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Shun Cutlery Classic Chef's Knife 8”, Thin, Light Kitchen Knife, Ideal for All-Around Food Preparation, Authentic, Handcrafted Japanese Knife, Professional Chef Knife,Black

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,108 ratings
$169.95
8 Inch
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Purchase options and add-ons

Blade Material Alloy Steel
Brand Shun
Color Black
Handle Material Ebony color PakkaWood®
Blade Edge Plain

About this item

  • JAPANESE CHEF'S KNIFE: The Shun 8-inch Classic Chef's knife is the perfect all-purpose kitchen knife. It's ideal for preparing fruit, vegetables, meat and more.
  • WIDE, CURVED BLADE: This Japanese kitchen knife has a wide blade that keeps knuckles off the cutting board with a curved belly that can be "rocked" through herbs and spices for a very fine mince.
  • HIGH-QUALITY CONSTRUCTION: Constructed with Shun's proprietary VG-MAX cutting core and clad in 68 layers of stainless Damascus, this chef knife is corrosion and stain resistant with a strong, razor-sharp edge.
  • COMFORTABLE HANDLE: The D-shaped, ebony-finished Pakkawood handle is durable, beautiful, doesn't harbor bacteria, and comfortable to use for both left- and right-handed users.
  • TRADITIONAL, ARTISAN CUTLERY: Inspired by the traditions of ancient Japan, Shun knives are handcrafted by highly skilled artisans to produce blades of unparalleled quality and beauty.

Customer ratings by feature

Maneuverability
4.8 4.8
Easy to hold
4.8 4.8
Light weight
4.8 4.8
Ergonomic
4.8 4.8
See all reviews

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From the manufacturer

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Shun

“Shun” (shoon) is a concept at the very heart of Japanese cuisine. In Japanese, shun is the word used to describe local, seasonal food when it is at the peak of its flavor and freshness—at the peak of its perfection.

Shun Cutlery is known for its exquisite beauty and ultra-premium performance. Yet as beautiful as Shun is on the outside, and as beautifully as it performs in your kitchen, its true beauty may be in what you don’t see.

Handcrafted in Japan

Shun is dedicated to maintaining this ancient tradition by continuing to handcraft each knife in our Seki City facilities. Each piece of this fine kitchen cutlery takes at least 100 individual steps to complete. While we maintain these ancient traditions of handcrafted quality, we also take advantage of thoroughly modern, premium materials and state-of-the-art technology to provide that traditional quality to millions of professional chefs and avid home cooks throughout the world.

Knife Steel is Essential

Heat treatment—an invisible, yet vital, process. This exacting process is fundamentally important to ensuring that your Shun provides lasting value. In heat treatment, the metal is heated and cooled to change its microstructure, bringing out its very best properties. With precise heat treatment, blade steel becomes finer grained, making it stronger and harder so blades can be thinner, sharper, and give you a longer-lasting edge. Shun’s experts are, quite simply, masters of the heat treatment process.

Quality and Performance

Shun is the exact moment when a fruit has reached its ideal ripeness, when a vegetable is at its very best, or when meat is at its most flavorful. Home cooks and professional chefs alike celebrate shun in their kitchens, eagerly awaiting each season’s bounty and serving every ingredient in its proper time.

Shun Cutlery proudly takes its name from this Japanese culinary tradition of eating the freshest food at the perfect moment. We took this name to honor this seasonal, mindful way of eating and as a mark of our dedication to making kitchen cutlery that is always at the peak of its perfection, too.

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Sora Kanso Classic Premier
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Customer Reviews
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Price — — — —
VG-Max Cutting Core ✓ ✓
VG10 Cutting Core ✓
Solid AUS10A ✓
Composite Blade ✓
Double Bevel (16 Degree each side) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Handle Textured PP/TPE Tagayasan PakkaWood PakkaWood
Handle Grip Symmetrical Symmetrical Asymmetrical Symmetrical
Tsuchime (“hammered”) Finish ✓

Shun Classic

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Shun Classics are the original Shuns, the first Japanese-style knives to be made available to a wider audience in North America. Instead of heavy ponderous blades, Shun Classic blades are lighter with razor-sharp edges and crafted from advanced steel. Rather than weighty, Western handles, Shun Classic offers the graceful control of a traditional Japanese handle.

