Shun Classic 10" Chef's Knife, Handcrafted Japanese Kitchen Knife for Professional and Home Chefs, VG-MAX Core with Damascus Stainless Steel Cladding, Pakkawood Handle

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.

Great knife. Very sharp. Plenty large. A desirable chef's knife. Unfortunately, there are no chefs here, just us hungry ogres. Not a toy.

As of this review, you can find this knife for around $160 USD and I consider this an absolute bargain (compared to the $300+ you can spend on similar knives). I love the D-shaped, Pakkawood handle where it feels comfortable in either hand, so this knife will work well for righties and lefties. It weighs in at 240.4 grams (.53 lbs) and feel "just right" in my hand, not too heavy, not too light. The handle is scalloped near the tang, and feels good in your hand when you use the "chef's pinch grip" technique at the base of the blade. Note that I have slightly larger than average hands, but the blade's vertical height is such that your knuckles won't hit the cutting surface when chopping (whether doing a "rocking" cut or "push" cut).Out of the box, this knife is literally razer sharp and comes with a factory default 16 degree angle. I've cut a wide variety of vegetables and meats with this knife, and it's a joy to use.10/10 would recommend highly!Edit: Here we are a year later, and I stand by every word of my review above. This knife rocks!

I just purchased a set of Wusthof Classics, a set of Zwilling J.A. Henckles 4 star II and this 10 inch Shun. They are all brand new. I wanted to compare them all side by side and yes I know how crazy that was. The Shun is the best and of course it also cost the most.Appearance: (Shun - Big advantage)The Shun looks like a work of art, it has a WOW factor that the other knifes lack. The other knifes look good but they look more like nice tools than art.Cutting Abilities: (Shun - Small advantage)As far as sharpness the Shun is sharper and cuts a little better when compared to the other knifes. The difference, however, is really very small and without a side by side comparison most people, including myself would not notice the difference.The Grip: (Depends on your preference but for me Shun - big advantage)I love the grip on the Shun it feels more like holding a golf club than a knife and that makes it fun for me. The grips on the other knifes are good as well and to be honest probably much more practical for cooks who spend long periods of time cutting.Value: (Wusthof - small advantage over Henckles - large advantage over Shun)The Wusthof and the Henckles cut almost as well as the Shun for about half the price. For someone looking to get the most utility for their money I recommend the Wusthof with the Henckles a very close second.Conclusion:This Shun is a great knife, it is the knife I want to use the most. It is very different from what I have used in the past. I just find it a blast to use. If all you are interested in is having a good quality sharp knife the Wusthof is a better value for your money. But if you want a good quality sharp knife with the WOW factor that is fun to use... go for the Shun.