Shun Classic vs Shun Premier: Which is Best for What? 5 Facts to Consider

In this article, you are going to learn about a kitchen product that has won the knife of the award 9 times since it came on the market in 2002. Astonishing, isn’t it? Well, what makes this so special? I’ll walk you through the whole process. Let’s dive in.

First of all, its biggest advantage is that it is made with Extremely Sharp Edges which lasts for a long time. Shun cutlery’s blades are thinner, lighter, and sharper. So, these features assist you to cut more easily with less pressure on the edges which makes it so special than other conventional knives.

Moreover, the thinner edges can be easily controlled which makes the cutting smoother. The other cool thing is that all knives are made by a highly skilled specialist with a minimum of 100 handcrafted steps to complete. Shun cutlery has many series.

In this article, we are going to focus on two specific products of Shun cutlery, Shun’s classic series, and the premier series. Both have several advantages over your needs. Therefore, this article will help you choose which Shun series is best for you, whether it is Shun classic or Shun premier. Yes, it’s true! So let’s get down to business.

A Quick Comparison between Shun classic and Shun premier

Features	Shun classic	Shun premier
Handle	Very straight and the hand grip is D-shaped.	Upper half is straight and lower half is slightly round.
Durability	Higher durability	Higher durability.
Blade’s details	Damascus finish.	Upper half is a hammered finish.
While Chopping	Won’t prevent you from sticking foods	Prevents you from sticking food for its hammered finish.
Blade’s design	The Finishing touch looks like Matte glow.	Almost similar but, Lower portion is comparatively higher Damascus than Classic.
warranty	Limited lifetime warranty.	Limited lifetime warranty.
Where to Buy	Buy now on Amazon	Buy now on Amazon

Shun classic vs. Shun premier: What are they?

Before consider the which is better shun classic vs shun premier, let’s know a little about both Japanese knives.

What Is a Shun classic?

Shun classic is a knife, which is a series of Shun Cutlery, a Japanese Brand, headquartered in Tokyo. Let’s elaborate this in an easy way by dividing it into two parts. One part is the Handle, and the other part is the blade.

The handle is made of pakkawood, which is very strong, durable, and easy to hold. The blade, on the other hand, is made of 34 layers with Damascus steel. Which is very sharper, thinner, and precise.

Key Features

• The handle is made of pakkawood
• 34 layers of blade
• Blade is made of VG-max Steel
• Blade is wrapped in Damascus steel
• Hand grip is D-shaped
• The handle is available in two colors: Dark & Blonde
• Have lots of variety of products
• Sharper blade than conventional knives

What Is a Shun premier?

The Shun premier is another series of Shun Cutlery Kitchen products. Which is elegantly designed. The handle of the Shun premier knife looks like a real pakkawood. The blade, on the other hand, is also made of 34 layers with Damascus steel. The design of the upper half of it is a hammered finish which makes it unique from the Shun Classic knives.

Key Features

• Blade’s upper half portion is a hammered finish.
• Blade’s lower half portion is wrapped in Damascus.
• The Handle has only one color: Brown.
• Logo is engraved with steel.
• Handle’s upper portion is straight
• Handle’s lower portion is slightly rounded.
• 34 layers of blade
• Thinner blade

Let’s break it down more precisely.

5 Facts to Compare Between Shun Classic knives & Shun Premier Knives:

There are some notable differences we have found between shun classic and shun premier knives. Here we would like to explain 5 key facts to clarify which is better shun classic vs shun premier.

Fact 1: Knife Blades:

Blades are the important feature of a knife which represents the quality of a knife. In this case, Shun classic knives and Shun premier knives both maintain the quality.

The blades of both items are thinner, lighter, and sharper than other conventional knives. But there are some differences between the Shan Classic and the Shan Premier. You are going to know these dissimilarities within a minute. Let’s dive in. At first glance, it would seem that Blade’s finish is the same in both. But wait, this is not the actual case.