With Shun Classic, you'll discover a wide selection of traditional blade shapes as well as unique shapes - so you can always find the right handcrafted knife for every kitchen task.

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Pakkawood Handle

These traditional Japanese-style handles have a slight ridge on the right side, which fits into the curl of the fingers for a comfortable and secure grip. Viewed end-on, the shape resembles the capital letter "D". Pakkawood is waterproof, incredibly durable, and won't harbor bacteria.

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Classic Handle

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Flawless Cutting Ability

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Layered Steel

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Free Sharpening

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Shun

Shun Cutlery Classic Chef's Knife 8”, Thin, Light Kitchen Knife, Ideal for All-Around Food Preparation, Authentic, Handcrafted Japanese Knife, Professional Chef Knife,Black

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Product Description

A staple for every kitchen, the Shun Classic 8-inch Chef’s Knife is an all-purpose blade, equipped for a variety of cutting tasks. With its slightly curved blade, the Shun Chef’s knife easily rocks through fresh herbs for easy mincing too. The size and width of the blade makes it an ideal tool for preparing protein, fruits, vegetables and many other foods. Made with the Damascus layering technique, the blade is comprised of 69 total layers – 68 layers of alternating steel and a proprietary VG-MAX core. VG-MAX steel contains additional chromium, carbon, tungsten and cobalt for increased strength, durability, sharpness and resistance to corrosion. Handcrafted by highly skilled specialists in Japan, Shun knives are a harmonious combination of ancient blade-making traditions and cutting-edge innovation. The craftsmanship and quality of each knife is a testament to the high quality prioritized by Shun. No home is complete without a Classic 8-inch Chef’s Knife. Steel: Proprietary VG-MAX cutting core, 34 layers each side (68 total) stainless Damascus cladding

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Price$169.95$199.95$125.00$148.99$149.95$17.99
Delivery
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 30
Get it as soon as Tomorrow, Apr 25
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 30
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 30
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 30
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 30
Customer Ratings
4.74.7 out of 5 stars2,108
4.64.6 out of 5 stars177
4.74.7 out of 5 stars2,549
4.74.7 out of 5 stars940
4.84.8 out of 5 stars1,152
4.54.5 out of 5 stars3,054
Easy to hold
4.8
5.0
4.7
—
4.9
4.6
Ergonomic
4.8
4.9
4.7
—
4.9
4.4
Maneuverability
4.8
5.0
4.8
—
—
4.4
Light weight
4.8
—
—
4.4
—
4.6
Giftable
4.6
—
—
4.4
4.5
—
Sold By
Amazon.com
Cutlery and More
Dalstrong Inc.
E-BOSS
Woot
Amazon.com
number of pieces
1
1
8
1
1
1
blade edge
Plain
Plain
Plain
Plain
Plain
Plain
blade material
Alloy Steel
Alloy Steel
Alloy Steel
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
blade length
8 inches
8 inches
8 inches
7 inches
8 inches
8 inches
blade color
Silver
Silver
Silver
Silver
Silver
Black
handle material
Ebony color PakkaWood®
Pakkawood
Abs,Abs Handle,High-carbon,Stainless Steel,Steel
Walnut color PakkaWood®
Stainless Steel
Alloy Steel

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
2,108 global ratings

Customers say

Customers like the quality, appearance and ease of use of the kitchen knife. For example, they mention it's sharp, comfortable and worth the price. Some are satisfied with ease of maintenance, balance, and weight. That said, opinions are mixed on durability.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

376 customers mention346 positive30 negative

Customers are satisfied with the quality of the kitchen knife. They mention that it's the sharpest knife they have ever held in their hand, it stays sharp for a very long time, and it'd be the best knife for if professional kitchen. Some say that the steel is above average and of good quality. Overall, most are happy with the product's quality and recommend it to others.

