Also known as the gyuto knife in Japan, the Shun classic asian chef's knife is the Japanese equivalent of the chef's knife; an all-purpose knife. The blade is thinner than the traditional chef's knife, but still offers plenty of knuckle clearance when cutting on a board. If you're looking for a lighter, more nimble multi-purpose kitchen knife, the shun classic asian cook's knife is sure to become your go-to knife for a wide range of dicing, chopping, and slicing tasks. The right knife for the right job-The shun classic lines has them all ultra-thin and incredibly sharp, shun classic knife blades feature a 16-degree blade angle making the blade flexible, but much sharper than traditional western knives. Crafted in seki city Japan, The shun classics are forged in the tradition of samurai sword making and are known world-wide for their incredible edge-retention. Each blade has a core of vg-10-inch super steel-inch with a pattern damascus cladding of 32 layers of high-carbon stainless steel-16 layers on either side. The ebony d-shaped Packwood handle has that sleek, sophisticated look that makes these knives feel more like art, than instrument. The d-shape fits naturally in the hand, for a comfortable grip, regardless of the length of the cutting task at hand. This wood-grain pattern not only enhances the knife's beauty, it also adds durability and stain resistance, and reduces friction when cutting. These heirloom quality knives will be a prized treasure you'll want to pass down to family for generations.