Shun knives have quickly become one of the top brands among high-quality cooking knives during the last five years. During this amazing improvement many have switched from such industry household makers as Wusthof and Henckels for Shun.

Every bit of consideration they're acquiring has been warranted. Although it was Global that started vending high-performance Japanese knives to Western restaurant employees, Shun presented them to the public at large. Some industry front-runners doubted that there could be sufficient call for the high-end knives, nevertheless Shun confirmed them wrong. Shun's knives were costlier and needed additional care than rivals' knives, however the enthusiast chef fell in love with their high performance. Our article titled "The Rise and Fall of the Great Knife-Makers" has additional information on the history of this conversion.

Kershaw and Shun

Kai Cutlery, a Japanese blade-making company, is the manufacturer of Shun knives. In 1978, Kershaw Knives was purchased by Kai. Kai created Kai USA to ensure that Kai's knives could be made and sold in America. Kai then accurately predicted and benefited from the demand for high-quality cooking knives. Kai were extremely well positioned to bring together traditional Japanese knife-making techniques with modern advertising and distribution.

The Shun Knife was first unveiled in 2003. Retailers like Williams-Sonoma and Crate and Barrel have since then chosen it as one of their recommended knife brands.

Shun Classic Knives

Shun Classic knives are the hottest sellers of the Shun lineup. They are primarily designed for the hobbyist home chef.

They are made with Japanese VG-10 steel, which, compared with European steel, is harder and sharper. Many cooks believe that the steel's sharpness and low weight, when mixed with the traditional handle from the West, creates an excellent product.

It's important to handle these knives with caution as they will turn discolored and lose their sharpness if left in a sink filled with water or cleaned inside the dishwasher.

The handles is created from pakka wood, a resin-injected hardwood, and given a teardrop shape to allows them to fit comfortably in almost any hand.

The cost is a big turn-off for some folks. While it may be true that Shun's 8-inch chef's blade, beginning at about $100, isn't exactly a bargain basement kind of purchase, you receive incredible value for your payment. Kai knows that you receive what you pay for, and a well constructed knife that outperforms other brands consistently will be more expensive.

Shun Elite Knives

The Shun Elite series is Kai's second most popular kitchen line. At first look, the set could seem similar to the Classic knives. But there are some critical differences . The most significant is the steel. Elite knives are made of SG-2, a super "powdered" alloy.

Powdered steels are formed by a unique method that allows even distribution of ingredients throughout the material. This creates a steel that can be created very tough and, therefore, sharp.

These utensils have handles crafted of pakka wood, much like the Classic line. It is important to treat the blades with the same preventative maintenance as the Classics.

Shun Ken Onion Knives

Ken Onion is known as one of the most famous blade creators in existence. His "Speed Safe" device was a radical new way to mechanically unfold knives. He has also designed numerous groundbreaking knives for Kershaw - most significantly, the Leek, Chive, and Blackout.

Although Ken Onion had never designed a cooking blade previously, he enlisted for the undertaking. Ken alleges that his fresh thoughts about kitchen knife design actually come from this novelty, because it made him wonder about some of the ideas leading to usual kitchen knife design.

The resulting Shun Ken Onion line sports a damascus-patterned VG-10 blade

Not everyone is crazy about the unusual form of the knives. Some users say that the ergonomic grip fails to conform to their hand size. However, celebrity chefs and knowledgeable cooks frequently rave about them, and the instruments have become very popular to the general populace also.

Shun Steel, Pro 2 and Others

There are many lesser-known series in the Shun lineup. Stainless steel handles are exclusive to the Shun Steel line, whereas a single-bevel style is showcased on the Shun Pro knives. That single-bevel style enables a narrower side and sharper blade. The Shun Pro II possesses Shun's sharpest knife and a molded grip.

Kai also offers budget products, distributed with the Kershaw Wasabi brand.

More Info

Shun's website is chock full of excellent snippets on their cutlery, techniques and designs. The Wikipedia also has brief but excellent information.