Shun Ken Onion 8-Inch Chef's Knife

I have been eyeing this knife for years and finally bought it on sale. I have a large collection of kitchen knives because I keep chasing "the one," and this is finally the end of my search! The layers in the damascus blade are absolutely gorgeous! The curvy design is very sexy. But the ergonomics are what is the most incredible. I have small hands and have difficulty with large heavy European style knives. I was worried that the 8" would be too big for me as lately I have been using my 6" because it felt more comfortable. But this knife is so well balanced and the weight is so well distributed that it doesn't feel heavy at all. The surprisingly heavier-and-bulkier-than-usual bolster acts as a perfect fulcrum to distribute the weight (think teeter totter). And there are finger holds on the bolster that are so comfortable and easy that my fingers automatically slide right into position. I have never seen this design on any other knife. It chops like a traditional European knife but also slices like a Japanese. It is truly "east meets west" and is the best of both worlds. I find myself grabbing for this knife exclusively now as it is such a pleasure to work with.

I was thrilled when I first hefted this knife. The balance and feel was superb, and it sliced through things like a lightsaber. However, the edge rolled while cutting soft vegetable matter. From the look of it, I can only conclude that the heat treatment of the core steel was not up to standards, and there seems to have been a small yet noticeable number of similar failures going by the reviews here (even allowing for some instances of actual misuse). I placed the order on the tail end of a military deployment, so it was out of warranty by the time this happened.In fairness, I should add that this was my favorite knife in the world for a few weeks, and if its tragic fate was simply the result of an oversight in the quality control department, the odds are pretty good that yours will perform brilliantly.

I would give 10 stars if I could. Best knife ever!

The knife is beautiful and we got it quickly. Excellent service and quality. Thank you!

I've had a knife of this make for 9 years. Outstanding durability, balance, & control. I've nicked myself 4 times since owning this knife and every time I made such an error there was enough control of the blade to prevent bleeding.