Prized among chefs who value uniformly thin slices, a necessity in Japanese cuisine, Shun knives are covered by a lifetime warranty and should be washed and dried-carefully-by hand, then stored in a wooden block. -Ann Bieri.

NSF approved for professional use. Traditional Japanese styling. Lifetime Warranty. Definitely intimidating at first, this 10-inch chef's knife from the fabulous Shun Elite collection will soon become a favorite for those hard-to-tackle jobs. The blade is so sharp it practically melts through even the toughest winter squash and reduces a watermelon to manageable slices in no time. Like all Elite knives, this one features a sleek black PakkaWood handle, made of a hardwood-resin fusion, which showcases an inlaid traditional Japanese emblem and fine rings of copper and brass near the bolster. A distinctive flourish, called a "hamon," along the edge of the blade recalls the samurai swords once made in Seki City, Japan, where Shun Elites are handcrafted. Any chef would feel honored to receive this exceptional, gift-boxed knife. Shun Elite knives stand out for their incredible sharpness, sharper even than Shun Classics, thanks to the newest powdered steel alloy known as SG-2. The process used to make SG-2 results in a fine-grained, very dense blend of ingredients that creates a smooth-as-silk knife edge. Shun edges are formed to an unusually keen 16 degree angle, which is one reason they're so prized among chefs who value uniformly thin slices, a necessity in Japanese cuisine. Covered by a lifetime warranty, Shun Elite knives should be washed and dried-carefully-by hand, and stored when possible in a wooden block to protect the blade. -Ann Bieri.