Shun

Why r/BuyItForLife recommends Shun

40 mentions from real owners

• #1Dec 22, 2025

  What was the best purchase you made this year?

  Shun knives

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• #2Dec 19, 2025

  Leads on Kitchen shears

  I just found this thread as I'm looking for shears. I was excited to see Kershaw as an option as they look identical to the Shuns, but the Kershaws are now made in China\* as the Shuns are still made in Japan. \*China is very capable of making high quality goods. Since these are a gift for my wife (she specifically asked for new kitchen shears) I'm getting her the Shuns.

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• #3Dec 6, 2025

  Looking to buy first quality knives.

  I cook quite a bit, and 90% of what I use is Shun Classic 6.5" Nakiri Knife. My mom had one and I always stayed away from it, being a butcher knife devotee. But once I tried this knife for prepping, I,can never go back. It’s just great for everything. I do have the Shun butcher knife and paring knife, but the Nakiri is perfect for chopping veg from mincing garlic to rough chopping tubers. I had Henkel before Shun (still have them), but they are my backups, I.e., still in my knife drawer, but not normally used.

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• #4Dec 6, 2025

  Looking to buy first quality knives.

  Shun premier.

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• #5Nov 4, 2025

  Knife set for Christmas

  Optionally, you could go for this [**Shun set**](https://shun.kaiusa.com/classic-5pc-in-drawer-set.html). It comes with a drawer organizer too.

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• #6Nov 3, 2025

  Buying what my parents use

  The shun knife in the back let's me know you know your shiiiit

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• #7Nov 3, 2025

  Knife set for Christmas

  I moved over from Europe to Japanese steel. Not only is the Santoku knife way more versatile it’s also way more precise in its cuts. For tougher cuts i use Nakiri. Got the series of Kai Shun Classic and Kai Shun Kohen. Don’t forget to get a diamond knife rod and a knife sharpener like the HORL3 and you are set for life!

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• #8Nov 3, 2025

  Knife set for Christmas

  I went on a similar journey a couple years back. I ended up going with a Wusthof (I believe the same chef knife as in your picture) and I've been happy with it. I didn't end up getting a set as I still had other knives I could use and don't really even use those much to be honest, except for the pairing knife. The one thing I will say is that a knife can be relatively personal so instead of "forcing" your husband into a particular set, you could consider getting him a gift card to a kitchen/knife shop and letting him try things out. The balance, weight, size, feel, style and steel used are all factors to be considered when choosing a good knife, and is chef dependent, especially if you plan on it being BIFL. So unless your husband truly knows what he wants already, you could consider get a gift card and make a date/adventure of it so he can try the knives out and ask questions of the staff (and perhaps pick up other things you might need for your newly renovated kitchen!) I'm in Vancouver and I got my Wusthof from Gourmet Warehouse. The lady I spoke with was wonderful in helping me make my decision. The other knives I tried were Global, Shun, and even some Santoku ones but I've been quite happy with my Wusthof Classic Chef's knife. Good luck on the journey!

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• #9Oct 6, 2025

  What are some actual BIFL kitchen items?

  I’m a kitchen enthusiast who has spent 20 years upgrading my kitchen tools. - All-clad Tri ply stainless steel. - Staub or Le Creuset cast iron Dutch ovens - Cast iron fry pan (keep it well seasoned and it will eventually become just as nonstick as a nonstick frypan. Better yet buy a vintage one with a smooth interior) - Shun or Global chef’s knife and paring knife - fiesta ware dinnerware, or simple white Corelle - cast iron griddle pan that you can place over two eyes on your stove, keep it seasoned for non-stick goodness - electric appliances will eventually wear out, but Breville small appliances are very well made and long lasting. - Norwex microfiber cloths - kitchen aid stand mixer - heavy gauge baking sheets and jelly pans - go to a restaurant supply store - Rubbermaid plastic containers (from restaurant supply store) - vitamix blender - invest in upgrading your kitchen cabinetry with pull out drawers and sliding shelves to maximize space and organization.

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• #10Oct 6, 2025

  What are some actual BIFL kitchen items?

  I've been really happy with my shun chef knife. I get giddy every time I resharpen it

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• #11Oct 3, 2025

  What is the best kitchen gadget under $100 that you own?

