun Knives feature the Damascus clad blades. This process involves layering and forging various metal alloys into one piece. As a result, this reveals exquisitely beautiful layers referred to as Damascus patterns.
Shun Knife Line
The Shun Cutlery of the Kai Group is known as the largest producer of Japanese-style knives worldwide. Each of their lines differs in price point, quality, and target market. Here is the list of knives they develop.
Shun Sora
Considered the most affordable among the Shun Knife line, the Sora features a cutting edge made from 3-layer VG10 steel. The upper section of its blade is a Japanese 420J polished stainless steel.
The composite blade technology is used on the edge of the blade where retention of the sharpness matters. To keep the Sora on the affordable side, it carries a textured PP/TPE plastic handle. This features a fantastic grip, and it requires little maintenance.
Shun Kanso
The Kanso, on the other hand, features a unique but simple look. Its design focuses on a sharp blade edge and good balance. It uses AUS-10A Japanese blade steel and is scratch-resistant because of the Heritage finish.
Additionally, it features a full-tang design that increases the strength of the knife. This also provides a solid base for its handle, which is made of tagayasan wood. This type of wood is very durable and dense, making it an excellent material for a knife handle.
Shun Classic
The Shun Classic line is one of the most known among the Shun Knife lines. It is also one of the most affordable. This line features a cutting core made from the VG-MAX Super Steel, which gives a more durable and sharper edge.
The handle of the Shun Classic is made from ebony Pakkawood that features an asymmetrical D-shape design. This provides an ergonomic and comfortable grip, especially for right-handed users.
Shun Classic Blonde
Another consumer favorite is the Shun Classic Blonde. This line showcases a similar performance to the Shun Classic line. Another feature they have in common is a cutting core that is made of VG-MAX Super Steel.
The handle also has the same D-shape design and is made of Pakkawood. However, the Shun Classic Blonde knife sports a different handle finish. For a modern look, it carries a light blonde finish.
Shun Premier
One of the most famous lines is the Shun Premier. This does not come as a surprise since this line is made by hand by traditional Japanese Artisans. It has a VG-MAX steel core which is clad with 34 layers of Damascus steel hammered on each side.
The hammering process produces dimples that are not seen on any other kitchen knives. This eliminates friction and prevents food from sticking to it. The handle is made of walnut-colored Pakkawood with a symmetrical shape, perfect for both right and left-handed users.
Shun Dual Core
The Shun Dual Core is one of the most unique among the Shun Knives. The Dual Core features a blade made of two layers of high-carbon steels, which are the VG10 and VG2. This technology has not been done before and was deemed impossible.
As a result, combining two different high-carbon steel produces micro-serration on the blade. These micro-serrations turned out to be a benefit as it keeps the blade performance longer lasting.
Carrying the true sense of a Japanese knife, the Shun Dual Core features a rabbet tang for balance like that of a samurai sword. It also features a traditional Japanese handle made of ebony Pakkawood with an octagon-shaped design, plus a sheath or saya.
Shun Blue Steel
An exclusive and often hard-to-find knife is the Shun Blue Steel. Unlike other Shun knives, it is made of clad blue steel, a high-end blade type. It also sports an ebony Pakkawood handle with an octagon-shaped design and a sheath or saya.
Shun Hiro
Another premium knife is the Shun Hiro which features the very high-end SG2 Japanese Super Steel for its blade. It also has a hammered Damascus pattern and has a higher price point because of its high-end features. Its handle is made of dark charcoal Pakkawood with crimson highlights.