Japan is famous for making top-quality knives. When it comes to Japanese knives, you can’t complain about the quality. The top-quality knives make them far away from the competition. In my opinion, no other country can compete with Japan in making knives.
About Shun
Shun Cutlery was established in 2002. Shun knives are a kitchen knife brand of KAI Group. Every Shun knife is well crafted in Tokyo city, Japan. Shun Cutlery has won many different awards, which include nine times’ knife of the year.
Shun Cutlery is from one of the best knives producing companies in Japan. Shun cutlery claims that their knives are made with original Japanese blades. Shun cutlery produces many different types of knives including Classic, Premier, Fuji, Kanso, and many more.
Shun Knives overview
Shun knives are known for their excellent sharpness, their beautiful design, and durability of the knives.
Shun knives come sharp right out of the box and are best for every kitchen use. Whether you are a home cook or a professional chef, shun knives never disappoint you. Shun knives have sharp edges along with Damascus or Hammered finishes that give the knife a natural look and more.
Most of the Shun knives come with a Pakkawood handle. The Pakkawood handle provides an outstanding grip and prevents the knife from slipping, even with wet or greasy hands. The handle feels comfortable in your hand and you will not tire even after extended hours. The handle of the knife also looks beautiful when you hold it in hand.
All of the Shun knives are famous but two of the most popular products of Shun’s are Shun Classic and Shun Premier. There may be a question in your mind that out of Shun Classic vs Premier, which one is better.
In this article, you will get all the information related to the Shun Premier vs Classic. Maybe by the end of this article, you will get to know which one is better.
Shun Classic
Shun Classics is the original product of Shun’s Cutlery. Shun Classic knives are super simple to use and this product is more functional. Shun Classic offers three different types of edges that are best for piercing, chopping, and for slicing.
Shun Classic knife blades are made with VG-MAX steel which increases the cutting ability of knives. VG-MAX is the updated version of VG-10 steel. VG-MAX uses more Carbon content than VG-10 steel which increases the durability and strength of the knife. The main feature of this steel is that it contains Chromium which enhances stain resistance.
Shun Classic knives come with a Pakkawood handle in a “D” shape which provides extra control. The Pakkawood handle looks beautiful when you hold it in hand. The other feature of the PakkaWood handle is that it is highly resistant to water and oil.
The PakkaWood handle prevents the knife from slipping even when gripped with greasy or wet hands. Since it can resist water, its surface is easier to clean. Also, the Pakkawood handle is comfortable to hold, and you will not tire even after extended hours. This product is perfect for kitchen purposes.
Shun Classic knives come with a Damascus finish and usually comes with black or light brown handles. Shun Classic knives are a little cheaper as compared to Shun Premier.
Shun Premier
Shun Premier is another popular and good product of Shun Cutlery. Shun Premier is also made with VG-MAX steel which increases the overall strength of the knife. The Shun Premier knives come with a super-sharp edge which helps the knives to do kitchen tasks easily.
The blades of the Shun Premier are made using the Kasumi technique. The Kasumi technique allows blades to sharpen easily. You will be amazed to know that ancient Samurai swords were made using this same technique.
The blades of the Shun Premier knives are sharpened to a 16° angle per side which makes it much sharper than other related knives. The exterior of the blade is smooth and soft while the interior of the blade is extremely hard, which helps in maintaining sharp edges.
The handles of the Shun Premier are a bit different from the Shun Classic. Although, the material used in both of these products is the same i.e., Pakkawood. The Pakkawood handle is waterproof and it will not slip even with wet or greasy hands.
The shape of the Shun Premier handle is a bit straighter than the Shun classic, which gives it a more professional look. The Shun Premier knives also have a Damascus finish but it combines with a hammered finish and most of the handles come with a brown color.
Shun Premier knives are a bit more expensive than Shun Classic knives.
Read More:What is 154cm Steel
Shun Classic vs. Premier: Comparison Table
If you are in a hurry and want to get the Shun Classic vs. Premier comparison in 30 seconds, then this comparison table is for you.
| Futures & Specification | Shun Classic | Shun Premier |
|
Where is it made? |
Seki city, Japan | Seki city, Japan |
|
The material used in the blade |
VG-MAX Steel | VG-MAX Steel |
|
Blade Finish |
Damascus steel | Hammered top and Damascus steel in the bottom |
|
The material used in the handle |
PakkaWood | PakkaWood |
| Color of the handle | Ebony or blonde |
Walnut |
|
The angle of the edge |
16° angle on each side | 16° angle on each side |
|
Rockwell hardness of knives |
61° | 61° |
| Full Tang | Yes | Yes |
| Cleaning Procedure | Wash by hand | Wash by hand |
| Warranty | Limited Lifetime Warranty | Limited Lifetime Warranty |
|
Free Lifetime Sharpening |
Yes | Yes |
| Number of knives | 39 | 22 |
| Expensive | Less Expensive | More Expensive |
| Price |
Shun Premier vs Classic (Similarities)
Shun offers a wide variety of Kitchen products, but the most used products of Shun’s are Shun Premier and Classic. Shun Premier and Classic both are of top quality and both are perfect for kitchen use.