The classic blades have a smooth Damascus finish while the lower part of the Premier Blade is more Damascus than the classic one. The top half of the premiere has a nice hammered finish. Let’s dig a little deeper.

Shun Classic knives Blade: 

The blade of Shun classic’s pattern is made of VG-max steel and wrapped in Damascus steel, which is designed horizontally.

The upper half portion of the design is a little bit wavy and the lower half of the design looks like a straight line extending to the edge. The finishing touch of Shun classic’s knife looks like a matte glow.

Shun Premier knives Blade:

The top half of it may look like a slightly blurry mosaic, which is actually a tsuchime hammered finish. The design of the Shun premier’s lower part is comparatively higher Damascus than Shun classic.

Comparison Table: Shun Classic knives vs. Shun premier knives ‘Blades design’

Factors	Shun Classic knives	Shun premier knives
Blade’s upper half Design	Upper half Damascus steel’s design is a little bit wavy.	Upper half design is a hammered finish.
Blades’s lower half Design	Finishing touch looks like a matte glow.	Comparatively higher Damascus than the Classic.

Fact 2: Handles Architecture:

• The handle of a knife is something that helps you hold on. Because if you don’t feel comfortable holding the handle, you won’t get peace of mind while cutting something.
• So if the handle is not to your liking then you may be reluctant to buy it. It starts with a feeling of sadness if your handle doesn’t feel as comfortable as you need it to. Let’s jump right in to know more about them.

Shun Classic knives:

Shun classic’s handle is very good in quality. It provides extra control and durability. Because the Shun classic’s handle is very straight and the handgrip is D-shaped. So it is much more enjoyable for right-handed people. It doesn’t mean that it is not suitable for left-handers. Don’t worry.

Shun Premier knives:

The lower part of Shun premier’s handle is slightly rounded and the upper part is full straight. Its grip is awesome which is made according to your comfort.

So, what’s the bottom line? You can choose whatever you want because they both offer comfort.

Comparison Table: Shun Classic knives vs. Shun premier knives ‘Handles Architecture’

Factors	Shun Classic Knives	Shun premier Knives
Handles Architecture	Very straight and grip is D-shaped.	Lower portion is slightly rounded, and the upper portion is straight.

Fact 3:Durability & warranty:

Durability is something that represents knife quality. It reflects how strong a knife is. So if the knife is less durable than other conventional knives then you may be reluctant to buy it. Since Shun knives cost a lot, so of course you want to pick the most durable one according to your choice. Let’s discuss Shun classic’s and Shun premier’s durability.

In terms of Durability, they are the best among other conventional knives. From the tip of the steel to the butt of the handle, there contains full of steel to increase durability and control. So what if you told me to choose the best one in terms of durability? Then, you may feel stunned after hearing my answer. Because they both offer the same durability.

Now, let’s talk about the warranty. Warranty is something that ensures product quality. If your product is durable enough, it will sustain for a long time. Therefore, As Shun classic and Shun premier both offer the same durability, they are not different in terms of the warranty. They both offer a limited lifetime warranty.

Comparison Table: Shun Classic vs Shun premier ‘Durability & Warranty’

Factors	Shun Classic	Shun premier
Durability	Most durable	Most durable
warranty	Limited lifetime warranty.	Limited lifetime warranty.

Fact 4: Price

Price of Shun Classic knife series and Shun premier knife Series.

Everyone is interested in price because price helps you to choose the best thing for you to buy and sell. One has to buy as much as he can. The same goes for Shun classic and Shun premier. So, this section is going to be very interesting for you.

Shun’s knife maintains top-quality in every aspect. Each Shun’s knife is made in Japan. So the price will be higher, that’s normal. Now let’s get down to the actual business.

Shun Classic knives:

In general, the Shun classic’s price is 25% lower than Shun premier. The price depends on the type of knife you are buying and where you are buying it from.

