The Shun Dm0702 Classic 7-inch Santoku Knife is a Great General-purpose Kitchen Knife That is Made in Japan
What We Like
- General-purpose design
- Razor-sharp edge
- Steel finger bolster
- 16 layers of stainless steel
- High carbon steel core
- Pakkawood handle
- Edge retention
- Corrosion-resistant
- The lightweight and perfect balance
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive
- Fragile
Bottom Line
This Shun DM0702 Classic 7-Inch Knife review shows that it is a good option for anyone who needs a general-purpose knife that is sharp and accurate.
As long as you don’t do high volume cooking daily, you’re not going to have any issues with the knife.
This is because it is a fragile Santoku knife so the tips get chipped easily if it is overused or not used with care. The price is also high for a knife that is prone to chipping.
Having a multi-purpose kitchen knife is a good way to save money on cookware. One Santoku knife will be enough instead of buying one knife for slicing, one for pairing, one for chopping, etc.
Santoku knives have been part of the traditional Japanese designs for hundreds of years. You will hardly find a brand that doesn’t have a Santoku series. Shun, the famous knife producer, isn’t felt out of this group.
The Shun DM0702 Classic 7-Inch Santoku Knife is one of the best general-purpose knives you will find on Amazon. It has a razor sharp edge, Damascus finish, and precision-forged Stainless-steel blade.
All these are features that make a great knife as you will see in our Shun DM0702 Classic 7-Inch Knife review.
Related Reading: Shun Dm0706 Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
Features of the Shun DM0702 Classic 7-Inch Santoku Knife
General Purpose Knife
Not everyone can afford to buy a complete knife set. Even if you can afford to buy one, you may not see the need to purchase if you don’t cook dishes that require special cutting frequently.
By purchasing one Santoku knife, you can get most of your cooking done without stress. Santoku Shun knives are designed to be used for several purposes instead of a single purpose.
Everything about the blade from the length, flat edge to the bevel and handle, is designed for multiple purposes. This is why it is called a Santoku knife.
The Shun DM0702 Classic 7-Inch Santoku Knife can be used to cut meat, fish, vegetables, and everything else into any shape or size you want.
Related Reading: Shun Premier 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
Lightweight and Perfect Balance
The Shun DM0702 Santoku Knife weighs 3.53 ounces which put it in the lightweight category. Since it is lightweight, anyone can use it without stress.
Most heavyweight knives can be used comfortably only by professionals who have years of experience in using kitchen knives.
A lightweight knife can be used by an amateur and a professional alike because it doesn’t put any strain on your shoulders or wrists.
Despite its lightweight, the DM0702 Classic 7-Inch Santoku Knife is incredibly well-balanced.
The weight of the handle and tang are in harmony with the width and weight of the blade.
You will feel the balance when you hold it and this will help you get more accurate cuts.
Precision Forged Blade
Everyone who knows about how knives are manufactured knows that precision-forged blades are more expensive than stamped blades. Why is this always the case?
The answer is simple. Precision-forged Shun knives are stronger and better at retaining sharpness because of the stringent process involved in creating them. The Shun DM0702 Classic 7-Inch Santoku Knife is made of a single bar of steel.
After being treated with extreme heat, the steel is pounded into the required shape.
Like every other precision forged knife, the Shun DM0702 Classic Knife comes with a steel bolster which helps to provide balance and protect your fingers from the blade.
It also has a full tang that reaches into the end of the handle ensuring that every cut is powerful.
Razor Sharp and Corrosion Resistant Blade
The Shun DM0702 Classic 7-Inch Knife has razor sharp edges that can cut through any food substance in your kitchen. We performed the paper test on the Santoku knife after purchasing it and it passed with flying colors.
It cut through the paper without resistance. The sharpness of the blade is due to a combination of factors like the type of steel, the method of forging, and the type of honing the blade got before being shipped to customers.
The blade is made of VG-MAX steel like many other knives in the Shun Classic series. So, it’s not a surprise that it is sharp and rust-resistant as several elements in the steel ensure this.
The high carbon concentration which would have made the knife prone to rust is buffered by the high concentration of chromium.
16 Layers of Steel And a Pakkawood Handle
At a glance, you will see that the knife does not have a smooth finish. This is because of the Damascus-clad design that was used during manufacturing.
The roughness you see on the knife is as a result of sandwiching the core of the knife with 16 layers of powdered steel. This beautiful finish also makes the knife resistant to stain irrespective of what you’re cooking.
The handle of the knife is made of high quality pakkawood steel that is as hard as oak steel. It has a black and brown sequence and it gives the knife a D-shape. Pakkawood is strong, reliable, and resistant to bacteria.
Related Reading: Kitchen Knives Buying Guide
Shun DM0702 Classic 7-Inch Santoku Knife Review The Verdict
The Shun DM0702 Classic 7-Inch Knife review above shows that it is a rust-resistant multi-purpose knife that does the job pretty well. However, it is too fragile for a knife that is made of high carbon steel.
Over time, the tip might get chipped if you use it for high volume cooking. This is disappointing when you consider the fact that the knife costs around $100 – $120 on Amazon.
If you’re going to spend this much on a knife, it should be durable enough to last for a lifetime.