Shun Premier Santoku Knife
Overview
The Asian version of the Chef's knife, Santoku knives are just as versatile and useful in the kitchen. Meaning "three virtues" in Japanese, some say Santokus are known for the three tasks at which they excel: slicing, dicing, and mincing. Others say it's a reference to its ability to slice vegetables, meat, and fish. It doesn't matter because all the above are true, and you can even toss fruit into the mix and the ability to chop. The Shun Premier Santoku Knife's belly is slightly curved for push cutting and easy mincing of herbs and garlic. Santokus typically have hollow-grounds or indentations lining the blade, but this tool, and all knives in the Shun Premier Series, has the beautiful hand-hammered tsuchime finish, which still reduces drag and prevents food from sticking. The 16° cutting angle melts through any and all competition with ease and perfection. Handcrafted in Japan. Lifetime Warranty.
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.