• A wise investment for any cutlery collector who uses their knives regularly, this special steel will keep your blades sharper for longer
• Shun recommends honing their hardened steel knives once per week
• 9” Length
• Built-in angle guide
• Handcrafted steel honing steel
• Ergonomic handle
• Made in Japan, Lifetime Warranty

Shun Classic 9" Honing Steel

Overview

Shun's Classic 9" Honing Steel is a wise investment, no matter what kind of habits you practice in the kitchen. The honing steel, not to be confused with a sharpening steel, is used to gently realign the cutting edge of the knife, which naturally becomes unaligned with consistent use. With Shun knives, honing typically needs to be done once a week thanks to their harder steel, not every day like most European knives sometimes need. The problem with most honing steels, and sharpening steels for that matter, is that you pretty much have to be an expert to use it correctly. What's great about this tool is Shun put a built-in-angle on the handle so you can rest assured that you are using the correct 16° Shun angle. Handcrafted in Japan. Lifetime Warranty. Shun item number DM0790.

Shun Technology Highlights

• VG-10 stainless steel: Adds cobalt for strength and hardness, vanadium for superior edge retention. The higher density allows the steel to be tempered to a higher Rockwell (60-62). Requires minimal care to avoid corrosion. Razor-sharp blade and phenomenal edge retention.
• 16° Angle: Blade is sharpened to 16°. Ensures food is cut properly and precisely; no torn or bruised food so ingredients retain the same flavor and freshness.
• PakkaWood Handles: Resin-impregnated natural hardwood; waterproof, durable, comfortable; won't harbor bacteria.
• Awards: Blade Magazine's Blade Show Kitchen Knife of the Year winner (2003 - Classic 8" Santoku, 2005 - Ken Onion 8" Chef's, 2006 - Elite 10" Chef's, 2007 - Kaji, 2008 - Shun Classic Line, 2010 Premier Line, 2011 - Fuji Line). Shun has won many more industry awards for beauty, performance, and innovation.
• Complimentary lifetime sharpening service (you ship, they sharpen)
• Designers: Ken Onion, Alton Brown
• NSF Certified
• Lifetime warranty

Shun Classic Series Features

Shun's Classic Series offers the widest assortment of traditional Japanese and European blade shapes and contemporary designs. At first glance, you'll notice instantly the beautiful waved pattern on the blade which resembles a combination of tree-rings and ripples in water. This form of Kasumi-style knife making similar to pattern Damascus, or in Japanese suminigashi ("ink pattern"), is not only visually appealing but actually allows the blade to slide through food easier. This variation of pattern Damascus is formed by folding, welding, grinding, and polishing 32 layers (16 per side) of softer steel (SUS410/SUS431) that protect and support the VG-10 stainless steel core. The D-shaped ebony PakkaWood handle fits perfectly in the hand and stabilizes the blade to prevent turning.

About Shun

Shun in Japanese actually translates to "at the peak of perfection," and no words could better describe this outstanding company. Renowned for their traditional knife making style and aesthetic design, the highly skilled artisans at the Kai Corporation (the parent company of "Shoon") have been making blades of the highest quality in homage of the legendary sword smiths of Seki, Japan for over 100 years. Each and every knife is handmade, from beginning to end, requiring at least 100 meticulous steps along the way. It is out of this respect and admiration towards their ancestors, coupled with advanced technology and materials, that Shun produces basically pieces of art that also happen to be razor-sharp knives.

Use and Care

Proper Cutting Techniques: Shun Cutlery is designed to be used in a smooth, slicing motion, never in a "chopping" manner. When you cut, always push forward and down, and pull back toward your body to retain your blade's edge. Repeat this motion as you cut. Always pay close attention to your fingers to prevent injury. 

Cleaning: A Shun knife is a fantastic investment for your kitchen, so properly washing your knife is essential. Always hand wash Shun knives with gentle dish soap and a non-abrasive brush. Do not use soaps with citrus extracts or bleach as they can promote rust. Rinse and towel dry immediately after washing. Do no drag the edge of the knife on the towel as it can cut through and cause injury. Always blot dry the cutting edge. 

Proper Knife Storage: Knives have to be stored in a safe place to protect the cutting edge and guarding against injuries. There are some options for storing your knives. Magnetic knife bars are convenient and safe for chefs who want to be able to view their blades and easily access then. They attach to the wall and firmly hold knives in place.  A wooden knife block is the best way to store knives on the counter. The size of the block varies with the number of knives to be store. Most Zwilling J.A. Henckels blocks also have a slot for a honing steel and kitchen shears. 

Cutting Surfaces: The cutting surface you use makes a big difference in keeping your knives sharp. A cutting boards with good quality will help retain a sharp edge for substantially longer. Soft woods such as hinoki, wooden, or bamboo cutting boards, and quality polyethylene boards. Avoid surfaces that can dull or damage the knife such as china, marble, granite, tile, Formica, porcelain, stainless counter tops and glass; these surfaces can be very hard on your knives. Remember, all cutting boards and surfaces should be cleaned thoroughly immediately after use to avoid harmful bacteria growth.

Honing and Sharpening: Regular honing is necessary to maintain the a sharp cutting edge. Weekly honing will significantly extend the time between sharpening. For sharpening, it is recommended to use a whetstone, or send knives in Kai USA Ltd for a free sharpening service. Shun brand products are sold by Kai USA Ltd. and are backed by a Limited Warranty against manufacturing defects. In addition to supporting their products through this warranty, Shun will sharpen any Shun knife for free for the lifetime of the owner. The knife owner pays for shipping and processing and Shun experts will sharpen the knife for free. Sharpening is done in Shun's Tualatin, Oregon facility, using the same horizontal sharpening wheel to put the original edge back on Shun knife. Called a hiromai, this sharpening wheel, and the skills of knife experts ensure a Shun-sharp edge every time.

Warranty

Unless otherwise stated here, Shun cutlery from Kai USA Ltd. carries a limited warranty for the lifetime of the owner. Shun guarantees their cutlery will perform as advertised when properly used and maintained, and is free of manufacturing defects in material and construction. The Limited Lifetime Warranty is non-transferable and does not extend to normal signs of wear, rust, damage or breakage due to improper maintenance, accidents, loss or theft. Any product we determine to be defective will be repaired or replaced solely at Shun's discretion. To receive warranty repair or replacement, the owner must send the product to be evaluated by Kai USA Warranty Services in their Tualatin, Oregon headquarters. In addition to the provisions of this warranty, the owner may also have other rights that can vary by state. No other warranties are implied or expressed other than what is specifically stated here. If you have a warranty concern, please do not return your knife to the place of purchase. 

Wood Accessories 90-Day Warranty

Shun's wood accessories are made of natural materials that will show wear over time. This is not a defect. Shun's 90-Day Warranty protect you against original manufacturing defects, but not natural wear. Please visit Shun's website for warranty details.