All cooks have certain tools that really work for them. That's one of the reasons Shun makes so many different types of kitchen knives; so you can always find the ones that work best for you. The Shun Premier 5.5" Santoku is a case in point. Smaller than our full-sized santoku, this one is an in-between size and weight that make it perfect for most medium-sized kitchen tasks. Slicing baby carrots, dicing shallots, cutting butter or chocolate--all are perfect jobs for the Shun Premier 5.5" Santoku. If you have smaller hands or simply prefer a compact knife, this one is sure to become one of your favorite kitchen go-to knives.
 
The Shun Premier Santoku is part of the beautiful Shun Premier line, which calls to mind the hand-forged knives of ancient Japan. While each knife still takes at least 100 handcrafted steps to complete, the materials Shun uses are among the most advanced in the industry. Each blade has a cutting core of Shun's proprietary VG-MAX “super steel” to take and hold a precision edge. The layered Damascus cladding supports the core and provides additional stain resistance. Near the edge of the blade, where the steels meet, an undulating line is formed—similar to the hamon formed when samurai swords are tempered using a traditional clay-baking technique. The hammered tsuchime finish acts like a series of hollow-ground cavities to reduce drag. The handles nestle comfortably in the hand, while the embossed end cap adds balance and beauty.