Shun Premier Knives

The Shun Premier 8-inch Kiritsuke is for cooks who favor a straight edge and push cuts over a rocking motion. In Japan, the kiritsuke is known as the master chef’s knife, and it handles many of the same tasks as a chef’s knife. Its long, straight edge meets the board along its full length, which makes it especially effective for slicing, julienne, dice, and brunoise. The same edge cleans and portions boneless proteins, fish in particular, and slices cooked meats neatly. The hand-hammered tsuchime finish on the Shun Premier blade helps food release as you cut, so slices fall away instead of clinging to the steel.
FeaturesStraight, extended edge: The flat profile makes full contact with the board on every push cut, which produces clean, uniform vegetable cuts.Angled tip: The kiritsuke’s signature tip is precise enough for fine scoring and detail work.VG-MAX cutting core: Shun’s proprietary steel resists wear and corrosion and holds a fine, keen edge through long prep sessions.Damascus cladding: Layered stainless steel supports and protects the core.Hammered tsuchime finish: The hand-hammered surface helps food release from the blade while cutting.Contoured walnut PakkaWood handle: The handle offers comfort and control and resists moisture.Handcrafted in Seki City, Japan: Each Shun knife requires at least 100 individual steps to complete in Seki City, one of Japan’s most important blade-making centers since the 13th century.Free lifetime sharpening: Shun offers free lifetime sharpening, so the edge can be professionally restored whenever it needs it.
Tasks It Handles WellJulienne, dice, and brunoise vegetablesPush-cutting onions, carrots, and celeryCleaning and portioning boneless fish filletsSlicing cooked proteins such as roasts and chicken breastFine slicing of herbs and aromatics
Choosing a Shun Premier KnifeIf you prefer to rock the blade through herbs and garlic, the curved belly of the Shun Premier 8-inch Chef’s Knife suits that motion better. For a more compact all-purpose knife with a straighter edge, consider the Shun Premier 7-inch Santoku. The same blade shape is also available with a D-shaped ebony handle and smooth Damascus finish as the Shun Classic 8-inch Kiritsuke. Learn More