"...knife, it’s very comfortable in my hand, super light weight and incredibly sharp. Made meal prep significantly easier and it looks great as well!" Read more

"We use this knife daily for lunch and dinner. It is super sharp and excellent quality!" Read more

"...It continues to feel great, keeps it's edge very well, is razor sharp and has the added bonus of looking beautiful...." Read more

"...20 years in professional kitchens and this is the best knife for a professional kitchen that I've used...." Read more

103 customers mention103 positive0 negative

Customers find the kitchen knife very good looking, like a piece of art. They appreciate the Damascus steel, beautiful wood grain on the handle, and the detailing on the blade. Customers also say the blade is razor sharp with a mirror finish. They say the knives are unique and beautiful.

"...Made meal prep significantly easier and it looks great as well!" Read more

"...These blades are works of art. They're each unique and beautiful. I enjoy using them more because I like looking at them!..." Read more

"...keeps it's edge very well, is razor sharp and has the added bonus of looking beautiful. What more could you ask for in a tool?" Read more

"If you value a razor sharp knife that holds it's edge and is beautiful to boot, then this knife is for you...." Read more

89 customers mention89 positive0 negative

Customers find the kitchen knife easy to use. They say it has a comfortable grip and is satisfying to use, making smooth cuts like butter. Some say the trade-off in comfort is worth it.

"In love with this knife, it’s very comfortable in my hand, super light weight and incredibly sharp...." Read more

"...It is SO EASY TO USE. It has *just enough* heft to get the job done without tiring your hands out...." Read more

"...The offset in the handle makes the knife feel good and secure in the hand. Function aside, the knife is also beautiful to look at...." Read more

"...The grip is not round, but has a slight protrusion running lengthwise along the grip to fit the contours of the hand better and stops the knife from..." Read more

78 customers mention59 positive19 negative

Customers like the value of the kitchen knife. They say it's worth the price, a great investment for amateur or professional chefs, and a good quality product.

"...These knives are definitely worth the investment." Read more

"...Totally worth every penny in my opinion." Read more

"...I can no longer chop and prep without this knife. It is worth every pretty penny...." Read more

"...The knife itself is not the best knife you can buy, there are sharper, better blades made out of higher quality materials...." Read more

70 customers mention70 positive0 negative

Customers find the kitchen knife easy to maintain. They say it cuts and slices like a dream, handles bigger slicing jobs with ease, and makes chopping a lot easier. Some say the knife is lightweight and makes it easier to make razor thin slices, whether in meat or vegetables.

"...It cut through everything like it was butter. Very easy to make razor thin slices, whether in meat or vegetables...." Read more

"...This blade is so sharp and easy to use for very accurate cutting. And it is such a joy to use...." Read more

"...chef. Ok, it's now my favorite. It handles the bigger slicing jobs with such ease, it's a dream to use...." Read more

"...been able to cut tomatoes without destroying them a little, or slice meats so easily. This is now my go-to knife...." Read more

53 customers mention53 positive0 negative

Customers find the kitchen knife perfectly balanced, with an excellent balance point. They say it feels really balanced in the hand and that it keeps an edge for perfect cuts.

"...This one feels really balanced, fatiguing was minimal to none during dinner prep...." Read more

"...It's well-balanced. And it's beautiful...." Read more

"...The life is well balanced and keeps and edge for perfect cuts. This knife is smooth maneuvering...." Read more

"...Seems nicely balanced. So far, I love this knife!" Read more

48 customers mention48 positive0 negative

Customers like the weight of the kitchen knife. They say it's light, but not so light that it feels flimsy or unwieldy. Some appreciate the beautiful weight and design.

