Shun Classic 8" Review

The Shun Classic 8" has an 8-inch forged steel blade made in Japan. It comes with a Pakkawood handle and a Damascus-patterned blade and weighs 7.4 ounces.

Performance Comparison

Cutting Performance

The Shun Classic comes from the factory exceptionally sharp, and it maintains this sharpness through even the toughest cutting tasks better than any other knife we tested.

With a Rockwell Hardness rating of 60-61, this knife stays sharper for longer, requiring fewer sharpenings over the life of the blade. While our measured HRC value of this steel averaged just 51, the folded layers of steel make it extremely difficult to get an accurate measurement for this particular blade.

This knife performed right near the top of the pack in precision. Shun reports this blade has a 16-degree sharpness angle. We measured it at 13 degrees, which aids greatly in precision cutting tasks.

Making delicate cuts, such as a super fine brunoise or a chiffonade, was a joy to do with this knife, and even our most inexperienced testers found this knife gave them confidence in their abilities.

One of our favorite features of the Shun during our testing was how seldom we had to hone it and how well it held its edge through our multitude of tests. Although we did give each knife a fresh pass on the steel before each official test, with the Shun, it felt almost unnecessary. From the first cut we made to the last, we noticed very little degradation in the quality of this knife's impressive cutting performance.

Practicality

When it comes to real-world use, the Shun proved to be a favorite across all our testers, regardless of experience level. It didn't matter whether we were breaking down a chicken or coring and seeding a jalapeño; the Shun was truly a knife that could handle anything thrown at it.

Its long handle gave our testers the freedom to experiment with different grips for different situations. With a slightly asymmetrical shape and just the right amount of grip, the Shun proved versatile in its use and trustworthy in its grip.

Despite its polished appearance, when wet, the Pakkawood handle was comfortable and still gave plenty of grip. Even with greasy hands from trimming fat, the Shun Classic stayed put without twisting or slipping.

Ergonomics

The Shun surprised us with how comfortable it was to hold in the hand. At first glance, the straight handle looks very basic and uncontoured. However, once our testers held it in their hands, they realized how much care had gone into crafting this handle. It is made out of Pakkawood, which is a natural wood fiber impregnated with a resin to make it waterproof, resistant to damage, and extend its life span. Our testers really enjoyed the feel of this handle. We found it to be comfortable as a natural handle while still being easy to clean and water resistant.

The biggest benefit we found with the Shun's ergonomics is that they pleased everyone who used it — expert chefs and novice choppers, left-handed folks, and those who like to “choke up” on their knife grip. Other knives had at least a few detractors to their handles, but the Shun was truly universally loved by our entire testing team.

Additionally, the knife's 7.4-ounce weight is distributed almost perfectly and balanced enough to feel nimble in your hands while still carrying enough heft for high-intensity jobs.

One quirk worth mentioning is that the handle is not symmetrical and has a slight “D” curve apparently for right-handers. We felt the curve was subtle enough to be almost unnoticeable, and our left-handed tester could not notice it detracting in any way from their cutting experience.

Build Quality

The Shun's unique look comes from its manufacturing process. It's forged using a method similar to the way samurai swords are made — using many layers of overlapping steel folded and pounded together. These layers combine in unique ways in every knife, so no two knives are alike. Because of this, the Shun is an eye-catcher, whether it's in your hand at a family get-together or displayed proudly on your kitchen wall.

Right out of the box, the Shun Classic was razor sharp. We measured it with a sharpness score of 153 on the BESS scale. This means it's on par with the sharpness of a new razor blade.

The first test we always perform is the paper test to test the factory sharpness, and the Shun passed with flying colors. We found that one of the Shun's greatest strengths, the incredibly hard steel (with a 60-61 claimed HRC) used in its blade, can also be one of its few drawbacks.

During our research, we found that the thin, rigid blade meant that chipping was a concern. Sure enough, after our rigorous testing battery, we found our knife did have a small chip in the blade. It was small enough that it did not impact normal use, but still not what we hope for a knife with such a high price tag and an otherwise exceptional performance. That said, Shun offers a free sharpening service (you only pay shipping), and we feel this helps mitigate the downsides of chipping your blade. But if you tend to be hard on your implements, this may not be the best chef knife for you.

Should You Buy the Shun Classic 8"?

Our months of extensive testing showed the Shun to be a knife that pleased every cook at all skill levels and ended up being one of our favorite knives we tested. On top of that, it has eye-catching looks that just beg to be displayed in your kitchen. Our only hesitation in recommending this knife is to those heavy-handed people who like to be tough on their equipment. But if you want a knife that is equal parts culinary delight and conversation piece, and don't mind the high price tag, this is the knife for you.

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