Ken Onion by Shun 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
- 8-inch Shun Ken Onion chef’s knife
- Crafted of forged VG-10 stainless steel with Damascus styling
- Ergonomic shape by knife designer Ken Onion releases arm tension and provides optimal safety
- Strong, beautiful Pakkawood handle resists moisture and maneuvers exceptionally well
- comes with wooden holder and gift box
Product Description
Feel the power of the first truly ergonomic chef’s knife! This Shun Knife by Kershaw is designed by Ken Onion, one of the worlds top knife designers. This patent pending design features a special angled curved bolster and specially shaped handle that fits perfectly in the hand, releasing all tension in your arm. The extra curve on the blade allows for an easier flowing motion across the cutting board, and the tip allows for easier scooping. Combine all of this with the sharpest Japanese edge available, and you have perfection. The design of this knife will make you an immediate chopomatic in the kitchen.Amazon.com Review
Creating a new trend for knife design, this Shun chef’s knife by Kershaw introduces some clever innovations for effortless yet accurate handling. The 8-inch Damascus blade features a generous tip, curved cutting edge, and wide surface area to easily handle any number of food prep tasks. The specially contoured bolster balances the blade while also releasing arm tension, smoothing movements, and maintaining optimal safety–perfect for a busy home chef. With forged VG-10 stainless-steel construction, the knife resists corrosion and rust and maintains an extremely sharp edge for years of use.
Adding strength and beauty, the Pakkawood handle casts a deep, warm glow as it displays a lovely line that invites the home cook to pick it up again and again. The reward is a well-balanced, highly maneuverable tool that feels wonderfully at home in the hand without slipping or rubbing. This versatile knife was created by Ken Onion, one of the world’s top knife designers. A wooden holder suspends the knife just above the long base so it won’t dull the blade. The set comes in a handsome gift box. –Kara Karll
Ken Onion by Shun 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
I’ve only handled this knife at the store. You have to decide whether to buy the knife or not, and I didn’t.
Ken Onion is a superstar of knife design, google the Leek design – spring activate, non-switch blade knife!
This knife looks nice, but my overall feeling is that if I didn’t know who had made it, and just had to use it in a kitchen setting I would still reach for a standard 8″ Chef’s knife. This knife does not have good weight distribution for me, the blade is too thin and uncomfortable to hang onto, and the handle too heavy. The stylistic shaping that take this knife away from a standard chef’s knife are interesting to look at but not useful.
Most high quality custom blades are made quite like this one, with a separate blade, bolster, and handle. However this assembly is normally typical of cheaper western kitchen knives (most great Asian knives do use separate parts, and can even be taken apart). This style of assembly is not more comfortable than a forged transition between the handle and blade that flows better, and does not present as many hygiene problems.
Complimenting a knife as being sharp is like complimenting a glass for holding water. Traditional Japanese knives have outstanding sharpening and edge holding capabilities, however they require skill in sharpening and the steel is normally not stain resistant. This knife does have a good choice in high quality stain resistant steel, which is a good long term edge holder for the kind of person who likes to have their knife factory resharpened.
Overall I think that Chef’s knives are better at what they do and Japanese knives are better at what they do. While this knife may have Asian influence, it’s solely in a “look at me” way. It’s not a serious fusion. Neither tradition supports the lumpy design excesses of this knife. This knife is a Ken Onion Chef’s knife, not a really good chef’s knife that happens to have been designed by Ken Onion. Only for Onion Collectors.
Rated 3 / 5
I went to Sur La Table to take a look at this knife as I was considering buying it. Here are my criticisms:
1. There was a visible gap between the bolster and
back of the tang; the gap was also irregular leading me to believe it was not intentional. It looked like the perfect place for particles of food to get trapped in. This is inexcusable on a knife costing this much. I was also stunned given the expense of the vg10 blade that the tang braising would be so shoddy.
This is something I would expect on a 30.00 knife.
2. Its not a full tang knife… The tang extends maybe 3/4 of the way into the handle. I would be curious to see how well the handle would hold up if the knife was dropped handle first.
This also makes the balance of the knife a bit off. Skimping on
the tang was a very odd choice.
3. The front choil on the handle is poorly place and overly large… it makes it difficult to choke up properly onto the knife. Handle it a bit and you will see what I mean.
4. While the offset handle is perhaps better than a traditional chefs knife for rocking motions, I actually think it makes the blade feel less in control… any torquing of the wrist holding the knife causes a large change in angle on the blade– try using one and you will see what I mean; the axis of the handle is
not aligned with the spine of the blade… its really annoying.
5. The big one ***Cost***. The Shun is about 200.00. Right now on Amazon you can get a Henckels Pro S series starter set with ” 8″ Chef’s knife, a 6″ Utility knife , 4″ Paring knife and a 9″ sharpening steel” for 169.00… Take the extra 30.00 and get yourself a nice maple cutting board to go with them.
I guaranteee you will hand the Henckels down to your grandchildren some day. I would be surprised if the same could be said of the Shun.
As a side note, I was also very surprised by my findings given that the regular Shun knives are of excellent quality. I just happen to like the classic german knives better… Its surprisng that they fell down on quality with their custom collaboration
Rated 1 / 5
Love the knife super quick shipping with seller. no complaints if they had anything else I need I would not hesitate to buy.
Rated 5 / 5
I have several Ken Onion knives but sadly have had lots of problems with them over the past year… they are beautiful, sharp, well balanced, but… there is something seriously wrong with the blade steel. The edge will pit and actually corrode within only 2-3 hours of being left wet or not wiped off “completely”. And the tips of the small knives breaks off very easily.
I had to send 3 of my 4 knives back to Kershaw for warranty replacement, two of them twice!, due to the above. The pitting was awesome, and consistant. What was insult to injury though was communicating with the warranty staff; they didn’t know the products, were impatient and contemptuous, they seriously gave ‘we-don’t-care-so-go-away’ answers, and clearly could care less that anyone would have a problem with their product. I was blown away.
I filled out my kitchen knife block with Wusthofs. Solid. Sharp. Quality products. I should have stayed with them.
The Ken Onion’s are beautiful, sharp, and expensive, but seriously flawed. And Kershaw sucks.
L B Aldred
Oregon
Rated 1 / 5
I have a set of Shun Classics and just got the Ken Onion Chef’s Knive. It is awesome and well balanced. Great feel in my hand and cuts like a razor. Try one in your hand and you will probably buy. I am definatly an amatuer, but this knfe makes me feel like Chef Boy r Dean
Dean Nieporte
Rated 5 / 5