"In love with this knife, it’s very comfortable in my hand, super light weight and incredibly sharp...." Read more

"...And I chose it because it is light weight and has a thinner blade than the European-made competitors. It is SO EASY TO USE...." Read more

"...The knife was lighter than I expected but not so light as to feel flimsy or unwieldy...." Read more

"Super lightweight, thin sharp blade, easy on the wrist grip, makes smooth cuts like butter...." Read more

84 customers mention26 positive58 negative

Customers are mixed about the durability of the kitchen knife. Some mention it has held up just fine, has just enough heft to get the job done without, and is professional quality, and sure to last a lifetime. Others say that since it's hardened steel so it may chip, in less than a year the tip of the knife has chipped, which is very disappointing.

"...When I looked closer, I noticed a large chunk of the knife that cracked off! I was really surprised and confused...." Read more

"...Original packaging was already opened and the box was smashed. Temporary cardboard sheath had already been opened and was stained with oil...." Read more

"...It is SO EASY TO USE. It has *just enough* heft to get the job done without tiring your hands out...." Read more

"...pick up my Deba for certain tasks on the fish due to the thin, hard steel blade...." Read more

I feel like cutting!
5 Stars
I feel like cutting!
What can I say! This is the sharpest knife I have ever held in my hand. First it is so beautiful, like a piece of art. Then when tonight I used it for the first time, I cut the tenderloin with the hand feel of cutting a piece of Tofu! You don't need to force, just put the edge on the meat , use its own weight and slide. With this knife I got the thinest ginger slices I ever made: like tooth sticks! I feel like a master, a Chef! Oh I love this knife, and cutting everything in my fridge. My poor Wusthof is crying but what can I do! Now I am going to purchase a Hinoki cutting board for my Shun knife, in order to protect its edge.
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Top reviews from the United States

Joe
5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous and crazy sharp.
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
Size: 8 InchVerified Purchase
In love with this knife, it’s very comfortable in my hand, super light weight and incredibly sharp. Made meal prep significantly easier and it looks great as well!
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Gapeach
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, functional, lightweight, and wickedly sharp!
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2019
Size: 8 InchVerified Purchase
I love this knife. So much so that we purchased the matching 6" chef knife as well and have plans to buy more!!

I researched a LOT before I bought this blade. And I chose it because it is light weight and has a thinner blade than the European-made competitors. It is SO EASY TO USE. It has *just enough* heft to get the job done without tiring your hands out. Being an average woman, my hands aren't huge (ladies' size 7 gloves). This knife fits my hand well, and ALSO fits my average-guy-sized hubby's hand despite that it's much larger than mine.

These blades are works of art. They're each unique and beautiful. I enjoy using them more because I like looking at them! I know it is silly but it's true. Same reason my dish cloths are my favorite color and my cutting board is a thing a beauty... cooking is more fun when you enjoy looking at your tools!

We purchased this knife in I think June 2019, it is now October 2019, it has been around 4 1/2 months of daily use (we cook almost every day), and it has lost the super keen edge and needs to be honed, but it's *still* sharper than any other knives I have ever owned! We are going to hone them soon, honestly we haven't yet because we are nervous about doing it, I'm paranoid I'll mess up and damage the blades. I don't actually expect it to give us any trouble, though, and a few moments of work will hone them back to a dangerously sharp edge.

I kid you not, I have accidentally sliced through my fingernails several times, and had no idea until I either started bleeding or saw I was missing a slice of nail!! It was so sharp at first I could literally cut through a fingernail and not feel it. Let that sink in for a minute... like i said, dangerously sharp when brand spanking new. I have had to learn to be less sloppy with the knife!!!