  Wusthof and Shun make some great knives that aren't crazy expensive, but opt for one of their middle of the line series at least. I'm always using my chef knife or santoku knife and guessing those are probably the most utilized in the kitchen.

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• #12Aug 10, 2025

  Chefs knife that also looks cool/rustic

  The Shun Kanso series.

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• #13Aug 6, 2025

  Henckels Kitchen Knives. I finally replaced my chef's knife and was very surprised in the difference.

  I absolutely hate knifes with bolsters on them. They mess up my sharpening stones, and it takes longer to sharpen them, just overall a pain to deal with. You only really need a handful of knives anyway. You might as well invest a bit into the chefs knife that you'll be using 90% of the time. I'd go with a tojiro, yaxell, shun knife. I like to get them used on ebay and sharpen them myself, sometimes its like 50% off that way.

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• #14Aug 6, 2025

  Henckels Kitchen Knives. I finally replaced my chef's knife and was very surprised in the difference.

  I've used my Shun set daily for the last 15 years. You can get them sharpened and retipped if necessary for a couple bucks at a local knife sharpener, ours even has a drop off box or they do it in about an hour. I also use a cut proof glove though as they are really, really sharp and I'm easily distracted. They have the perfect weight and balance though for control.

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• #15Aug 5, 2025

  Henckels Kitchen Knives. I finally replaced my chef's knife and was very surprised in the difference.

  My colleague uses a shun xl in our restaurant kitchen from Aliexpress from €15- which is great. Its carbon steel, full tang wooden handle and holds a great edge. 30 years in still got me feeling like a beginner with this thing.

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• #16Aug 5, 2025

  Henckels Kitchen Knives. I finally replaced my chef's knife and was very surprised in the difference.

  Try a shun or global it's ridiculous the difference in an Japanese knife edge. They're not for heavy duty task but are incredibly sharp.

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• #17Aug 3, 2025

  Suggest for my kitchenware?

  All-Clad for stainless steel pots and pans - expensive, but you’ll never need to replace them. For knives, Wüsthof or Shun are both great. Cast iron skillet, for that, Lodge is classic and will last generations.

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• #18Jul 11, 2025

  Fed up with chipping knives - need a real workhorse

  Shun knives. A little weekly Steele sharpening and ready to go. I assume if you cook so much, you know how to pick the right knife for the job so you *don’t* damage the blade. That could be part of the issue- ex use a hammer for a screwdriver’s job and be surprised when it doesn’t work. But I love my Shuns and I’ve had German knives as well, but Shuns are so balanced and easy.

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• #19Jul 11, 2025

  Looking for never-rusting stainless steel kitchen scissors

  I have 2 pair of Shun DM7300s, made in Japan. These are kitchen scissors/shears, that separate and come apart for cleaning. I toss them in the dishwasher, every few days. Bought one pair almost a decade ago. No rust at all. Second pair I purchased during the Covid years. Same same on quality and the no-rust and dishwasher. Highly recommend.

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• #20Jul 10, 2025

  Looking for never-rusting stainless steel kitchen scissors

  Cutco is garbage I can't believe what they get away with selling for good money. I have Shun kitchen scissors that have been through the dishwasher a million times they're really strong

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• #21Jul 10, 2025

  Looking for never-rusting stainless steel kitchen scissors

  I think that's the one universally loved Cutco thing.....I almost bought some based on this sub's recommendation, then pivoted to the Shun ones.

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• #22Jul 6, 2025

  What BIFL items would you add to your wedding registry?

  Knives are really dependent on you, but consider using individual knives before getting a knife set and check out different options at a store (Crate and Barrel, Sur la Table, etc. will let you test out different knives in store so you can feel the weight, blade, comfort, etc.). Most people are fine with a few good knives rather than a block with 12+ mediocre / narrow use ones eating up counter space. My spouse and I cook a ton and we have a 5" Shun Santoku (I have small hands), 7" Euro-style chef's knife, 3" Euro-style paring knife, and a Euro-style bread knife (I bake bread). The Shun is the daily driver that we are more careful with b/c of its thinner blade, while the Euro-style we can be a little rougher with. They never ever go in the dishwasher. The Shun was an upgrade 7ish years ago while the Euro-style knives are over 10 years old and as good as day 1.

