Shun DM0705 Classic 9-Inch Bread Knife

Incredible
My experience with bread knives had generally left me feeling that they are never particularly sharp, but make up for it with a toothy serrated edge that digs into food. When you're talking about bread that counts for a lot. Bread isn't exactly the toughest thing a knife has to deal with.

Based on that previous experience, this breadknife didn't look terribly impressive. The serrations are smooth and rounded rather than aggressive and toothy. It didn't look like something that would bite into bread. But I'd read a rave review of it, and everything else I read about Kai knives was overwhelmingly positive. I've also had very good luck with Japanese cutlery, so I thought I'd give it a shot.

It cuts like a laser. Slides right through breads and salami (which I end up using it for all the time) very smoothly and with very little effort. The blade is razor sharp, which I learned when I got a little careless (didn't used to have respect for breadknives, remember) and it sliced off the...

No bread is safe
I am not hung up on Japanese knives - I use both Japanese and German manufactured ones, depending on the task and which kitchen I am in. But I only use two bread knives, the Shun Classic and the Shun Elite. I don't know if either knife is particularly "pretty", there are blades around that have more layers than the Shun Classic and thus look nicer, and the (much more expensive) Elite has just a few layers and the blade is not any more attractive than others. The "D" handle of the Classic is nice, for right handed people. All I know about these knives is that whenever I have one of them in my hand no bread is safe - I look for excuses to slice bread. It feels that good to use, and boy can you cut a thin piece. I have not had that feeling with any other top quality bread knife made in Germany or Japan. I bought others, tried them, and they do not compare. I don't know anything about longevity, ask me in ten years.

Shun Knives are Beautiful, Elegant, and the Sharpest around
Shun knives are beautiful creations period. Since I'm Asian, I love the tradition look and feel of this Japanese knife. I love the beauty of the blade and the dark, polished, Pakkawood handle. The unique "D"-shaped, Wood handles are preferable. The shape fits my hand perfectly, and the wood does not get slippery when wet - providing a very secure hold. The steel is of utmost quality and sharpness. Do not put this blade into any old electric knife sharpener! Electric knife sharpeners are made to put one angle on any blade. These blades come with a 16 degree angle and you don't want to be changing that angle. There are electric knife sharpeners that can sharpen these knives, but you'll have to do some research and find out which ones can be a fit with these knives. I prefer to hone with a sharpening steel and manually sharpen with a stone if necessary (and I don't see it being necessary to touch it to a stone any time soon). The blade is sharp straight off the factory and as Alton Brown...

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