Christmas emergency

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VTguy

Joined
Dec 11, 2006
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So I was going to buy my father the Ken Onion 8" Shun chef's knife. I went to The store and saw the Calphalon Katana 8" chef's knife, it was labled "VG steel" so I thought it was also a vg 10 core like the Shun and bought the knife. Turns out that the Katana is actually vg-1 steel not vg-10. I am not familiar with vg-1, other then CS uses it, and don't have any knives in this steel. My question is do you guys think that the Katana I bought will be on par with the Shun? or should I unwrap it return it and go buy the Shun. Only one more day to deside, HELP!!!!
 
VG-1 is not a great steel in my opinion, especially compared to VG-10. They aren't even in the same league. Hope this helps.
 
Hey there fellow Hokie, If it were me, and I lived close enough to the store, I'd go back and get the Shun.

Just my opinion...

Merry Christmas!
 
Any one got the composition of VG-1 ... I got VG-10 on my chart but not VG-1 ???
 
VG-1 , C -1.00, Cr - 14.0, Mo - .30, Ni - .25 max......VG-10, C - 1.0, Cr - 15, Mo - 1.0, V - .20, Co - 1.5 .....The VG-10 is somewhat better. My kitchen knives are the Shun type as I have retired my Henkels. Fancy , well made ,excellent steel, a pleasure to use. They are not for those who toss knives around , chop bone or put in a dishwasher !!!
 
VTguy said:
So I was going to buy my father the Ken Onion 8" Shun chef's knife. I went to The store and saw the Calphalon Katana 8" chef's knife, it was labled "VG steel" so I thought it was also a vg 10 core like the Shun and bought the knife. Turns out that the Katana is actually vg-1 steel not vg-10. I am not familiar with vg-1, other then CS uses it, and don't have any knives in this steel. My question is do you guys think that the Katana I bought will be on par with the Shun? or should I unwrap it return it and go buy the Shun. Only one more day to deside, HELP!!!!
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ThomBrogan said he has a chef's knife in VG1 and said it is very good.

If it were I, I'd not worry about the steel. I'd worry about the balance and feel of the knife.
 
The balence and feel of the knife is very good, it is also symetrical, my dad is left handed and the nonsymetrical handle on the regular Shun he doesn't find comfortable, I believe the Ken Onion's handle is symetrical. Can anyone confirm this?
 
VTguy said:
The balence and feel of the knife is very good, it is also symetrical, my dad is left handed and the nonsymetrical handle on the regular Shun he doesn't find comfortable, I believe the Ken Onion's handle is symetrical. Can anyone confirm this?
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IRRC the onions are ambidexterous/symmetrical but not as comfortable as a lefty shun.
they sell shuns set up for lefty and righty. The knives at my house are all righty. Unfortunatly. IMO the lefty handed models are just slightly more comfortable than the rightys. But you have to special order south paws.
 
VTguy, I have the white handled www.agrussell.com version which is symetrical. The wooden handled ones can easily be made symetrical, I've done that for someone.
 
well I trade in the Katana For a 10" Ken Onion Shun chef's knife today, had to go to Williams Sonoma to get it because they are the only one's who carry it around here which means I paid full retail...OUCH!!:grumpy: But it is an absolutely beautiful knife so I hope he will be happy:):)

He told me last night he really prefers a 10" blade on his chef's knife, this in it's self eliminates the Katana.
 
VTguy said:
well I trade in the Katana For a 10" Ken Onion Shun chef's knife today, had to go to Williams Sonoma to get it because they are the only one's who carry it around here which means I paid full retail...OUCH!!:grumpy: But it is an absolutely beautiful knife so I hope he will be happy:):)

He told me last night he really prefers a 10" blade on his chef's knife, this in it's self eliminates the Katana.
Click to expand...

Young man, you will NOT regret this.

My wife now has the Shun ... and would not surrender it for anything.
 
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