Shun is a Japanese word that means at the peak of perfection, which is the exact description of this outstanding company. With highly skilled artisans famed for their aesthetic designs and traditional style of production, Shun has been producing the highest quality of blades for more than 100 years in honor of the exalted sword smiths of Seki, Japan. At Shun, every knife produced is painstakingly handmade, a process that involves not less than 100 handcrafted steps to complete. Thanks to advanced technology and materials, the artisans at Shun have upheld the same level of the respect and admiration as their ancestors by exquisitely crafting razor-sharp blades. I have tested and reviewed my 3 favorite sets. Keep reading….

The 3 Best Shun Knife Sets

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Why Choosing Shun Knife Sets

Shun knives offer the widest assortment of European and Japanese blade shapes as well as modern designs. These knives feature:

• VG-10 stainless steel with vanadium for superior edge retention and cobalt for strength and hardness. Thanks to the high density, the steel can be tempered to a significantly higher Rockwell hardness. As a result, minimal care is required to prevent corrosion and maintain razor-sharp edges.
• Resin-impregnated natural hardwood handles that are comfortable, waterproof, durable, and won’t harbor bacteria.
• The blades are sharpened to 16°, which ensures proper and precise cutting. Because this minimizes the likelihood of torn or bruised foods, you won’t compromise the flavor and freshness of your ingredients.
• Complimentary lifetime sharpening services.
• NSF certified.
• Lifetime or limited lifetime warranty.

Shun Classic 10-piece Knife Block Set Review

The Shun Classic 10-piece Knife Block Set covers more than the basic requirements of everyday cooking. This block set is the perfect choice for those who know their way around a kitchen. Regardless of whether you cook professionally or you are an avid home cook, you probably want a knife set that matches all your expert cooking needs.

None of the knives that make up this set was included by accident. Instead, each piece was purposefully designed to perform specific functions in the kitchen. As a result, this knife block set offers an unmatched level of versatility, which means you are likely to find a knife that is suitable for all your cooking needs irrespective of the tasks involved.

A wavy pattern runs along the blade of every knife included. Aside from enhancing the aesthetic value of these knives, this attractive pattern allows the blades to slide through food quickly. By creating small air pockets, the hollow-ground indentations help to reduce drag when cutting. All of the blades feature a VG-10 stainless steel core with 16 layers of softer steel on both sides for protection and support.

In addition to being moisture resistant and durable, the D-shaped ebony-finished PakkaWood handles provide a firm grip for enhanced stability when cutting.

The Shun Classic 10-piece Knife Block Set includes:

• Three and a half-inch paring knife,
• Four and a half-inch Honesuki knife
• Five-inch hollow edge knife
• Six-inch ultimate utility knife
• Six-inch serrated utility knife
• Seven-inch Santoku knife
• Eight-inch chef’s knife
• Nine-inch combination honing steel
• Nine-inch hollow edge carving knife

This set includes specialty blades such as the santoku and bread knives that complement regular kitchen blades like the utility and chef’s knives. In place of the standard 8-inch chef’s knife model, this set includes the hollow-ground chef’s knife. For added cutting versatility, this set also includes the 6-inch serrated utility knife and the unique 6-inch ultimate utility knife. The ultimate utility knife features a wide blade, a rounded tip for spreading, and a low-frequency serrated edge for foods that have soft interiors and tough exteriors like crusty bread and tomatoes. The hollow edge carving knife makes working with meats, fish, and poultry that much easier.

Also included are the Shun multi-purpose kitchen shears, the Shun Honing Steel to help you keep the blades sharp, and a 13-slot bamboo knife block. In addition to holding the ten knives perfectly, the 13-slot bamboo knife block makes a great focal point and adds beauty to your kitchen.

Pros

• Lifetime warranty
• Made of extremely hard steel
• Strong, durable and moisture resistant handles
• Includes a knife for all your cooking needs
• Features razor-sharp blades that slide through food easily

Cons

• Not cheap

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Shun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set

You should try the Shun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set if you are looking for an appropriately sized assortment of starter knives. Each piece was handcrafted in Seki, Japan and together they will perform the essential cutting tasks of everyday cooking.