It’s very difficult to find out which one is better and which one to buy. They both have amazing features and both are almost the same.
There are a lot of similarities between the Shun Premier and Classic sets. These includes:
- Shun Premier and Classic both are made in Seki City, Japan.
- Both of these products are made with the same material i.e., VG-MAX steel. VG-MAX is the updated version of VG-10 steel.
- Shun Premier and Classic both come with 69-layers of cladded steel
- Both have full-tangs which give a perfect balance to both products.
- The edges of both knives are ultra-sharp which will help you in your daily kitchen work.
- Shun Premier and Classic both are made with PakkaWood handles. The Pakkawood handle provides outstanding grip.
- Both have a 16° angle per side that will help you in sharp cutting.
- Both of these products come with a Lifetime Limited Warranty and Free Lifetime sharpening.
Read More:
Shun Classic vs Premier (Difference)
As you have noticed that Shun Classic and Shun Premier are pretty much the same, but still they have some differences. The difference between Shun Classic and Premier may be in the blade’s finish, handle design, handle shape, and price.
In this part, you will get to know all the differences between Shun Classic and Shun Premier.
The Blade’s finish
The knife blades of both products are made in Japan and both are beautiful and functional. It is a bit different in the blades between the Shun Classic and Shun Premier.
Shun Classic: The blades of the Shun Classic come with 68 layers of steel around its cutting core. Shun Classic knives come with a smooth Damascus finish which offers the blade a higher stain resistance and specific appearance that separates it from other kitchen knives.
Shun Premier: The blades of Shun’s Premier come with a hammered finish on the top of the blade and a Damascus design at the bottom of the knives. The hammered finish offers the same stain resistance as Shun Classic but it provides more ease in cutting than Classic knives. This finish prevents food from sticking to the knife.
Both of these products are attractive but the finish of Premier knives is more functional than Classic knives.
Handle Design
The handles of Shun Classic and Shun Premier are a bit different, even though they both are made of PakkaWood.
Shun Classic: Shun Classic knife handles are made with PakkaWood with an ebony finish. The ebony finish is dark that suits any kitchen. The handles of the Shun Classic knives are easy to grip and it is best for Domestic use and might not be for Restaurant use.
Shun Premier: Shun Premier knife handles are also made with PakkaWood but with an earthy walnut color that gives the knife more beauty and durability. Shun Premier knives offer a comfortable grip and it is best for Domestic as well as for Restaurant use.
Handle Shape
The shapes of the Shun Classic and Shun Premier are different from each other. Continue reading for more in-depth information about the handles of the knives.
Shun Classic: The handle’s shape of the Shun Classic is straight as compared to the Shun Premier. Shun Classic knives come with a D-shaped that offers enhanced grip and stability. The D-shaped handle is best and more suitable for Right-handers but it works well for the left-handers as well. The handles of the Shun Classic are leaner than the Shun Premier that makes it perfect for people with smaller hands.
Shun Premier: The handle of Shun Premier is symmetrical with a round grip. Shun’s Premier handle is slightly contoured from the blade to the capped end. These characteristics help both left-handers and right-handers to comfortably use knives without hand fatigue for long hours. The handle of the Shun Premier is a bit thick that makes it perfect for people with large hands.
Number of sets
Shun Classic and Shun Premier both offer a variety of individual knives and knife sets. Continue reading for more in-depth detail of both sets.
Shun Classic: Shun Classic has a more variety of products as compared to Shun Premier. The Shun Classic products offer a total of 39 products out of which 30 are individual knives and 9 are knife sets. Shun Classic offers specific products and it is easy to find the perfect one for a kitchen.
Shun Premier: You will also find a variety of knives in the Shun Premier collection, but these numbers are less than the Classic knives. Shun Premier knives offer a total of 22 products out of which 17 are individual knives and 5 are knives sets.
Prices
Shun knives are made with top-quality material and with original Japanese blades. So, prices may be a bit high, but you will not be disappointed with the quality and usage of the knives.
Shun Classic: The price difference between both knives depends on which knife or set you are buying. But on average Shun Classic knives are cheaper than the Shun Premier knives.
Shun Premier: Although Shun Premier has fewer products as compared to the Shun Classic knives, the prices of Shun Premier are more than the Shun Classic knives.
If you want to get a more in-depth detail of the prices of both the products at Amazon, use the following links:
Best products of Shun Classic
As we mentioned earlier, Shun Classic has more variety of knives than Shun Premier. Some of the best Shun Classic knives include:
1. Shun Classic 8” Chef’s Knife
Shun’s Chef knife is the best and most used knife of the Shun’s collection. The size of this knife is perfect for kitchen use. This knife comes sharp and is perfect for different kitchen tasks from cutting, dicing, to slicing.
The material used in the manufacturing of this knife blade is VG-MAX steel. VG-MAX is the updated version of VG-10 steel. VG-MAX uses different types of metals such as Chromium, Tungsten, Cobalt, and Carbon which increases the strength and durability of the knife.