However, I am OK with the crazy sharpness, I have learned not to accidentally amputate my fingertips, and after 4 1/2 months I am still in love with my Shun knives.
4 people found this helpful
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Rach
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great shape knife!
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2024
Size: 8 InchVerified Purchase
We use this knife daily for lunch and dinner. It is super sharp and excellent quality!
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Patrice Mackey
5.0 out of 5 stars This is the best chef's knife I've ever owned.
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2013
Size: 8 InchVerified Purchase
I am a fairly adept home chef who studied culinary arts in my younger days and worked in restaurants for 15 years, mainly in the front of the house. I have a number of good quality knives, Wustof, Henkels, F.Dick and Mac primarily. I've used any number of different styles of knives including classic chefs and Japanese Santoku.

I had this knife in my wish list for a while after reading a positive review in an online review of chef's knives. I didn't feel I NEEDED a new knife, but received a gift certificate and decided to splurge.

The Shun arrived with a thick cardboard protector for the blade inside the box. I carefully unboxed the knife and immediately was impressed by the feel. The knife was lighter than I expected but not so light as to feel flimsy or unwieldy. The offset in the handle makes the knife feel good and secure in the hand. Function aside, the knife is also beautiful to look at.

Right out of the box the knife was super sharp and didn't really need any dressing/steeling. I wiped off the blade, gave it a very light steeling and then tried it out on some chicken breast, and vegetables. It cut through everything like it was butter. Very easy to make razor thin slices, whether in meat or vegetables. Tomatoes it cut cleanly and evenly without pausing through the skin. I actually said "Wow!" out loud a few times while trying it out.

I've now had the knife for two weeks and I have to say that is is both my favorite knife and probably the best chef's knife I've ever used. It continues to feel great, keeps it's edge very well, is razor sharp and has the added bonus of looking beautiful. What more could you ask for in a tool?
9 people found this helpful
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Shiraz Nelson
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent balance between quality and cost for a professional or at home knife
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2015
Size: 8 InchVerified Purchase
This is the second of these knives I've owned. My previous one followed me through a few professional kitchens over 8 years and was donated to a new cook so it could stay in the kitchen when I moved on. The one I have now, this one, is still at home and still working great.

This knife has the perfect balance between quality and cost. I'm a trained chef with almost 20 years in professional kitchens and this is the best knife for a professional kitchen that I've used. The grip is not round, but has a slight protrusion running lengthwise along the grip to fit the contours of the hand better and stops the knife from rolling (though you should always have a sharp knife so this is not an issue). The blade is done japanese style, so no finger guard, making the back a bit sharp for some. The blade is the right length for just about any job at home or professionally. The height of the blade is short enough that a rocking motion is easier on the arm as you don't have to pull it up so high, only limited by the length. The blade maintains a good sharpness for quite awhile. In a professional setting I would sharpen in every couple of weeks depending on use, at home it's more like every few months. Granted this is with daily honing. (look up the difference between sharpening a knife and honing a knife if you're confused).

The knife itself is not the best knife you can buy, there are sharper, better blades made out of higher quality materials. But who wants to use a $300-500 knife in a setting where it will probably get stolen, dropped, misplaced, etc. On the other hand, I wont use a $25 stamped piece of garbage that isn't worth the packaging it came in. This knife is a perfect fit in between those two extremes and works great at home or in a professional kitchen. I would put the knife as slightly better than most wusthof/henkels and on par with the better globals.