Each of the blades in the Shun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set features a VG-MAX cutting core with 34 layers of stainless Damascus cladding on either side for additional protection and support. Aside from having a Rockwell hardness of 60-61, the Japanese double-bevel blades featured have been hand-sharpened at an angle of 16 degrees.

At a glance, you will notice that every blade included in the Shun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set features a beautiful waved pattern. The eye-catching design resembles a combination of ripples in water and tree-rings. Highly skilled artisans have to fold, weld, grind and polish the steel painstakingly to form this pattern variation.

However, this kind of knife design is not just for visual appeal. As a matter of fact, it allows the blades to slide through food much easier. The hollow-ground indentations that run the length of each blade create small air pockets that minimize drag when cutting by ensuring food releases quickly. The result is precision cuts and enhanced dexterity.

Each knife has a D-shaped ebony-finished PakkaWood handle that has been crafted to fit the hand perfectly. The stability afforded by this handle helps to keep the blade from turning. The handles are strong, durable and designed to resist moisture.

The Shun Classic 6-piece Slim Knife Block Set includes:

• Three and a half-inch paring knife
• Seven-inch Santoku knife
• Eight-inch chef’s knife
• Nine-inch combination honing steel

Also included are the Shun multi-purpose kitchen shears and 8-slot dark wood slim design knife block.

Pros

• The full tang provides balance and strength
• Limited lifetime warranty
• Razor-sharp, durable, and corrosion resistant knives
• Offers incredible edge retention thanks to Shun’s proprietary high-performance VG-MAX steel

Cons

• The knife block might not look appealing to some

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Shun TDMS0300 Premier Knife Starter Set Review

By bundling together three must-have cutlery pieces at an excellent price, the Shun TDMS0300 Premier Knife Starter 3-Piece Set offers essential knives for your everyday cooking needs. As the name suggests, this premier set is a perfect choice if you have just found the culinary torch in you or you desperately need to give your current knife situation a new and improved appearance and structure.

The blades are thin, lightweight, and hand-crafted in the same manner as the hand-forged knives of ancient Japan. Each blade features a powerful VG-10 core layered with 16 micro-thin layers of stainless steel on both sides. Apart from its aesthetic value, the beautiful hand-hammered tsuchime finish serves an actual purpose. It makes proper and precise cuts possible by helping to minimize drag when cutting. The small hollow-ground cavities form tiny air pockets that keep food from sticking to the blades.

Each blade features a wavy line where the clad and core meet. This line is known as a harmon and runs along the cutting edge. The same technique was used in post-tempered samurai swords.

Each of the PakkaWood handles features a two-position design that provides comfortable and secure grips. These walnut-colored handles will nestle into the curves of your palm comfortably, providing the ideal point of balance for a pinch grip and the perfect trigger grip for pull cuts.

The stainless steel end caps on the handles add strength, stability, and ensure proper weight distribution. For authenticity, each end cap bears an embossed Shun logo.

The Premier Knife Starter 3-Piece Set includes:

• 6.5-inch utility knife
• 4-inch paring knife
• 8-inch chef’s knife

The 6.5-inch utility knife is designed for the in-between tasks that the other two aren’t sized to do. This blade is the most suitable choice for precise cutting tasks and whatever goes into a sandwich.

Aside from trimming, peeling, and coring, the 4-inch paring knife is also ideally suited for delicate and decorative tasks.

The 8-inch chef’s knife performs almost every cutting task. It is excellent for chopping, dicing, fencing, slicing, and mincing.

Pros

• Made of extremely hard steel
• Provides perfectly comfortable and secure grips
• Foods don’t stick to the blades when cutting
• Includes the knives required for everyday cooking
• Usable edge that allows for dexterity and precision when cutting
• Lifetime warranty

Cons

• Relatively pricey

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Conclusion

With advanced handle designs, VG-10 stainless steel edges, and indentations that reduce drag hen cutting, these Shun knives are excellent. The blades and holding block featured in each set are all exceptional. Considering the different price ranges, there is something for every budget. Also, Shun produces hand-crafted knives of the highest quality.