The Chef’s knife comes with a Damascus finish that ensures the blade will work for a long time and because of this food will not stick to the surface of the blade.
The handle of this knife is made with PakkaWood with an ebony finish. The Pakkawood handle looks beautiful when you hold it in hand. The other feature of the PakkaWood handle is that it is highly resistant to water and oil.
The PakkaWood handle prevents the knife from slipping even when gripped with greasy or wet hands. Since it can resist water, its surface is easier to clean. Also, the Pakkawood handle is comfortable to hold, and you will not tire even after extended hours.
2. Shun Classic 7-Inch Santoku Knife
This Santoku knife is the most used Santoku knife from Shun’s collection. The 7-inch blade of the Santoku knife is ideal for kitchen tasks. You can easily slice and chop different things with the help of this knife.
The blade of the Santoku knife is made with high-carbon stainless steel that holds its edge for a long time. After years of use, you will see the knife is as sharp as it was years ago.
The knife is cladded with 16 layers of stainless steel that gives a knife rust-free Damascus look. This knife is perfect for all kitchen-related tasks.
The handle of the Shun Santoku knife is made with PakkaWood with a D-shape. The D-shape of the handle offers a comfortable grip.
The D-shaped handle is best and more suitable for Right-handers but it works well for the left-handers as well.
3. Shun Classic Steak Knives
These Steak Knives come in a set that includes 4-pieces. The design of the steak knives is so amazing that it looks beautiful when you hold steak knives in the hand. These steak knives are perfect for any dinner or lunch party.
Shun Classic Steak Knives are made in Japan and the material used in the manufacturing of this knife blade is VG-MAX steel. The knife is cladded with 68 layers of Damascus stainless steel that gives the knives a unique finish.
All of the steak knives come razor-sharp right out of the box. The knives are lighter in weight and thinner in shape that gives the knives excellent control that helps in cutting.
The handle of this knife is made with PakkaWood with an ebony finish. The feature of the PakkaWood handle is that it is highly resistant to water and oil. The PakkaWood handle prevents the knife from slipping even when gripped with greasy or wet hands. Since it can resist water, its surface is easier to clean.
Best products of Shun Premier
Shun Premier knives have fewer varieties of knives than Shun Classic, but still, they have more than 20 products. Some of the best Shun Premier knives include:
1. Shun Premier 10-inch Chef Knife
The size of the Shun Premier Chef knife is 10-inches. This is the perfect size for cooks who prefer a large Chef’s knife. This 10-inch Chef’s knife is perfect for kitchen use and the length of the blade helps it to cut various foods easily.
The blades of the Shun’s Premier Chef knife come with a hammered finish that prevents food from sticking to the knife. The hammered finish offers stain resistance and provides more ease in cutting than Classic knives. Also, the hammered finish gives the knife a natural look.
2. Shun Premier 7-inch Santoku Knife
The design of the Shun Santoku knife is so amazing that it will look beautiful when you hold it in your hand. The weight of the Santoku knife is light and it fits comfortably in the hand. This Santoku knife is perfect for moderate kitchen tasks.
This knife comes with a double-bevel blade and VG-MAX steel that provides strength and durability to the knife. The blades of the Santoku knife are hand-sharpened to a 16° angle which makes it much perfect for cutting.
The knife is cladded with 34 layers of Damascus stainless steel on each side which gives the knives a unique finish. This knife looks beautiful when you hold it in your hand.
The handle of the knife is made with a PakkaWood handle that fits comfortably in both left and right hands. Since PakkaWood can resist water, that’s why the knife surface is easier to clean.
3. Shun Premier Steak Knives
Shun Premier Steak Knives comes in a set that includes 4-pieces (each piece with a size of 5-inch). These steak knives are made with VG-10 stainless steel and this steel is easy to sharpen.
The stainless steel of the knife is cladded with 32 layers of high-carbon stainless steel on each side that provide durability and strength to the knife. The blades of the Steak knives are hand-sharpened to a 16° angle which makes it much perfect for cutting.
The handle of the Shun Premier Steak knives is made with PakkaWood with a D-shape. The D-shape of the handle offers a comfortable grip. It is recommended to wash Steak knives by hand.
Conclusion
Shun Premier and Shun Classic both are of top quality and both are perfect for kitchen use. It’s very difficult to find out which one is better and which one to buy. They both have amazing features and both are almost the same.
There are a lot of similarities between the Shun Premier and Classic sets. The difference between Shun Classic and Premier may be in the blade’s finish, handle design, handle shape, and price.
In my opinion, both are great choices but I recommend Shun Classic knives because they have a lot of variety of sets than Shun Premier. The other advantage of buying Shun Classic is that they are less expensive than Shun Premier. You will save some of your money if you buy Shun Classic knives.
In addition, Shun Classic and Shun Premier both are excellent choices. At last, it totally depends on which one suits you. We hope the above information will help you in choosing the right product. We wish you the best of luck in choosing the right product.
Furthermore, if you have any questions, you are most welcome to leave your comment below. I will try my best to provide a solution as soon as I can. If you like this article, be sure to share it with your friends 🙂
Also Read:
