There is a big market today for premium knives that are handcrafted and made out of premium stainless steel. These knives are used all over the world by some of the most renowned chefs people at home. One of the two such brands that have some of the best premium blades in this category is Shun and Miyabi. When it comes to Shun vs Miyabi, they are one of the most popular brands when it comes to the market of premium knives. Both these brands are known to use high carbon stainless steel.
Both of these brands use traditional Japanese techniques to create their knives, including the old hand honing technique. The quality of knives they produce is much stronger and durable than any other knife brand under the same range. Where Shun is known to create a Japanese traditional knife with a sleeker profile and harder steel, Miyabi has some of the sleekest and sharpest blades in the Industry. In fact, both the brands are Japanese and get the knives made in Seki, Japan.
Which out of the two should we select?
When it comes to selecting a good premium knife and you come across these two brands, it is very difficult to choose between them as both of them provide high-quality knives at a good price point. Quality-wise, the knife brands use the traditional method to create these knives and maintain the same sharp katana edge. With both of these brands in front, it’s not an easy decision to make.
However, no matter which one you choose, you will be owning a great knife. Shun Cutlery products are part of the Kai Corporation in Seki City, Japan. While Miyabi-brand knives are now a division of the ZWILLING group, but also headquarter out of Seki City, Japan. Both the knife brands claim that it takes over multiple processes to create some of the most good looking and durable knives.
Compare Shun vs Miyabi – Chef’s Knives
A chef’s knife is one of the most basic blades that every kitchen has. It can be used for various pulse and can cut through most of the edible items. When it comes to Shun and Miyabi, Shun cutlery is a product of Kai corporation while Miyabi is a product of Zwilling’s. Both Zwilling and Kai are some of the oldest and prime producers of premium and precision made knives. Although their chef’s knife looks almost the same when it comes to looks, their functionality isn’t the same.
Although they are created using the same traditional Japanese craftsmanship, Shun has a more traditional profile and Miyabi has a sleeker and sharper one. Let’s have a look at the premium chef’s knife they have on offer and how both of them differ in functionality, although being produced in the same location of Seki City
Shun Classic 8” Chef’s Knife
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Shun has been making some of the best and the most traditional Japanese design knives in the market. Using the traditional Japanese knife making technique, each blade is hand made and made with precision to make it last for a long time.
This chef knife, in particular, is a perfect amalgamation of beauty and functionality. Most of the knives manufactured by Shun are made up of a combination of different metals to make sure that the blade has increased strength and they are also rust and corrosion-resistant. The metal combination they use is very unique to their production and provides some of the best quality blades there is.
Manufacturing process
The best part about Shun blades is that they are not made in masses and they use the traditional knife-making from Japan to make sure that each handcrafted blade is unique in itself. The knife has been made in Seki, Japan, and takes at least 100 individual steps to complete one knife. The knife has been made with a combination of traditional Japanese knife making skills and the state of the art technology from Shun.
Handle Material
The handle has been made from ebony Pakkawood, which has been infused with resin for a durable and water-resistant finish. It makes it much easier for a person to clean and use for a long period of time without any tiredness and strain on the hand.
Blade material
The blade of this knife has been made from a combination of a lot of metals. It initially gets 68 68 layers of alternating steel, through the Damascus layering technique and a proprietary VG-MAX core. The VG Max steel contains a combination of chromium, carbon, tungsten, and cobalt for increased strength, durability, sharpness and resistance to corrosion
Performance
This Chef’s knife is great at functionality and performance. The weight of this knife is evenly distributed, making it easy to handle and maneuver. It can be used for almost all types of cutting, chopping, slicing, and more. Great for professional as well as home use.
Design
The all-purpose blade is not only great on functionality but also attractive on design. Using the ebony pakkawood, Shun has added a lot of grace as well as a functional grip. The blade has a beautiful Damascus layering design on both sides of the blades.
Product Option
If you are interested in buying this knife, then there are a variety of other product option in it, such as the 6-inch blade knife, 6-inch blade knife with a sharpener, 8-inch chef’s knife, 10-inch chef’s knife, 10-inch chef’s knife with sharpener and a customer engraved chef’s knife.
Miyabi 34183-203 Kaizen Chef’s Knife
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Miyabi has been one of those brands which are really proud of these Japanese traditional knives. Miyabi knife knives follow the true and traditional Japanese art of knife making and almost all their knives are manufactured in Seki, Japan. The knives manufactured by Miyabi are different from other knives on offer in the market. The main difference between them is the design of the blade.
Miyabi blades are much sleeker and have a very slim profile when you compare it to companies like Shun, who also create traditional Japanese knives. The sleeker and slimmer profile of Miyabi comes with an extra sharp blade and a lightweight profile, which makes it one of the best knives to be used by professionals. The traditional hand honing process is one of the major examples of how Miyabi takes the traditional knife making skills of Japan so seriously.
Manufacturing process
The knife has been made using the traditional Japanese art of knife making and has been hand-honed using the three-step Honbazuke process, which gives the blade an edge at 9.5 to 12 degrees. The blade has been further cooled through the ice-hardening technique, which gives it a Rockwell hardness of 60. This next-generation knife from Miyabi combines the greatest hardening technology with traditional craftsmanship.
Handle Material
The knives have been equipped with a Micarta handle which features a linen pattern with a mosaic pin, red accent spacers, and a steel end cap. The D shaped designed to handle in the elegant black color is not only attractive but also gives a very comfortable grip to handle.
Blade material
The knife’s blade has been made from the resilient core of VG10 super steel, which is protected by a stunning 64-layer flower Damascus pattern. The hardcore steel is very tough and durable and will also save the knife from any kind of rust or corrosion.
Performance
When it comes to performance, this multipurpose utility knife is great for both professionals and home users. It gives a beautiful frictionless movement on the surface and is great at handling any kind of vegetable, fruits, and meat. The katana style edge of the knife gives it immense sharpness, which makes the overall movement of the knife much smoother and easier.
Design
Using the traditional art of Japanese knife making, the blade has been crafted with 64 layers of Damascus flower pattern, which is visible on both sides of the blades, making it look attractive. The overall design looks very sleek and slim and has a beautiful Micarta handle, which increases the overall looks and feel of the knife.
Product option
Currently, there are two different blade size options in this knife, which is the 6 inch and 8-inch blade option. Both of them have the same details and look gorgeous to hold and great to use.
Conclusion
Both the Chef’s knife from Miyabi and Shun are great when it comes to functionality and looks. Since both the knives have been made using the traditional hand based Japanese techniques, there are a lot of similarities when it comes to features. Both the knives have a sharp blade and are very easy to handle and use, due to an ergonomic handle.
The major difference between the two, that you can easily notice is the design profile. Where Shun knives are usually thicker as a normal chef knife is, the Miyabi knife has a much sleeker and lightweight profile, although it does not affect its sharpness. Therefore, no matter which chef’s knife you decide to buy between both, they both will leave you satisfied with their performance and you will not be at loss.
Compare Shun Hiro vs Miyabi Fusion Knives
Shun Hiro and Miyabi Fusion series of the knife has been made by merging traditional Japanese art of knife making with western style design and handling. The main purpose of these knives is to blend in the traditional sharp blade, which is only possible with Japanese steel, including the western style ergonomics and handle design, which makes using and handling this knife super easy. Both these knives have been built using the premium industry standards and it can be really tricky for a consumer to pick between the two. Let’s see how both these knives compare head to head.
Shun Hiro SG2 8-inch Chef’s Knife
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When it comes to Shun Hiro SG2, this is not an ordinary knife and does not even look like one. This is by far one of the most attractive looking Japanese designed knives in the market. One look at it and you will be ready to buy one unless you miss the hefty price tag of around $400. But what it provides is much more than the value it asks for. It not only has one of the most durable and hardest blades in the industry but also one of the best functionality as well.
Beautiful edge retention and corrosion-resistant blade, attractive Damascus and hammered pattern, dark charcoal pakkawood handle are just a few things one cannot leave without noticing in the blade on the first look. Overall this is a special edition blade that has a lot more than what they usually offer in their knives. One thing is for sure that once you start using this knife, it will be very hard for you to switch to another blade.
Manufacturing process
The blade has been made using the same Japanese style and traditional knives making art, which is done by trained Japanese artisans using 150 individual steps. The Hiro series means “abundant,” “generous,” and “prosperous, something that is definitely visible with the design and features it provides. This series uses some of the finest grain steel to carve a blade, which is unique in its range.
Handle Material
The ambidextrous handle is made of dark charcoal PakkaWood with deep crimson striations and. The inlaid mosaic Samurai family crest and nickel silver bolster and embossed end cap make the handle look more beautiful. Apart from the design, the handle has been ergonomically designed for a better grip in all types of conditions and moisture.
Blade material
The blade has been made from the SG2 Japanese steel cutting core and clad with 32 layers of a Damascus nickel and stainless pattern on each side for a total of 65 layers of metal. The 64 Rockwell hardness of the blade makes sure that it does not break under any condition or force. With a 16-degree cutting angle, this blade has unmatched edge retention for long time usage.
Performance
Unmatched performance is what this special edition knife delivers to anyone that uses it. Since the entire design has been ergonomically made, the blade is much easier to use and easy to maneuver. The blade causes less friction while using it on the surface and simply glides through any ingredients. Even long hours of usage is really tireless with this knife.
Design
It is the first thing that you will immediately notice about the knife, which makes it one of the most attractive in its range. The knife has a beautiful hammered and 32 layers of Damascus nickel and stainless pattern on each side for a total of 65 layers of metal. The handle is made from dark charcoal PakkaWood with deep crimson striations and an inlaid mosaic, which adds to the overall attractiveness of the blade.
Product option
Since this is a special edition knife named the Hiro SG2 series, there are no different product options in this blade. There is a single edition of 8-inch chef’s knife
Miyabi Fusion Morimoto Edition 8-inch Chef’s Knife
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Miyabi Fusion Morimoto is a special edition knife from Miyabi, which houses a great looking Damascus flower pattern, along with the Miyabi logo. The overall look and feel of the blade are very attractive, due to which it has been launched as the special edition knife. The blade features the same slim and sleek profile that Miyabi is most known for and has a katana edge blade that perfectly compliments it. The rounded spine and heel of the knife give it a perfect shape that makes it very durable and easier to use. It also adds to the maneuverability of the knife, making it easier for even beginners to use it.
The special edition knife has been inspired by the trademark cuisine of Chef Morimoto. The fusion in this blade derives from the Western-inspired ergonomics with authentic Japanese blade styles and super steel. Using the same techniques they have been using for their other knives, they have added the Western-style ergonomics, which gives the perfect combination of Japanese sharpness and western handling comfort.
Manufacturing process
Using the traditional Japanese style hand making the process of Japanese knives, this knife has been carved with extreme precision and quality. It uses the hand honing process with the three-step Honbazuke process to give the blade a 9.5 to 12-degree edge
Handle Material
The knife has been equipped with a POM handle which is thicker at the end to enable better handling and comfortable grip for long hours of working. The POM handle can easily provide a universal grip regardless of the gripping style.
Blade material
The blade has been carved from VG10, super steel blade is protected by a stunning 64-layer flower Damascus pattern. VG10 has been used in many of the knives made from Miyabi and is one of the toughest steel in the category. The blade has good edge resistance and will resist any type of corrosion as well.
Performance
Due to the perfect combination of Japanese traditional knife making skills, which provides a strong and sleek blade, and an ergonomic western design, the blade is a breeze to work with. It gives one of the smoothest cutting actions and can easily deal with any kind of ingredient.
Design
The design is one of the attractive features of this knife. The blade has been beautifully carved with the 64-layer flower Damascus pattern, along with the embossed logo from Miyabi. The overall design is great to look at and is accompanied by a good looking ergonomic handle.
Product option
There are three different types of product options available in this series. It is the 6 inch, 8 inches, and 10-inch chef blade.
Conclusion
Since both the knives are special edition, they have been carved and created with a lot of care and extra attention to details. The quality of the steel used in both the blades are of topmost quality and they will definitely leave you speechless with their performance. If you are looking to buy any one of these knives, then you can pick either of them, they will not leave you disappointed.
