Shun Premier Honing Steel - 9″

Overview

Not to be confused with the sharpening steel, the Shun Premier Honing Steel 9" gently realigns the knife edge back to its original state, since after consistent use the edge becomes unaligned and folds to one side. No matter the habits you practice in your kitchen, the knife will need honed periodically, so it's a matter of how often you use it that will determine when you should hone. Typically, this is once a week for Shun knives thanks to their harder steel, and not every day like some European knives need. It can be pretty daunting using both kinds of steels since you almost need to be an expert to use it correctly. This honing steel is different though, with a built-in-angle so you can know for certain you are using the correct Shun 16° angle. This kitchen knife honing steel is handcrafted in Japan. Lifetime Warranty. Shun item number TDM0790.

Shun Technology Highlights

• VG-10 stainless steel: Adds cobalt for strength and hardness, vanadium for superior edge retention. The higher density allows the steel to be tempered to a higher Rockwell (60-62). Requires minimal care to avoid corrosion. Razor-sharp blade and phenomenal edge retention.
• 16° Angle: Blade is sharpened to 16°. Ensures food is cut properly and precisely; no torn or bruised food so ingredients retain the same flavor and freshness.
• PakkaWood Handles: Resin-impregnated natural hardwood; waterproof, durable, comfortable; won't harbor bacteria.
• Awards: Blade Magazine's Blade Show Kitchen Knife of the Year winner (2003 - Classic 8" Santoku, 2005 - Ken Onion 8" Chef's, 2006 - Elite 10" Chef's, 2007 - Kaji, 2008 - Shun Classic Line, 2010 Premier Line, 2011 - Fuji Line). Shun has won many more industry awards for beauty, performance, and innovation.
• Complimentary lifetime sharpening service (you ship, they sharpen)
• Designers: Ken Onion, Alton Brown
• NSF Certified
• Lifetime warranty

Shun Premier Series Features

In case you didn't know that Shun uses handcrafted techniques in homage of their ancestors, the remarkable Premier Series screams it. Every one of these double-beveled knives has a powerful VG-10 core and is then clad with 16 layers on each side of softer steel (SUS410/SUS431) which is folded, welded, ground, and then polished. This form of Kasumi style knife making, similar to pattern Damascus, is also featured in the Classic and Ken Onion Series. What really brings out the handcrafted nature of this line is the hand-hammered tsuchime finish which actually serves a purpose, other than looking awesome. They act as little hollow-ground cavities, creating tiny air pockets that prevent food from sticking and allows for proper and precise cuts. You'll also notice a wavy line near the edge called a harmon where the core and clad meet, similar to post-tempered samurai swords. Yeah, that's right. Samurai Swords.

About Shun

Shun in Japanese actually translates to "at the peak of perfection," and no words could better describe this outstanding company. Renowned for their traditional knife making style and aesthetic design, the highly skilled artisans at the Kai Corporation (the parent company of "Shoon") have been making blades of the highest quality in homage of the legendary sword smiths of Seki, Japan for over 100 years. Each and every knife is handmade, from beginning to end, requiring at least 100 meticulous steps along the way. It is out of this respect and admiration towards their ancestors, coupled with advanced technology and materials, that Shun produces basically pieces of art that also happen to be razor-sharp knives.