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• #23Jul 6, 2025

  Stuff you will continue buying for life

  I’ve had my shun almost 20 years. I hone it most every time I use it. It’s a workhorse

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• #24Jul 6, 2025

  Need a set of kitchen knives that will last a lifetime? Any recommendations?

  I abuse 3 shuns, a kai/shun premeire chefs(newest, barely counts), a classic santoku (oldest and most frequently abused) and classic paring(hardly touch it). They'll never let you down, I've been diehard for over 13 years, never been professionally sharpened despite some serious abnormal wear conditions. If they ever do let you down, package em up, send em to Japan, get em back refurbed no cost as long as you're the original owner. Note: I always use an endgrain cutting board I made for the first one (santoku) and it makes a huge difference on sharpening cycles.

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• #25Jul 3, 2025

  BIFL Quality Knives that Last

  I have had my Shun Japanese knives for years. A big feature for me is that you can send them off for free sharpening (you have to pay shipping). I send them back about once a year and just use a honing steel in between.

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• #26Jul 2, 2025

  Name your top 5 BIFL items

  BIFL: 1) Calphalon Cast Iron Dutch Oven- 15 years young 2) Not exactly BIFL but my Smartwool socks are still doing well. My very first pair I've had for 10ish years and still wear once a week. 3) Klean Kanteen tumbler for coffee. I wanted to change it for a Zojirushi once it died. It's been 12 years. 4) Shun 6" chef knife. -15 years.- Also not BIFL but 15 years strong is still pretty good. 5) No name dresser that my dad bought when I was a kid. All wood and good rollers. Decades.

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• #27Jun 1, 2025

  Favorite/must haves in your home

  Shun knives. Lifetime warranty and sharpening Delonghi single cup automated pour over All-Clad stainless and copper core pans Bosch dishwasher

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• #28May 2, 2025

  What’s a kitchen item you bought once and never had to replace?

  Shun knives c. 2004, Chantal Copper Fusion pots & pans c. 2007, Vitamix blender c. 2010, any Le Creuset enameled cast iron any year.

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• #29Apr 10, 2025

  What are your must-have items to include on a wedding registry?

  I would definitely suggest putting high quality kitchen sets especially knives. There are some decent brands like Wüsthof or Shun but they are a lot more expensive and don’t have the best features. Cutco is the brand I would much more highly recommend as it’s forever guarantied, dishwasher safe (unlike the others) and the sets have built in discounts for a total of being cheaper than the other knife brands while still high quality. I actually have a connection who works there and can offer more details as well as special deals and free stuff so if anyone is interested just shoot me a message and I’ll send you their number

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• #30Apr 2, 2025

  Non US Brands | Trade War

  Global, kikuichi, shun, henckell as well

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• #31Mar 10, 2025

  Looking for an extremely sharp chef's knife?

  Victorinox Fibrox is realistically all most people would need. They’re about $40, come very sharp, and are ground very thin so even when it loses the razor edge, it still cuts effortlessly. I’ve had mine for years and only recently felt the need to sharpen it with some of my other knives. But just a few passes on a high grit or ceramic stone brought it back pretty easily. For an upgraded knife in materials, I’d look at a Santoku from either Mac or Shun. Both excellent Japanese brands that make good knives.

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• #32Feb 3, 2025

  Buy Once Cry Once items?

  - B&R carry-on bag - Allen Edmond shoes (many) - Shun knives (free sharpening and repairs) - Shark Apex Duo vacuum with the lifetime warranty - Lots of tools: Makita LXT 18V cordless everything, Klein pliers, Wera screwdrivers

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• #33Jan 8, 2025

  What are some BIFL Wedding Gifts?

  Not all appliances but kitchen related: A nice Dutch oven (I like Staub). Kitchenaid mixer. Vitamix blender. Zojirushi rice cooker. Crockpot. Instapot. Tramontina tri-ply stainless steel pans. Shun chef knife. A good air fryer if that’s your thing. Staub casserole dish set. These all get heavy use in my kitchen and I plan/hope to have them forever or at least a very long time.