On Amazon, 8-inch Shun Classic Chef’s knife’s price is $149.95. And you will have to pay the exact same amount if you want to buy a 7-inch Santoku Knife. Which means the price is reliable according to the type of knife.

?CHECK PRICE OF SHUN CLASSIC KNIVES SERIES ON AMAZON☑️

Shun premier knives:

Shun premier, on the other hand, is a little bit pricey than Shun classic. The price of the Shun premier is 25% more expensive than the Shun classic. The price is also dependable according to the type of knife.

From Amazon, if you want to buy a Shun Premier 8-inch Chef’s Knife, you will have to pay $184.95. Similarly, you have to pay the exact same amount if you want to buy a Shun Premier 7-inch Santoku Knife.

?CHECK PRICE OF SHUN PREMIER KNIVES SERIES ON AMAZON☑️

Comparison Table: Shun Classic vs Shun premier ‘Price’

Factors	Shun Classic	Shun premier
Price	25% cheaper than Shun premier.	25% more expensive than the Shun classic.
Price	In Amazon, an 8-inch Shun classic Chef’s knife’s price is $149.95.	In Amazon, an 8-inch Shun premier Chef’s knife’s price is $184.95.

So, you have to pick according to your need.

Fact 5 :Sharpness:

Sharpness is a mandatory feature for a knife. The sharper it is, the more services it can provide. Since Shun classic and Shun premier both are pricey, you will have the first question in your mind about their sharpness. Let’s find out.

Shun classic and Shun premier both offer similar cutting angles. It is about 16 degrees on each side.  It reflects their outstanding sharpness. They provide you free lifetime sharpening. Therefore, in terms of sharpness, you can choose whatever you want, whether it is Shun classic or Shun premier.

Comparison Table: Shun Classic vs Shun premier ‘Sharpening’

Factors	Shun Classic	Shun premier
Sharpening	Free lifetime sharpening	Free lifetime sharpening.

When Should You Go For a Shun Classic?

If you feel hesitant to choose the right product or you need a more specific product in terms of variation, you can go for the Shun classic. If your budget is limited, Shun classic will be the right choice for you since it is 25% cheaper than the Shun premier.

Types of Users Who Need Shun classic:

For each user, Shun has maintained its quality over time. There are some specific properties of a Shun classic that tells for which user this knife is for? Why do I say this? Bear with me, because I’m going to show you how. Let’s find out.

• Right-handers: According to the user experience, those who are right-handers prefer a Shun classic knife. Now, why is that? The actual reason is Handel’s architecture. A Shun classic’s handle is very straight and the handgrip is D-shaped for which provides extra control and durability. Which is much more enjoyable for right-handers.

• Who cares more about saving money: But hang on a minute, is this sound like I’m saying you a scrooge? Absolutely not. It is good practice to care more about money. As you already know that the Shun classic knife is 25% cheaper than the Shun premier.
  
  Therefore, if you think about the price, you are the right user to have this knife.

• Who is not a chef: Does this mean Shun classic knife is not appropriate for a chef? Then you are getting me wrong. I’m actually not spreading this message. Shun premier’s Blade’s upper half portion is a hammered finish. For which your foods will not stick with the knife after cutting. Which is hassle-free for the chef. You will not find this feature in the Shun classic. Which is not appropriate for a chef. Now you are getting me right?

• Who needs more specific products: In the market, Shun classics have more variety than the Shun premier in terms of different products. So, if you are finding a specific product, there will be a better option to go with Shun classic.

Benefits of A Shun classic over the Shun premier:

According to Amazon’s rating, Shun classics have fewer rating points than the Shun premier. But I will put it ahead of the Shun premier because of its variety. Let’s find out more benefits of A Shun classic over the Shun premier.

• As its blades are sharper than conventional blades, it creates very fine lines while cutting something. It reflects the smoothness of the Shun classic.
• It is popular for its wide range of various products.
• It maintains high quality in terms of blades and handles.
• It is more comfortable for right-handers.

