Shun Classic 6 Inch Utility Knife

Shun. What more needs to be said??? It is simple, Shun is the best all around. Will you pay more? Sure you will but you will never have to buy a replacement in your lifetime. Shun knives are the best in the world, no question.

This utility knife is my baby... I don't let others use it. It takes a wicked edge and holds it great. Actually comes sharp from the factory, most knives don't come truly sharp. I can sharpen a piece of cardboard but this knife takes a keen edge like no other, better than any of my german knives. It is just the right size to do both nice garde manger work while also having utility as a general cutting knife too. I can't stress the quality of edge this blade takes on. If honed properly (always hone a blade the direction you steel it) it will get so sharp as to stick into the board it cuts on and retains that edge well. Every so often steel it on a good quality steel and it stays keen (I use an F. Dick micro steel; F. Dick makes the ONLY steels and cleavers in my book). Properly maintained and handwashed it will cut you many translucent thin slices of vegtables and many garnishes... TOP NOTCH worth the price!

Not much more to add to the legendary built and quality of Shun. Great knife and a pleasure just looking at it!

After 10 years in the kitch, I have good skills with knife.

But, first day with this knife, I cut my finger. Shun cuts yam like tofu, it happen so fast that I wasn't even able to react to it. I need to be extra careful with this blade.

Update 9/10/07: Before purchasing this knife separately, check out the Shun Classic U2 (Ultimate Utility) Knife. You may like it better.

I believe if you're serious about cooking, you should own great cookware and excellent knives. I finally stepped up and got excellent knives. For those who haven't heard the hype, Shun is one of the most respected knife brands in the world. Check them out on the Web at [...].

Great features of the entire line include these cool "D" shaped handles that fit your hand better. Each knife is made in a right- and left-handed version ([...] for lefties). The steel used for the blades is harder than what you would find in most other knives. The knives are EXTREMELY sharp. One thing to note about Asian knives is that they must be sharpened at a different angle, 16-18 degrees vs. 20 degrees for German knives. The Shun steel takes the guesswork out of getting the angle correct because of the flat edge on one side of the metal disc below the handle.

It's been a while since I've had a utility knife, but I'm learning quickly. If you're building your set and want to take care of the must-haves first. Move this down on your priority list. Get the chef's, paring and bread knives first. With that said, there is a place for this knife in your kitchen. As with all of my other Shun knives, this one is extremely sharp and it's relatively light. It doesn't take as much force to slice and chop.

This is an expensive, but lifetime investment. I encourage you to visit stores and feel the knives in your hand to make sure you are comfortable with them. For more info on Shun, check out Alton Brown's website. For ratings on various brands and types of knives, check out [...]' equipment ratings.

This is probably the best kitchen purchase I've made and the one I'm most proud of.