Shun vs Wusthof?
Here at Everten, we are so often asked which is better – Shun or Wusthof? The answer unfortunately just isn’t that simple. When determining whether Shun or Wusthof knives are better, you need to determine what features in a knife are most important to you. Both knives are iconic,
Shun Knives are the world renowned Japanese knife brand as
Wusthof is the world’s largest (and for good reason) German knife brand.
To assist you in making your decision, we have outlined what we define as the four most important features a knife should have and then discussed its relation to these two brands.
Sharpness
When it comes to finding the benchmark of knife sharpness there is little doubt in many minds that Japan knows a thing or two given that is the origin of Samurai swords. Many professional chefs believe when it comes to the sharpness of the blade, the smaller degree on the Japanese blade is what it makes it sharper than the German counterparts. This allows Japanese Knives to effortlessly slice through vegetables, leaving paper thin slices or to cut sushi and salmon without squashing or ruining the look of the dish. The
Shun knife is the ultimate precision tool in the kitchen.
To keep your knives exceptionally sharp, shop our Knife Sharpeners here.
Edge Retention
One of the most common problems our customers face in the kitchen is in keeping their knives sharp. This dilemma is why edge retention is an important consideration when shopping for knives. It allows you to continually slice through veggies, meats and tougher kitchen ingredients over a longer period of time, yet will still retain its sharp blade without blunting. The thicker and stronger blade on the
Wusthof knife is widely regarded as having one of the best edge retentions. This is because Wustof blades have a Rockwell Hardness of 58 degrees and with their thicker blades, will withstand the tougher chopping tasks in the kitchen.
Durability
Durability of the German steel blade on the
Wusthof knife is again regarded as stronger and thus more durable. Unlike, the smaller degree on the Shun blade which can be susceptible to the blade chipping, the Wusthof blade can chop effortlessly through a whole pumpkin. The full tang and bolster on the Wusthof knife makes for an extra strong blade. What is a full tang knife? When a knife is full tang, it means the metal is continuous all the way from the tip through to handle. Many cheaper knives on the market usually have their blade reach or partly fill the handle, which can result in breakage over time or when facing difficult chopping tasks. Fortunately Wusthof and Shun knives are full tang.
Is It All About The Looks?
Now, appearance is such an important factor when choosing a knife set as you will essentially be looking at them almost every day for years to come. Many would argue that the classic design of the
Shun knives cannot be compared to anything else . The 34 layers each side (68 in total) of stainless Damascus cladding and the superbly finished Pakka wood handles are a statement piece in any kitchen.
Wusthof however are also not too bad to look at either with their classic European styled handles and triple bolsters on each handle within the Ikon and Classic ranges.
The Verdict…
When it comes to which is better, it really comes down to what features are more important to you. For many, durability and edge retention equates to a knife block complete with
Wusthof Classic or
Wusthof Ikon Knives. Others would say, once you have used a
Shun Classic Knife and experienced the sharpness, precision and of course witnessed the exceptional design first hand, you will never use another knife again.
Shop our Whustof Knife range here.
Shop our Shun Knife Range here.
