From the makers of Japan's finest cutlery comes the Shun Premier collection with a unique new tsuchime finish. The santoku knife's hand-hammered blade has a rippled texture that functions like a hollow-ground surface, reducing drag for a gliding cut and quick release while slicing, dicing and paring. The light, agile knife accommodates both rocking and down-and-forward cutting motions. A durable VG-MAX steel core is clad with 34 layers of high-carbon stainless steel on each side for maximum strength and stability. Infused with resin, the contoured blonde birch handle nestles comfortably in the hand. We love the in-between size of this smaller santoku knife, ideal for medium-size tasks such as dicing shallots, chopping chocolate and slicing kiwis. Each exquisite Shun knife is carefully crafted in a 100-step process inspired by ancient sword smiths. The amazing razor-sharp blades are created in Seki City, Japan's 700-year-old center for samurai swords. Shun Premier Blonde Santoku 5.5" 9.5"Wx3"Dx0.5"H