Shun Knives Australia - What Makes Them So Sharp, Light & Comfortable

Shun Knives Australia

Shun knives Australia is the Australian branch of Kai Corporation, a Japanese company that makes and sells different types of cutlery and other cutting items all over the world.

Made in Seki City, Japan, Kai Shun knives are especially hand-crafted using ancient Japanese sword-making techniques combined with the most modern technology and using the best materials.

Shun knives have the typical thin, light, and sharp Japanese-style blades uniquely designed for your comfort as you prepare your food. The Shun Classic Chef Knife is one of the most popular Shun knives in the market. If there's a knife that ticks all the boxes, it's this one. Here is everything you need to know about these knives.

The Chef Knife

This is probably the most important knife in the kitchen. If you're only going to have one knife in the kitchen, let it be the chef knife. It is multi-purpose and can be used to mince, chop and slice vegetables, slice meat, and disjoint large cuts of meat. Chef knives usually measure between 8 and 12 inches.

The Shun Classic Series

Shun Classic series of knives blend traditional Japanese knife-forging techniques with modern technology to produce a uniquely designed brand that has become world-famous for its high quality. Here are some features of Shun Classic knives.

The Blade

The Shun Classic chef knives feature blades made using proprietary VG-MAX steel, with a hardness of 61 Rockwell. The hardness allows for a thin, sharp, and light blade with long-lasting edge retention.

An edge that lasts long doesn't need frequent sharpening. The thin and light blade is also less tiring than the typical European chef knives, which are relatively heavier. Different types of alloys are layered together to form a single piece. The blade is then acid-etched or bead-blasted to reveal a beautiful Damascus pattern.

Knives can either be single- or double beveled. What does this mean? The knife bevel is the surface that is ground to form the knife edge. If you look closely at a knife, you'll see a slight angle running down to the edge on one or both sides of the knives. That's the bevel. If there's an angle on both sides of the blade, it's a double bevel.

Traditional Japanese knives are mostly single-beveled, with one side of the blade being completely straight. These are mostly found in professional kitchens. At home, most of the knives are double beveled.

The Shun Kai Classic Chef Knife 20cm, for example, has double-beveled blades. Double beveled blades can be used for any task that doesn't require intricate cuts and strokes. They are also easier to use than single bevel knives, which require more skill and dexterity.

Shun Knives Australia

The Angle

Why is the angle of the bevel important? The smaller it is, the sharper the knife will be. For example, The Shun Kai Classic Chef Knife 25cm features a hand-sharpened 16o double bevel blade. It is ideal for a wide variety of uses, from preparing fruits and vegetables to cutting meat.

The Belly

The Shun classic chef knife has a curved belly which allows you to rock it through fresh herbs to finely mince them, and a wide blade which prevents you from knocking your knuckles on the cutting board as you cut.

The Scalloped Blade

A number of Shun classic chef knives have a scalloped blade. This type of knife features hollow-ground dimples or indentations all along the side of the blade. The dimples create air pockets that reduce friction between the blade and the food when cutting, making it easier to just glide through as you cut. Cutting food has never been easier because you don't have to keep stopping to unstick food from the blade.

The Shun Kai Classic Scalloped Chefs Knife 20.3cm is one such knife. In addition to the dimples on the blade, the knife also features the 16o double bevel blade sharpened by hand, with a core of proprietary VG-MAX steel encased in 324 layers of Damascus steel.

Shun Knives Australia

The Handle

The Shun Classic chef knife features a slim pakkawood handle made in the traditional chestnut shape. Pakkawood is a composite of wood and plastic blended together to make a durable material commonly used on knives which see a lot of wear and tear.

The plastic makes it especially resistant to water, which makes it even more long-lasting and hygienic as a knife handle. You don't have to worry about the handle retaining damp and breeding bacteria. The chestnut shape makes for a comfortable grip.

Shun knife handles can be right-handed or left-handed. For example, the handle of the Shun Classic Chef Knife Left-handed 20cm has the D curve and ridge on the left side. This allows the handle to fit comfortably into the fingers of the left hand.

That doesn't mean that left-handed people can't use other Shun knives. They can still use the right-handed knives if they wish, as the ridge is still useful as a resting place for the fingertips. You still get a firm grip and control of the blade.

shun classic chef knife

The White Handle

Some of the Shun Classic Chef knives like the Shun Kai Classic White Chefs Knife 20cm come with a stunning Ashwood-hued white handle which contrasts beautifully with the blade.

This knife also features the typical wear-resistant VG-MAX steel core supported by 34 layers of Damascus cladding on each side. The resulting blade is stain-resistant and lets food slide off easily without sticking. The 160 edge gives you a razor-sharp blade that will retain its sharpness for a long time.

shun classic chef knife

The Tang

The Shun Classic chef knife series is full-tang. This means that the steel of the blade runs right through the handle to the end. This provides better balance and strength than partial tang knives.

There is no danger of the blade shooting out of the handle during a particularly strenuous cutting session.

Final Words

If you're ever at a loss about what knife to buy for your kitchen, go for the Shun Classic chef knife. This knife comes packed with attractive features and you won't regret your decision.

Also Read: Everything You Need to Know About Electric Knife

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