Santoku Knife: The Essence of Japanese Tradition in the Kitchen

For the trend-setting Shun Premier Tim Mälzer series, Kai has developed six additional knives made from corrosion-resistant 32-layer damask steel. It is embellished with a hand-hammered surface which in Japan is known as Tsuchime, thus combining timeless aesthetic qualities with ultimate sharpness. The blades have a massive core of VG MAX steel with a hardness of 61±1 HRC. 

In analogy to the limited Anniversary Knife, great importance was attached also in this series to the knives providing optimum grip as well as extraordinary hardness. The Shun Premier Tim Mälzer series, from bread knife to santoku, provides professional cutting tools which will set new standards in the premium segment by providing exceptional performance in a timeless design. 

True to Tim Mälzer‘s premise, „A good knife not only makes work easier but also helps to make cooking to turn out well“, each of the carefully manufactured damask knives was meticulously adapted to its respective area of use by the Japanese master forgers from Seki City. Due to the particularly symmetrical shape of their walnut handle, all shapes moreover ensure a precise cutting performance for both right-handed as well as left-handed use.

Shun Premier Tim Mälzer

Blade: Damascus stainless steel VG MAX hardness of 61 ± 1 HRC
Handle: Walnut wood
Blade length: 140 mm.
Handle length: 110 mm.
Blade thickness: 2 mm.
Total length: 275 mm.
Weight: 150 g.
Notes: not dishwasher safe

For the trend-setting Shun Premier Tim Mälzer series, Kai has developed six additional knives made from corrosion-resistant 32-layer damask steel. It is embellished with a hand-hammered surface which in Japan is known as Tsuchime, thus combining timeless aesthetic qualities with ultimate sharpness. The blades have a massive core of VG MAX steel with a hardness of 61±1 HRC. 

In analogy to the limited Anniversary Knife, great importance was attached also in this series to the knives providing optimum grip as well as extraordinary hardness. The Shun Premier Tim Mälzer series, from bread knife to santoku, provides professional cutting tools which will set new standards in the premium segment by providing exceptional performance in a timeless design. 

True to Tim Mälzer‘s premise, „A good knife not only makes work easier but also helps to make cooking to turn out well“, each of the carefully manufactured damask knives was meticulously adapted to its respective area of use by the Japanese master forgers from Seki City. Due to the particularly symmetrical shape of their walnut handle, all shapes moreover ensure a precise cutting performance for both right-handed as well as left-handed use.

Shun Premier Tim Mälzer

Blade: Damascus stainless steel VG MAX hardness of 61 ± 1 HRC
Handle: Walnut wood
Blade length: 180 mm.
Handle length: 120 mm.
Blade thickness: 3 mm.
Total length: 315 mm.
Weight: 212 g.
Notes: not dishwasher safe

Blade: Japanese VG10 rolled steel in SanMai at 61 hrc
Handle: Black Pakkawood wood
Blade length: 180 mm.
Blade thickness: 2.2 mm.
Total length: 300 mm.
Weight: 206 g.
Notes: not dishwasher safe

With Shun Nagare, Kai created another innovative Japanese forging masterpiece. This series of fine-knotted knives, thanks to the special features of the materials and the technically complex production process they are made, is located in the extralusso class. Mirrored blades have a damask damask pattern. The dark gray-black handle further enhances the beauty of the knife. The blades of this series are made with two different qualities of steel, bonded to form a 72-layer Damascus steel. The complex machining of the two steel grades produces a blade with exceptionally long lasting cutting performance.

Kai Japan - Shun Nagare NDC-0702 Coreless Steel - Santoku knife 180mm.

Blade: Coreless Japanese laminated steel - 72 alternating layers of VG10 and VG2 - hardness 61hrc
Manicure: Pakkawood wood gray / black
Blade length: 180 mm.
Knife thickness: 2.2 mm.
Total length: 315 mm.
Weight: 222 g.
Notes: Not dishwasher safe

The innovative series Seki Magoroku Composite has 8 types of symmetrical blades. The blade, beautifully finished, the union of two different types of steel that create a fascinating contrast. The central part of the blade, polished, stainless steel is VG-MAX with a hardness of 61 ± 1 HRC, while the exterior is satin steel SUS420J2 to altissio chromium content.

The production process of the blades Composite is based on a new technology used in aircraft construction and ensures a high resistance over that extreme precision. The two types of steel are joined together by one particular welding process to the copper, and the thin line of copper that remains visible between the two steels adds a further touch of elegance to the design.

The grip is tapered in a light shade of pakkawood. The shape of the reason diagonally give these masterpieces lightness and movement.