However, I can say that Shun has the added advantage in this case, with slightly better performance and much more attractive looks. However, if you consider the price, the Shun knife comes at a price range of around $400 and Miyabi knife comes at a price of around $150. With such a huge price difference, the decision could widely affect people who are looking for a more cost-effective option. However, if you are looking for a professional knife then Shun would be a better option.
Compare Shun Vs Miyabi – Nakiri Knives
Nakiri style Japanese knives are primarily used for chopping vegetables and are used both by professional chefs and beginners. Featuring squared-off tips and straight-edge blade, they provide full contact to the surface and less friction while using it. Both Shun and Miyabi have been offering some really good nakiri knives in the market. When it comes to their comparison, Miyabi does seem to have an edge over the quality as well as the design. Let’s have a look at how both these knives compare to each other when it comes to the quality of the blade and overall ergonomic design.
Shun Premier Nakiri Knife
This premium Nakiri knife from Shun is the perfect starter for any beginner as it is good to work with for any professional. The exceptional built quality of this knife is all due to the traditional knife-making art that has been used by an artisan to make this knife. The overall quality of this knife is top-notch and one of the best straight blades, with the edge retention and corrosion resistance. The blade has a Japanese design and a slim sled profile, which reduces the weight and makes it very easy to handle.
Manufacturing process
The premium 5.5-inch knife has been created using the traditional Japanese knife making technique and has been hand sharpened and polish for a better finish and durability.
Handle Material
The gorgeous Pakkawood handles in walnut finish are both sleek and stylish, and are shaped to fit the palm of your hand in a variety of secure and comfortable grips.
Blade material
The blade has been created using the VG max cutting core, which makes the blade much more tough and durable. It also has good edge retention and also prevents corrosion. It also features layered Damascus steel for extra strength.
Performance
It is definitely one of the sharpest blades in its category and cuts through like butter with any kind of vegetable and fruit. The ergonomic design and handle make it much easier to maneuver the knife.
Design
This beautifully carved knife is decorated by the Damascus layered design on the blade and is perfectly combined with a gorgeous pakkawood handle in walnut finish.
Product option
Currently, there are only two product options in the series, which is the 5 .5 inch blade and a 5.5-inch blade with a sharpener.
Miyabi Birchwood Nakiri Knife
This Nakiri knife is one of the best straight edge knives in the market from Miyabi. Made with some of the best quality high carbon steel, this knife can handle any type of vegetable and fruits easily with breaking a sweat. The smooth buttery action of this knife makes it very easy to handle and use, even for a beginner. The ergonomic design of this knife gives it perfect handling and grip, no matter who is using it. If you are looking for a dependable Nakiri knife, which is the best of Japanese quality, then this should be the option for you.
Manufacturing process
The knife has been created using the same trademark Japanese knife making technique, which is hand-honed with a three-step honbazuke process, which makes the blade impeccably strong and robust.
Handle Material
Made with Birchwood material, this knife has one of the most rustic looking handles with great ergonomics and handles design. It also supports a universal grip for easy handling.
Blade material
Using the high carbon super-strong steel, the blade has been designed using the slim and sleek profile. It has excellent edge retention and is corrosion resistant.
Performance
With the straight edge design, the blade becomes very easy to handle and comes fully in contact with the cutting board to cut ingredients in one smooth movement. The overall functionality of this knife is great, making it one of the best knives for professionals.
Design
The beautifully designed straight Nakiri blade is equipped with a wood colored pakkawood handle which increases the attractiveness of this knife by fold. The beautiful Damascus layering on the blade not only makes it look beautiful but also increases the durability.
Product option
There is currently only one product option in this range.
Conclusion
Both of these Nakiri knives are made from the best quality steel and are great when it comes to functionality and performance. When it comes to performance, the Miyabi knife takes the advantage by a very low margin however, the price of the Shun knife is considerably lower than what Miyabi is offering. Regardless, of any knife you buy between the two, both will provide you with satisfactory performance.
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Final Word– Shun Vs Miyabi Knife
If you are confused between both the brands and are still thinking about which one you should buy, then this Shun vs Miyabi review will provide you with all the necessary details that will help you make the correct decision. Regardless of your voice, both the brands are based on the Japanese art of knife making and provide you with some of the best knives. Therefore, it does not matter which one you decide to buy, both of them will fulfill all your requirements and give you the best functionality.
