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Shun Premier Chef Knife Vs Wusthof Classic 8 Inch Kitchen Knife

Although neither of these knives are a personal favorite, they are both brilliant pieces of silverware and deserve a tip from the hat. However, if you could choose between them, you could pick a clear favorite. Since I prefer lighter knives with more ergonomic handles, I deeply prefer the Shun Premier. With that said, anyone who likes a classic French knife would love the Wusthof Classic.

General description

The Shun Premier is a classic Japanese style chef’s knife. It’s slim, lightweight, and has a sleek design. I love its hammered Damascus steel, which makes it look like a samurai artifact. The combination of steels used in the construction of the blade gives it a good balance of a high carbon hard core and a softer Damascus steel coating and protects the brittle interior. However, it is not a suitable knife for heavy duty tasks, so a certain delicacy is required to use it to its full effect.

The Wusthof Classic line of knives is no less impressive. It’s heavier, sturdier, and has the handle shape that most western chefs have grown accustomed to. Its high-carbon forged stainless steel is strong, durable, and you can take advantage of it with minimal maintenance. The edge is precision engineered with Wusthof’s proprietary PETec process. It also has a thick reinforcement and a finger guard that supports the heel of the knife, which along with its weight makes it a great sturdy knife. It can be a bit on the heavy side for some though, and I’ve never been a fan of typically blocky European knife handles.

Knife surface

The Wusthof Classic line tends to have a smooth blade (although there is a hollow or dimpled ground version). This flat blade makes thin slicing a bit more complicated as the food sticks to the flat part of the blade. The Shun Premier’s blade traps small pockets of air underneath the slices and makes it much easier to cut extremely thin foods. It’s a bit more prone to having little bits of food in it, but the hammered look is so pretty I’ll forgive it for being a little less convenient.

Beef up

In typical Japanese style, the head only serves to connect the handle to the blade and is only as thick as the thinnest section of the handle. It’s lightweight because the blade is lightweight and you don’t have to balance it as much. I like light knives. On the other hand, however, there is a lot to be said for a large and robust booster. The Wusthof has a reinforced gusset and toe guard that also makes the heel a perfect shoe-and-break tool. Although I keep a large, heavy, cheap knife for such things, it makes the Wusthof more versatile and robust.

Sort out

It is the most obvious moment. The handles of these two knives are drastically different and, at first glance, the Wusthof appears to be more ergonomically designed. Unfortunately, it also has a square and blocky profile. I don’t find these knives particularly comfortable or easy to grip well. The Shun Premier has a rounded handle that appears straight from the side, but actually fits much better in the naturally rounded grip of your hand (I think) without too much force required. Another point for Shun.

Steel

In general, I am a fan of high carbon stainless steel like the one the Wusthof Classic is made of. The reason for that, however, is that high carbon steel is so painful to maintain. It takes a lot of effort and attention to prevent discoloration or chipping. The Shun takes care of that very well with its 16 layers of Damascus steel protecting the commercial end of the blade. These knives have a wicked edge, but the edge itself can be brittle, so it’s important to respect it.

Conclusions.

The Wusthof Classic is perfect for chefs with a classic European influence. It is a deeply familiar and high-quality tool. However, strictly for a matter of personal aesthetics and comfort preferences, it is not my favorite of the two.

The Premier Shun is a classic Japanese-style knife and a clear choice for anyone hailing from the Japanese culinary tradition. It is also lighter, has a more comfortable handle, and its aesthetic is close to art. Definitely my favorite in this duo.

However, if these knives are a bit dated and stuffy for your taste, check out the comparison of the Global G-2 and the Shun Ken Onion. Those are two knives that push modern boundaries very well.

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