Things that are not As Good As Shun premier:

• In Amazon’s review, Shun classics do not have as high a rating as the Shun premier.
• Need to wash them in a proper manner at a regular interval.
• You have to sharpen the blade at a regular interval.
• Although it offers a larger set than the Shun premier, you will face problems if you have limited space in your kitchen.

When should you go For a Shun premier?

In terms of the design, The Shun premier will win the race. It consists of a beautiful handle to look at. If you are the chef or you have to cut food at a regular interval, you can go for the Shun premier as its upper half portion is a hammered design.

Types of Users Who Need Shun premier:

Like a Shun classic, there are also some specific characteristics that identify which user is this knife for? Let’s get things underway.

1. Left-handers: If you are not right-handers, you can definitely go for the Shun premier. Now, why is that?  Because the specialty of Shun classic is for the right-handers. That means, it has slightly more advantage for right-handers. Therefore, If you are left-handed, you must go to shun premier.

• Who is a chef: The first advantage of the Shun premier is, your food will not going to stick with it because of its cool hammered finish. As for chefs, they have to cut food continuously while working. Therefore, I would recommend going to the Shun premier if you are a chef.

• Who does not care about saving money: Again, please don’t get me wrong. I’m not here to insult you. My intention is to spread the message that there are always some people who love to buy products without caring about money that much. For those, A Shun premier is the best option as it is 25% more expensive than the Shun classic.

• Who likes fashionable products: From start to finish, A Shun premier looks more stunning than the Shun classic. If you look at its handle, you will notice that it looks like a real pakkawood. Which ultimately makes it more fashionable than the Shun classic. That means, if you like to keep fashionable products in your kitchen, you have Shun premier for that.

Benefits of A Shun premier over the Shun classic:

According to Amazon reviews, the Shun premier will be in the top position over Shun premier. Its user experience is awesome. Let’s find out more. 

• You do not have to worry about food sticking to this knife Since this blade’s upper half portion’s design is a hammered finish.
• It is more fashionable than the Shun classic.

Things that Are Not As Good As the Shun classic:

• Shun premier does not have a wide variety of products.
• As it is thinner than the Shun classic, it may break if you do not use it carefully.
• It requires less space compared to the Shun classic.

Let’s Know Some Similarities of the Shun Classic and the Shun Premier:

Although both have some features of their own, there are many similarities rather than differences. Let’s take a look at them.

1. Both are made of 34 layers of steel. Which is made of Damascus.
2. The handles of both are made of pakkawood.
3. Both offer moisture-resistant handles. Which is very easy to hold on to and gives great comfort to the user.
4. Both maintain their quality which makes them pricey. Though the Shun classic offers 25% cheaper than the Shun premier, Shun classic’s price is not so low.
5. Both offer too much variety in terms of product.
6. The design of both is very elegant.
7. Both are very precise in terms of cutting.

The FAQs About Shun Classic vs Shun Premier Knife

Unlike every other feature, this FAQ is very helpful to understand the basic problem with these two amazing knives. This part is going to discuss some of the basic information with question and answer. let’s dive more into it to have a blast experience while using these knives.

Shun classic vs Shun Premier: Our Verdict

So what’s it all mean? Whether it is Shun classic or Shun premier, Shun has maintained its quality over time. Due to which they have received 9 awards. So, this achievement reflects how consistent it was in terms of quality. And the products that come with quality are a bit expensive.

Therefore, Shun classic and Shun premier are a bit pricey as their quality is very high. Whether you buy the Shun classic or the Shun premier, both are great in terms of service. Both are the best from their own aspects.

If you buy the Shun classic instead of the Shun premier or if you buy Shun premier instead of the Shun classic, there is nothing wrong with it. You will not lose anything if you buy one of them. The only important thing here is your choice. Now you know all the details of the Shun classic and Shun premier. Therefore, you have to buy them according to your choice. Because the pros of these knives outweigh the cons.

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