Kai Shun Classic & Premier Knives
For over 115 years, the KAI company has been producing cutlery according to the traditions of the legendary samurai of Japan.
Simmer and Slice chose these blades on their reputation, style and performance. West meets East, offering a highly regarded and reputable blade that is guaranteed to perform in a professional or home kitchen.
Shun Classic Range
Overview
The Shun Classic Series unites centuries-old Japanese Samurai blacksmithing with today's modern and technically-sophisticated manufacturing processes. The result is an exceedingly high-quality range of Damascus knives, engineered with attention to the most minute details and designed to always retain its sharpness. The knives are therefore ideally suited for professional use. The Shun Classic blades are gorgeous to look at due to the distinctive semigloss pattern exhibited by the Damascus steel composite comprising 32 layers.
Blade
VG MAX steel with a hardness of 61 (±1) HRC forms the entire blade's core right up to its edge. Sheathed in 32 layers of Damascus steel, the knife embodies a peerless anatomy paired with a resilient blade that is both hard and flexible at once due to its hybrid composition. The Shun Classic blades have a double-sided edge.
Handle
The slim handle made of durable pakkawood is fashioned in a traditional Japanese chestnut shape. High quality resins added to the wood make the material particularly resilient and resistant to moisture. Its typical chestnut shape ensures a comfortable and secure grip whilst cutting, thanks to a small rim on its right side. The integrated tang boosts stability and balance.
Shun Premier
Overview
The Shun Premier Tim Mälzer Series has been tailored specifically to the needs and requirements of professional chefs. In this premium series, the high-quality material properties of the well-known Shun Classic Series are combined with an entirely novel and commanding overall appearance. The blade is divided into three different textures: The blade's back down to its middle has been hammered to create a surface known as Tsuchime.
Blade
The Shun Premier blade's core fashioned from extremely hard VG Max steel and is enveloped in 32 layers of Damascus steel. This combination of different steel grades makes the blade both hard and flexible at once. The double-sided blade is easy to use because it its light weight and guarantees a clean and precise cut. The incorporation of a hammered surface - known in Japan as Tsuchime - underlies not only aesthetic reasons, but also serves the release of material from the blade thanks to the resulting air pockets.
Handle
The meticulously machined blade is paired with a medium brown, grained pakkawood handle. Thanks to its symmetrical shape, it is suitable for both left- and right-handed users. A continuous tang ensures stability and balance whilst cutting. As a special touch, the handle's end has been engraved with Tim Mälzer's bull's head, the professional chef's trademark.
Cutting boards & knife blocks
Knife blocks and cutting boards provide an optimum addition to the entire range of kai chef's knives. The timeless product portfolio is handcrafted to the highest standard and represents ultimate quality and design. In lieu of this, it is no surprise that high demands are made for the quality of the raw wood. Thus, the beauty and varied characteristics of the woods employed play as big a role in the production process as sustainability and environmental responsibility. The durability of the products matches the life cycles of the woods used, meaning the raw materials needed can grow back within the product's lifetime.
See rangeKnife care & sharpening
Looking after your investment is part and parcel of purchasing a good knife. Here we offer a selection of sharpening systems to keep your knife in tip top condition.
See range