The Shun Classic 4-piece Knife Block Set is Made Up of Some of the Best Premium Layered Knives in the Market
What We Like
- 34 Micro Layers of powdered stainless steel per knife
- Sharpening rod and storage block
- VG-MAX stainless steel
- D-shaped Pakkawood handle
- Damascus-clad blades
- Lifetime Limited warranty
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive
- No shears included
Bottom Line
The Shun Classic 4-piece Knife Block Set review here shows that Shun spared no expense during the manufacturing of all the knives in the series. They are all beautiful, elegant, and made of VG-MAX super steel.
The Damascus-clad design makes the knives more beautiful and more functional at the same time. The knives are sharpened to a 16° angle so they have razor-sharp edges.
Despite all the nice features of the knife, it is too expensive for a set of just 3 knives that are prone to chipping.
Have You Ever Heard That “the Best Knives Always Come in Sets”? It’s a Common Saying Used by Knife Lovers and Professional Cooks Who Believe That It’s Always Better to Buy a Set of Knives Instead of a Single Knife.
Some sets have up to 20 pieces while some have as little as 4 pieces. Our focus in this piece is on the Shun Classic 4-piece Knife Block Set. This simple premium 4 pieces set is made up of elegant, functional knives with several layers.
All the knives in the set have razor-sharp edges and they are made with the same standard as every other knife manufactured by Shun. Most importantly, these knives come with a limited lifetime warranty. So, you can return the set if you’re not happy with the product.
In our review, we are going to address all the things that make the set a good option.
Related article: Shun Dm0706 Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
Features of the Shun Classic 4-piece Knife Block Set
A Set of 4
The Shun Classic 4-piece Knife Block Set might not have all the knives you can think of but it has two of the most important knives that usually come with a set; a chef’s knife and a paring knife.
Everyone knows that a chef’s knife is a great option for everyone because it is a multipurpose kitchen knife that can be used for almost everything you want to cut in the kitchen.
There is an 8-inches chef’s knife in the Shun Classic 4-piece Knife Block Set that will serve you well in your kitchen. There is also a beautiful 3.5-inches paring knife with a clip point.
This is the perfect size for paring knives because of its unique purposes. For sharpening both knives, there is a steel sharpening rod included in the package. Also, the block is slim and portable with the capacity to hold one extra knife apart from the ones in the set.
VG-MAX Stainless Steel
All premium Shun knives are made with super stainless steel called VG-MAX. VG-MAX is the most recent steel in the VG series. It is the direct upgrade of VG-10 and it contains all the elements in the VG-10 steel in higher concentration.
VG-MAX is rich in carbon. Carbon is known to increase the strength of every steel, its ability to retain its sharp edges, and its durability.
Even though the Shun Classic 4-piece Knife Block Set is strong, they are incredibly easy to sharpen or re-sharpen whenever you want. The only drawback of carbon is that it makes the knife more prone to rust.
The good news is that the chromium and molybdenum content in the VG-MAX steel helps prevent it from rusting over time irrespective of the carbon content. Every other element in the steel has a purpose and they all make the knives a great option.
34 Layers of Powdered Steel
The VG-MAX steel core is covered with 34 layers of powdered steel. This is what gives it the Damascus-clad finish that is rough yet beautiful. This Damascus-clad finish makes the knife elegant.
It also makes it easier for you to maintain the best knives since the layering makes the knife resistant to stain. No sticky or juicy food is going to get stuck on the blade when you slice.
These juicy foods aren’t going to squeeze or bend when you deep your knives inside. The style of finish is called Damascus-clad because it is an imitation of traditional Damascus knives. These knives are thick, strong, and finished with over 300 layers of steel.
D-shaped Pakkawood Handle
The knives in the Shun Classic 4-piece Knife Block Set all have a comfortable D-shaped pakkawood handle. The shape of the handle makes the knife easy to use.
They are perfect to draw slicing and for cutting in one direction with precision. The pakkawood used for creating the knife isn’t just beautiful. It is also one of the most durable materials for making premium knife handles.
All Shun knives have pakkawood handles because of the high water resistance. It is incredibly important that you choose knives with water-resistant handles.
This is because no matter how hard you try, your knife will always come in contact with water and other liquid substances in the kitchen. Since it doesn’t absorb water, there is no room for even the smallest form of bacteria to breed.
Related reading: Shun DM0712 Chinese Vegetable Cleaver
Lightweight and Lifetime Warranty
The two knives are lightweight. The chef’s knife is about 8-inches long and it weighs about 10 ounces. The paring knife is about 3.5-inches and it weighs 5 ounces.
So, both knives are flexible. You can use them for hours at a time without fatigue. The knives come with a limited lifetime warranty. So, you can return it if it starts chipping after a few uses.
Related reading: Shun DM0718 Classic 7-Inch Knife
Shun Classic 4-Piece Knife Block Set Review The Verdict
The review above shows that it is a great knife set like many others manufactured by Shun. Everything in the set from the knife, sharpener, and even the block is made of high-quality materials. They are durable and easy to use.
However, spending between $229 to $250 on just two knives is expensive even if the set comes with a sharpening rod and a block. If there were a kitchen shear and two more knives in the set, maybe it would have made more sense.
