Shun Premier 9" Bread Knife

The Shun Premier Bread Knife is a beautiful, handcrafted Japanese piece of art. This was my second Shun (my first being the large Premier Santoku) and it is easily the very best bread knife I've owned. It looks great and feels very balanced in my hand. It's lighter than my previous bread knife but matches the blade length. I bake fresh breads every week, and cutting my first slice was so smooth and effortless that I immediately regretted not buying this knife sooner. There were fewer crumbs as the blade is so thin and sharp that it made the bread feel smooth and butter-like. If you've ever found yourself squeezing the bread harder than you'd like to fight the tug and drag of your knife, you'll understand the difference with this knife. This knife isn't inexpensive, but it's also not expensive if you consider how long it can last when cared for. I don't like to buy things I don't need or won't use frequently, and so I'd convinced myself that this knife was probably only marginally better than my old bread knife and perhaps too extravagant. I'm a very grateful person who simply tries to live modestly and not waste. So, I didn't hesitate to buy it just because of the cost but rather also because I felt it might be excessive. But the knife is now a regular part of my kitchen and is earning its keep each day. Delayed gratification became purchase vindication. Taken proper care of, this knife will outlast me and will pass to my son. It is very sharp with a lovely bow that makes it very easy to cut through the thicker bottom crust of the bread without hitting my knuckles on the cutting board. And it should go without saying that this knife deserves a great cutting surface that is of commensurate quality such as an Epicurean or fine wooden board that will ensure the knife continues to function well. I would never use this on plastic or rubberized boards (and I don't own any). Like all Shun knives, it must always be hand washed and should be dried gently afterwards with a soft towel. Consider this a long-term investment that appreciates with use.

This bread knife is an ideal size for every day needs. Like all Shun knives, the quilt and craft is fantastic and its very attractive. The handle is very easy to hold and feels great in your had. The cut is - well, it's perfect - you can get through soft breads without squishing it due to its serrations. One thing I love is that the serration are not "sharp" - they are kind of a gentle wide U shape which prevents crumbling of your breads - instead it does a great job of just cutting through very easily.

I love the bread knife, even though I had a vary good name brand from when I worked at Williams Sonoma. This is so much sharper and I don't have to use a lot of force to get through bread that has a hard crust. My husband liked it so much he bought the Shun Chef's knife!

I am not a professional chef, don't even play one on TV. However, I do love to cook and appreciate good tools. And the 9-Inch Shun Shun Premier Bread Knife turns out to be a great tool for kitchen work! I have tried other knifes before, anything from Kyocera ceramic knifes to "Forever Sharp" mall specials and heavy (and expensive) German brands. At some point, all of them showed their weaknesses. So I was skeptical when I read the raving reviews of Shun knives, but decided to give them a try last year when Amazon had a great discount on the 6-Inch Shun TDM0723 Premier Chef Knife. And so far, I have not been disappointed! That Shun Chef knife has become my favorite knife and I had been lusting for the matching Bread Knife ever since. The reason I wanted a dedicated Bread Knife is my passion for Artisan Bread. Some of those breads have nice hard crusts that can challenge any knife. And if you ever had a squished soft bread after it was sliced with the wrong knife, you know what I am talking about. Serrations in the knifes blade help when cutting things that are hard on the outside and soft on the inside (such as bread) but also help cut soft bread without crushing it. Unfortunately, there was no discount or special deal for them this year, but I wanted this bread knife so badly that I still got it. Amazon had the best price and thanks to Amazon Prime, the knife arrived quickly, sharp and ready to use. It looks beautiful, has more heft than the Chef knife and is well balanced. And Bread is where the serrated blade of this knife really shines: almost no pressure is needed to cut into the hard crust of a nice artisan bread and the blade moves through it effortlessly once it is in, resulting in nice even slices. Unbelievable performance that leaves me with a smile on my face every time I use it. Soft bread offers no resistance and can be sliced without crushing or squishing it. I haven't tried it on anything else (the Shun Chef knife works great on e.g. tomatoes), but have no doubt it would perform flawlessly. Seriously, if you are looking for a new favorite bread knife, look no further. You can't go wrong with this one.

This really is the bread knife's bread knife. If you slice a lot of sourdough, it's worth the cost. (Slices roast beef beautifully, too.)

Well-weighted in hand. Better quality and SHARPer than any knife I've owned. It makes slicing my sourdough a breeze! I'm very satisfied.

I have purchased a wide array of bread knives in varied price range and have been totally disappointed in what I’ve received for slicing my artisan and sour dough breads. The comfort, balance, ease in slicing is the top quality. The blade is thick enough to make a perfect slice but thin enough to be used in a bread slicer. The grip’s contour fits perfectly in my hand, is comfortable and makes slicing multiple loaves a breeze. I would definitely encourage the purchase of this knife. I will also add that I’ve never had really good knives. This is my second higher end knife and it has really made cooking more enjoyable.

Sharp as heck, feels good in the hand, and looks great on my knife rack. Can't really ask for a lot more than that There are some competing brands at much lower prices that perform at similar level, but I love the overall quality of Shun.

The knife box had been opened, the knife was not in the sheath and the handle did not have its plastic. There were finger prints on the knife. It was also not as sharp out of the box as I would expect for a Japanese knife. Therefore, I guess it was ex-display. At S$299 for a knife, you expect to get a new one. The knife itself should do what it was bought for - cut bread and roasts with no snagging. The curved edge will help with those hard crusts that a straight edge struggles with.

I've got a few Shun premier knives, and they're all awesome! This one is no exception! The handle is very comfortable, it's razor sharp, and it's beautiful! This thing slices through crispy sourdough like it's no ones business! I've used it a lot, and it hasn't lost its edge! If you want a beautiful exceptionally sharp knife, this is the one for you!

Yo nunca compraba pan porque al partirlo, se deshacía. Compramos este cuchillo y que puedo decir, como todo lo de esta marca es impecable. Es un placer y una maravilla tener cuchillos de tan alta calidad en casa.

For those seeking high quality and are willing to pay the price, it could be worth it. Competitively priced.

Great knife, super easy to cut a slice straight in a sourdough bread. Wouldn't go without it! If you can spend the money, it’s an investment! And it’s not the most expensive knife in this category. Chris