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• #34Dec 5, 2015

  Kitchen knife for personal use

  7 Feel is huge. My family is firmly divided into Henkles and Wustoff camps (with my husband as the weird Shun outlier but he's also the only Japanese person in my family) and it breaks down precisely amongst gender lines. The Wustoff handles are much smaller and since the women in my family have midget hands we all prefer them.

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• #35Dec 2, 2015

  Kitchen knife for personal use

  I think you've been jaded to japanese knives. There are plenty of phenomenal Japanese knives that are function over form and many japanese manufacturers make European style knives with Japanese steel. Its funny that you mention the pro chef and then obliterate japanese knives when almost every single pro chef I know uses Japanese knives. This is from line cooks to tsu chefs. I have actually found the opposite to be true on the price front as well. If you are buying a functional japanese knife and not a 'damascus' style one that is for show then I can usually find a similar quality knife to the german brands for much cheaper. Wusthof and Henkel are very well marketed and all of that marketing money increases the price. They are also good knives and I wouldn't discount them but they are far from the best in that price range. Hell, if you are going to go german then go Messermeister. They use a better alloy and a slightly better profile than either Wusthof or Henkel for the same money. Similarly with Japanese knives you shouldn't be going with Shun or Global if you want the best knife for the money because those are the household names with huge marketing machines. There are many other brands that offer better knives for better prices. While Japanese steel is harder and therefore more brittle than European steel you are over exaggerating how much extra care is necessary. You basically just can't throw the knife on the floor, put it in the dishwasher (also recommended for european knives), or bash it into things to avoid chipping or breaking the blade.

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• #36Dec 2, 2015

  Kitchen knife for personal use

  This comes up around here a lot. Here's something you should really think about. You can get a very high end knife(s), and it will be really nice and last a long time if you take good care of it. Seriously, some of those Shun knives come to mind, they are literally functional show pieces. You will hear a lot of people say names like Wusthof, Henckel, Shun, and these are super high quality knives. You pay for this quality not only with money, but time. You need to care of knives like this if you want them to last. You need to hand wash and dry them, you need to keep them in a nice block or on a mag strip. You probably want to invest in a good sharpening stone or be prepared to have them professionally sharpened sometimes. If you're up for this, then you can't go wrong with one of those knives. They are all awesome. On the other hand, if you expect to treat this new knife more like you treat the rest of your dishes, that is to say if you'd rather put your knife in the dishwasher, toss it in a drawer, and and sharpen it with a $10 sharpener you bought from Amazon, then you should NOT buy one of those. Instead, look for a knife that was *made* to withstand this kind of abuse. Get yourself a foodservice knife like the Victorinox Fibrox, or the Dexter-Russell Sani-Safe. They are really cheap, ultra-durable, dishwasher safe, and made to be used by people who hate their jobs. In a home setting they will last forever under circumstances that will be fatal to a high end knife. The down side is that they do not hold an edge quite as well (but not bad), they don't quite have the heft that some prefer, and they are not pieces of art worthy of display on your countertop. But they will last and perform well. That's all. Nothing wrong with a high end knife, but I hate spending extra time on taking care of gear when I don't have to. So think about that.

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• #37Dec 2, 2015

  Kitchen knife for personal use

  +1 for Shun, extremely Comfortable, Sharp, Attractive and durable.

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• #38Dec 2, 2015

  Kitchen knife for personal use

  When my girlfriend was in culinary school I started buying her 1 Shun knife (when they go on sale) from a local cutlery distributer on special occasions. We now have nearly a whole set. They are very expensive, but come with a lifetime guarantee and hold and edge very well. They're also very comfortable to use.

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• #39Dec 1, 2015

  Today I bought my first quality cooking knife.

  **Shun DM0706 Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife** |||| --:|:--|:-- Current|$99.95|Amazon (New) High|$139.95|Amazon (New) Low|$99.00|Amazon (New) |Average|$99.95|30 Day [Price History Chart and Sales Rank](http://i.imgur.com/LvusfzU.png) | [FAQ](http://www.reddit.com/r/PriceZombie/wiki/index)

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• #40Dec 1, 2015

  Today I bought my first quality cooking knife.

  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000Y7KNQ Can't beat this price on a Shun 8-inch.

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