Due to the different feels of the various brands of knives, I strongly recommend going into a shop prior to buying this here and handle them all.
39 people found this helpful
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D. Perry
5.0 out of 5 stars Best knife ever!
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2023
Size: 8 InchVerified Purchase
If you value a razor sharp knife that holds it's edge and is beautiful to boot, then this knife is for you. I have used the best Chicago Cutlery for the past 45 years and I am an expert at keeping knives sharp. There is no comparison and I am absolutely hooked on Shun.
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Rheingauner 99
5.0 out of 5 stars Nach 9 (neun) Jahren immer noch sagenhaft scharf. Spitzenmesser. Spitzenhandling.
Reviewed in Germany on June 11, 2022
Size: 8 InchVerified Purchase
Ein excellentes Messer in jeder Hinsicht. Und ja, man muss es gelegentlich nachschärfen. Dafür gibt es hier in diesem Laden auch Nassschleifsteine zu erwerben. Aber wenn ich lese, dass jemand nach 9 Monaten über die nachlassende Schärfe enttäuscht ist muss ich lachen.
Ich nutze es seit 9 Jahren mehrfach täglich für alles. Gemüse, Brot, Fleisch. ALLES.
Man darf nicht auf Glas ober Metalluntergrund schneiden, sondern Holz oder Plastik. Nichts gefrorenes. Und natürlich gehört das Messer nicht in den Geschirrspüler.
Wenn man dann nach Monaten merkt, dass die Schnittleitung nachlässt, netto 10 Minuten Arbeit in das Nachschleifen investieren und man hat wieder für Monate ein superscharfes Messer zur Verfügung.
Neben der Schärfe überzeugt mich auch jeden Tag wieder das hervorragende Handling des Messers.
Würde ich jederzeit wiederkaufen, aber es schneidet und schneidet und schneidet.....
4 people found this helpful
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Richard Clancy
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb knife - easily the best I've ever used
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 6, 2022
Size: 8 InchVerified Purchase
I purchased this knife to use for all round food preparation tasks to assist my humble home cooking efforts. I did a quick bit of on-line research to see which chef's knives would meet my requirements and although the Kai Shun Classic Chef's Knife was by no means the cheapest option available I am delighted that I paid a bit extra because this really is a premium product. The knife is really comfortable to hold and is razor sharp (as you'd hope/expect), which makes preparing vegetables etc really easy (and safe). Highly recommended.
One person found this helpful
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Andrea Di Loreto
5.0 out of 5 stars Semplicemente fantastico!!
Reviewed in Italy on November 15, 2021
Size: 8 InchVerified Purchase
Un'assoluta opera d'arte, dopo anni di lavoro con la linea Wasabi ho deciso di fare un salto di qualità e passare alla linea Shun e come mi aspettavo la Kai non mi ha deluso. Il coltello è robusto, ben bilanciato, la forma a castagna del manico permette una presa solida e sicura. L'acciaio è strepitoso , il taglio preciso e netto se curato bene bastano un paio di colpi sulla pietra per ridare vita al taglio. Personalmente lo consiglio a qualunque addetto al settore. Per quanto riguarda gli amatori non so se consigliarlo, non è un coltello qualunque e va curato affinché possa esprimere tutte le sue potenzialità. Detto questo posso dire che è semplicemente magnifico.
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Gaël
5.0 out of 5 stars Parfait !
Reviewed in France on September 21, 2021
Size: 8 InchVerified Purchase
Magnifique couteau de Chef, en provenance directe du Japon (cf. certificat de garantie inclus et inscription sur la lame). Forgé dans les règles de l’art et affûté à la main, ce couteau de très grande qualité vous apportera, de par son tranchant sans faille et son excellent équilibre, un véritable plaisir de coupe lors la préparation de vos prochains petits plats… en un mot : parfait !
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Gaël
5.0 out of 5 stars Parfait !
Reviewed in France on September 21, 2021
Magnifique couteau de Chef, en provenance directe du Japon (cf. certificat de garantie inclus et inscription sur la lame). Forgé dans les règles de l’art et affûté à la main, ce couteau de très grande qualité vous apportera, de par son tranchant sans faille et son excellent équilibre, un véritable plaisir de coupe lors la préparation de vos prochains petits plats… en un mot : parfait !
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rajashekar
5.0 out of 5 stars Shun knives
Reviewed in India on January 26, 2020
Size: 8 InchVerified Purchase
World class shun knives are a delight to own, lucky to purchase on amazon.in, numbrave retailer at a very reasonable price
One person found this helpful
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