ShunDual Core 8" Kiritsuke Knife, Handcrafted Japanese Kitchen Knife for Professional and Home Chefs, VG10 and VG2 Damascus Steel Blade, Pakkawood Handle

Over the years, I’ve acquired a number of Wusthof, Henckels, and Shun knives, some of them becoming my favorites for various tasks. But this knife surpassed them all and became my all-time favorite at first use. This is an 8” razor blade. It’s perfectly balanced, and the grip fits my (left) hand securely. The blade is thin but is rock solid and firm, with zero flex. To top it off, the cladding is beautiful and looks like a piece of art. The only criticism I would offer is that the sheath that comes with it is bulky. If I were to travel with the knife (I wouldn’t; I’d take one of my others) I would place it in a different blade protector.Yeah, it’s expensive. And very much worth it.

Important to know when using a culinary knife there are different blade configurations. A Kiritsuke has a relatively "flat" profile blade mainly used for push and pull cutting. You can chop but this is not the primary or best use for a knife in this configuration. It is a Shun - relatively inexpensive for a higher end product. Handle excellent symmetrical with a very sharp edge out of box not to an extreme razor sharpness.. As is the case with all my Shuns very happy with quality and function.

I am not an expert on knife nor I will pretend to be. I purchase this knife as a gift to my husband who loves to cook. My husband know more of cooking knife than I do and continues to learn every day. I know he is been looking for a good cooking knife for a while. To say he was happy with when he saw this knife is an understatement. He was surprised, excited and amazed at the quality, sharpness and easiness to handle it. I am looking forward to see how this knife perform throughout time and will post an update if necessary. So far my husband loves it and he hasn't stop using it. Just for that is a five start to me.

This is the most quality knife on the market. Razor sharp (12 degree bevel) with long lasting edge retention. The folded 67 layers of different medals actually gets sharper with use. To keep your knife in the best condition though I highly recomend only using a Japanese Cyprus hinoki cutting board. With proper care this knife will last a lifetime.

Well built, balanced, sharp, comfortable, and gorgeous. Highly recommend.Not 5 start because, nothing major, the edges of the finger guard area of the bolster are sharp (they have been softened along the spine) and the excitement of my unveiling was completely ruined by the "MADE IN CHINA" sticker on the inner packaging! I understand this is just for the sheath and not the blade, but come on people.

Alright, buckle up, buttercups. We're talking about the Shun Dual Core 8" Kiritsuke Knife. This isn't just a knife; it's the knife that went to grad school and came back with a doctorate in Sharpness and a minor in Looking Absolutely Fabulous.I already had a couple of high-quality knives, but the "Dual Core" thing intrigued me. Two different steels layered together? It sounded like a culinary superhero origin story. When this beauty arrived, I swear it hummed with power. The Damascus pattern is even more intricate and mesmerizing than on my other Shuns – it's like looking into the swirling galaxies of flavor. And the Pakkawood handle feels like it was custom-molded for my hand by tiny, highly skilled artisans.Using this Kiritsuke is an experience. It's incredibly light and nimble for an 8-inch blade, but it slices with the authority of a much heavier knife. The edge retention is unreal. I feel like I could prep a Thanksgiving dinner for a small army and this blade would still be asking for more. It glides through everything – tomatoes, herbs, stubborn root vegetables, existential dread (okay, maybe not that last one, but it makes the cooking part less stressful).The Kiritsuke shape is new to me, and I'm loving its versatility. The straight edge is fantastic for chopping, and the angled tip is great for precise work. It's like having a chef's knife and a utility knife had a very attractive, highly intelligent baby.Is it an investment? Yes. Did I justify it by saying it would "inspire" me to cook more? Absolutely. Has it actually inspired me? Also yes! Every time I pick it up, I feel a little thrill. It's a tool that makes you want to cook, to chop, to create. It's almost unfair to my less-fancy kitchen gadgets.If you appreciate exceptional craftsmanship, mind-blowing sharpness, and a knife that looks like a functional work of art, and you're ready to elevate your kitchen game (and possibly develop a slight knife obsession), this Shun Dual Core Kiritsuke is for you. It's a five-star masterpiece.

A precision tool, it is very sharp. My wife loves it!

If I could give this 6 stars I would. I would normally never pay 250 or so for a kitchen knife. But after researching Shun and the Dual Core line of knifes, I thought I would give it a try. Besides, Amazon has a wonderful return policy.This is the sharpest knife I have ever held and used. Everything I have sliced has felt like I was cutting warm butter. I have used it to trim up a beef brisket, serve that brisket and even trim down skin on beef feet for my dogs (skin and tendons). Nothing has given this knife a challenge.Spend the extra money. This knife will not disappoint. It is built to last.