Lama: laminate, stainless steel VG-MAX to 61HRC and 420J2, welded copper center
Handle: Wood Pakkawood clear
Blade length: 165 mm.
Blade thickness: 2.5 mm.
Overall length: 285 mm.
Weight: -
Notes: not dishwasher safe

Seki Magoroku
This type of traditional Japanese knives are produced for hundreds of years in similar forms. This series captivates thanks to its polished blade and polished steel with high carbon with a hardness of about 58HRC and the magnolia wood handle carved in the form of a dishwasher with toe in black polypropylene.

Occupation: meat / vegetables / fish

Blade: Stainless Steel 58HRC MV
Lama origin: Japan
Handle: Red Wood, wood very hard and resistant to water and black polypropylene
Sheath: -
Blade Length: 170mm
Overall Length: 314mm
Blade Thickness: 2.5 mm
Handle Length: 134mm
Weight: 150g

* Not dishwasher safe

Shun Classic is one of the flagship lines of the Kai Group (which currently also includes the Kershaw and Zero Tolerance brands), a famous Japanese manufacturer of knives and razors since the early 1900s. This is a series of knives and kitchen accessories suitable for professionals and enthusiasts.

The blades are made of rolled steel consisting of an inner layer of VG-10 stainless steel and two outer cheeks of 32-layer damask. The result is excellent cutting capacity combined with excellent edge retention and good flexibility, which is also guaranteed by the differentiated tempering.

Today, these knives represent the pinnacle of Japanese culinary technology. The quality does not stop with the steel used, however, but continues with the care of the workmanship (sharpening in particular) and the materials used, such as the splendid Pakkawood used for the handles.

Blade: 32-layer Damascus laminate and VG-10 stainless steel
Handle: Black Pakkawood
Blade length: 190 mm.
Blade thickness: 2 mm.
Total length: 325 mm.
Weight: 238 g.
Notes: not dishwasher safe

Shun Classic is one of the flagship lines of the Kai Group (which currently also includes the Kershaw and Zero Tolerance brands), a famous Japanese manufacturer of knives and razors since the early 1900s. This is a series of knives and kitchen accessories suitable for professionals and enthusiasts.

The blades are made of rolled steel consisting of an inner layer of VG-10 stainless steel and two outer cheeks of 32-layer damask. The result is excellent cutting capacity combined with excellent edge retention and good flexibility, which is also guaranteed by the differentiated tempering.

Today, these knives represent the pinnacle of Japanese culinary technology. The quality does not stop with the steel used, however, but continues with the care of the workmanship (sharpening in particular) and the materials used, such as the splendid Pakkawood used for the handles.

Blade: 32-layer Damascus laminate and VG-10 stainless steel
Handle: Black Pakkawood
Blade length: 175 mm.
Blade thickness: 2 mm.
Total length: 310 mm.
Weight: 215 g.
Notes: not dishwasher safe

Shun Classic is one of the flagship lines of the Kai Group (which currently also includes the Kershaw and Zero Tolerance brands), a famous Japanese manufacturer of knives and razors since the early 1900s. This is a series of knives and kitchen accessories suitable for professionals and enthusiasts.

The blades are made of rolled steel consisting of an inner layer of VG-10 stainless steel and two outer cheeks of 32-layer damask. The result is excellent cutting capacity combined with excellent edge retention and good flexibility, which is also guaranteed by the differentiated tempering.

Today, these knives represent the pinnacle of Japanese culinary technology. The quality does not stop with the steel used, however, but continues with the care of the workmanship (sharpening in particular) and the materials used, such as the splendid Pakkawood used for the handles.

Blade: 32-layer Damascus laminate and VG-10 stainless steel
Handle: Black Pakkawood
Blade length: 140 mm.
Blade thickness: 2 mm.
Total length: 265 mm.
Weight: 138 g.
Notes: not dishwasher safe

The Wasabi series by Kai is the entry level line offered by the Kai Group (which currently also includes the Kershaw and Zero Tolerance brands), a famous Japanese manufacturer of knives and razors since the beginning of the 1900s. It is a series of knives and kitchen accessories suitable for professionals and enthusiasts that stands out for its excellent price/quality ratio. It offers stainless steel blades and ergonomic polypropylene handles with added Bamboo powder that are heat resistant up to 100°C and therefore dishwasher safe.

Kai Japan - Wasabi - Santoku 165mm.

Blade: M.V. Stainless Steel, polished steel
Handle: combination of bamboo powder and black polypropylene - Heat resistant up to 100°C
Blade length: 165 mm.
Blade thickness: 3 mm.
Total length: 300 mm.
Weight: 146 g.
Notes: dishwasher-safe, however we recommend hand washing as this will better preserve materials and finish over time