Shun Classic vs. Global — Chef's Knife.

The Shun Classic is Shun’s standard knife line. It has the best performance they offer without all the extra frills of their higher end lines. It features a full tang, Damascus-clad blade, and black pakkawood handle. Like all Shun knives, it comes with free lifetime sharpening.

Global is one of the original modern "Japanese" style knives that forced the European companies to get their act together. It is immediately recognizable by its all metal construction and black dimples along the handle.

In this video, I compare the Shun Classic Chef’s Knife to the Global Chef’s Knife and give my opinions.

[ricaneva]

The layers make it sharper even when dull

[fdcrat]

I don't agree that these knives are similarly priced. Here in Denmark the global g-2 can be found at around 60$ on sale. The shun classic is more than twice that price.

[Giyvin]

I didn't choose, I have both, they both are great at different things.

[markir]

Commenting on this a long time after the fact (sorry). A couple of points that are worth noting: 1/ The Shun has a more 'German' blade profile, whereas the Global is more 'French/Japanese' (flatter more like a Gyuto). This is a big deal - I chose the Global because of this. Next point 2/ The Shun (classic) has a wielded tang also - not widely known as they are..a...little unclear on the website about it (!)

[vicreaves]

Good Video. I own both of these knives. I much prefer the shun but the Global is a lot less delicate and suited better to a busy pro kitchen environment.

[antoineouellet]

Good vidéo thank! but i looking to buye un set off 4-7 knif and if I compere Sho is more expencive to Global. and what is à "life time warenti" for bolt off those compagnie ? I am from Canada, Québec thank you!

[richvictorynow]

hi, great review. where did you buy the shun chef knife that gave you a life-time of free sharpening? thanks.

[pcread]

I have both. I love my Global, but I adore my Shun. That's the difference.

[alanlescorbeau]

i agree with gjaeigjiajeg and to add my opinion your comparing the global g 2 to a shun and not a global gf 33 or other global forged professional gf series i would put my global gf 33 up against any shun any day of the week if your going to compare sharpness, construction, steel, ect.. don't compare the cheaper model i use my global gf 33 on almost anything from meat to dicing fine to everything in between just saying

[dasmoove]

Shun warranty is nice but the Shipping to Japan and Back means weeks without your Knife

[gjaeigjiajeg]

First of all, thank you for the much more informative video. I came across yours after watching this utterly USELESS video entitled "Shun vs global" by some guy named chefgiovani or whatever, which didn't really even make any comparison whatsoever, let alone touch on the technical details as you have.

That said, I have a basic set of Globals, and the chef knife it came with is just the very standard 18 folded steel as you mentioned. It works great and fits my purpose well more than adequately, but I am someone who enjoys the overkill of sharpness regardless of cost. So, if you do not mind...

1. Which knife can be made sharper (I'm guessing the Shun because of the harder blade)?

2. I've seen chefs stripping shells off of a cooked Alaskan crab leg with a knife. Assuming that the shell of crustaceans tend to be quite hard, would the Shun prove to be brittle and start chipping if I did that, and would the softer Global knife in this case prove to have the significantly superior toughness such that it won't chip or deform if subject to the same abuse?

[SSchithFoo]

Maaan get your audio fixed. I thought my right speaker has stopped working

[King_]

Shun knives are hard blades, almost a work of art and not appropriate for many homes where they now assume they can hollywood slash their way through all manner of bones

[craigsayer]

Why buy a knife just because it has life time sharpening for me i love to sharpen my knives global knives over shun every time

[Roguelet]

Everyone I know has a chipped shun. I've never seen a chipped global

[Masterfighterx]

Hand made to a certain extent. Not completely sure about the Shun but the Global is 100% stamped. Not that it's a bad thing

[deloceanophoto]

I’ve had two Globals (chef’s knife and 14cm veggie knife) where the handle/blade weld has corroded and broken off in my hand. This, in my mind, is super dangerous and the “lifetime warranty” is all talk. I got the set as a gift years ago so don’t have the original receipt. Would not recommend.

[Knight]

so you're shunnig the shun? why shun the shun? it's the best knife under the sun and moon

[AGC]

I think the free sharpening by Shun is a great idea. As there are tons of knife buyers who won't learn to use whetstones. had no intention to do so. But, here's the catch...while Shun would be willing to sharpen the knives for free....the knife owners have to pay for "shipping TO" (I'm guessing Shun USA? Or Shun Canada? Or do they knives to to Japan???). Wouldn't the shipping costs make it more worthwhile to find a local "qualified" knife sharpener? (yes I know that is so iffy). Or does the knife owner have to pay for shipping the knives "back to" as well?


Talk about this process. The pros and cons.


Is Shun still offering this in 2020? Have other companies begun offering this service as well. Or is Shun still the only one. I would have thought Zwilling and Wusthof would have this too.

[harryhthenorwegian]

VG-10 or VG-max got nothing to do in a European or US kitchen! The steel is to hard and will chip and dicks in normal use here in the western world. The GLOBAL, MAC, or other knives made for European use is the way to go here. We need softer steel for the way we uses knives. Japanese knives is just a commercial and totally useless for John Doe, but great for Japanese way of use. Why is this so difficult to understand????