Kai Shun Premier Santoku Knife 14cm
- Free Freight $150.
- Free Click & Collect from our Ponsonby Store
- Got a Question? Chat or call us Ph: 09 376 1550
- Same Day Auckland $45
The Small Knife with Big Talent
Every cook has a favourite tool, that one knife you reach for day after day because it simply feels right. For many, that knife will be the Kai Shun Premier 14cm Santoku. Smaller and more agile than a full-sized santoku, it offers beautiful control and balance, making it ideal for medium-sized tasks and precision prep.
Handcrafted in Japan, it features Shun's exceptional VG-MAX steel core wrapped in 34 layers of Damascus cladding per side (69 total including core). The result? A blade that is razor-sharp, durable, and breathtakingly beautiful. Whether you're slicing baby carrots, dicing shallots, prepping herbs, cutting chocolate, or portioning fruit, this compact santoku glides through ingredients with ease.
If you have smaller hands or simply prefer a lighter, more nimble knife that still packs the performance Shun is known for, this 14cm santoku will quickly become one of your most used tools in the kitchen.
Beautifully gift-boxed, it's a gorgeous piece to give or to treasure for yourself.
What You're Getting
- Blade Length: 14cm
- Steel: VG-MAX cutting core with 34 layers per side (69 total) of Damascus stainless steel
- Edge: 16° double-bevel, hand-sharpened'
- Handle: Walnut-coloured, contoured PakkaWood®
- Finish: Hand-hammered tsuchime that reduces sticking
- Origin: Handcrafted in Japan
- Packaging: Presented in a premium Shun gift box
This isn't just a smaller santoku, it's a beautifully balanced, handcrafted Japanese knife designed to bring precision, ease, and joy to your everyday cooking. A true kitchen favourite in the making.
Backed by Milly's Kitchen's 40 years of cookware expertise. We've been helping people cook with confidence since 1984.
Why You'll Love It
Compact & Versatile - A shorter 14cm blade that feels perfectly balanced for everyday slicing, chopping, mincing, and fine prep.
Razor-Sharp, Effortless Cutting - A hand-sharpened 16° double-bevel edge creates clean, precise cuts with little pressure.
Stunning Damascus Cladding - 69 total layers of hammered steel add durability, beauty, and natural food-release.
Comfortable PakkaWood® Handle - Walnut-coloured, contoured, and fully ambidextrous for a comfortable grip.
Handcrafted in Japan - Made using time-honoured techniques that blend tradition with exceptional modern performance.
FAQs
Is the 14cm Santoku good for everyday prep?
Yes, it's one of the most versatile mid-sized knives and ideal for daily slicing, chopping, and mincing.
How is it different from a chef's knife?
A santoku has a flatter profile and excels at straight chopping and ultra-precise slicing; it's lighter and more compact than a traditional chef's knife.
Is the blade hammered?
Yes, the tsuchime finish helps reduce sticking and adds that signature Shun Premier look.
Is the handle suitable for left-handers?
Absolutely. The contoured PakkaWood® handle is fully ambidextrous.
Can I use it on bones or frozen foods?
No, this will damage the fine edge. For bones, use a cleaver or bone-handling knife.
- Handwash your Shun knife with mild dish soap and warm water.
- Avoid any soaps with citrus extracts, as they can cause rust.
- Do not use scouring pads, steel wool, or gritty cleaners.
- Rinse and towel dry immediately, then allow it to air dry briefly before storing.
- Never leave your knife soaking in a sink or submerged in water.
- Prevent micro-corrosion by washing and thoroughly drying the blade straight after use.
- Always dry the cutting edge carefully, keeping fingers well clear.
- Store safely in a block, sheath, in-drawer tray, knife case, or wooden magnetic holder, never loose in a drawer.
- Handwashing protects the natural wood handle.
In Japan, the blade has long been more than just a tool; the way of the blade is a way of life.
In Japanese, “Shun” (pronounced “shoon” and rhymes with “moon”) is the precise moment during the year when any particular food is at the peak of its perfection. Shun is when fruit is at its sweetest, when vegetables are perfectly ripe, perfectly fresh, and perfectly delicious. Shun is in harmony with the natural rhythms of the seasons. Kai Shun knives proudly takes its name from this Japanese culinary tradition of preparing and eating the very freshest food at the perfect “shun” moment. It is a tradition we live up to every day, making fine kitchen knives that are always at the peak of their perfection, too.
In the spirit of the legendary sword smiths of Japan.
From the legendary samurai swords said to contain the soul of the warrior who wielded them to the handcrafted kitchen knives of today, the exquisite craftsmanship of Japanese blades is admired worldwide.
Since the 13th century, Seki City has been the heart of the Japanese cutlery industry. For more than 100 years, it has also been home to the Kai Corporation, the makers of Kai Shun fine knives. Inspired by the blade-making traditions of ancient Japan, today’s highly skilled Shun artisans produce blades of unparalleled quality and beauty.
Milly's Kitchen is committed to deliver your order as quickly as possible.
If you can add the product to your cart without pre-order or order-only info showing, then we have the item/s in-store and they're available for immediate dispatch. Please see our shipping page for approximate delivery times.
At Milly's Online, your satisfaction is guaranteed. If for any reason you are not happy, we will gladly replace, exchange (subject to availability) or refund within 7 days of purchasing any goods returned un-used with the applicable packaging as supplied (excluding order-only items).
Please note if you can add the product to your cart without a pre-order message popping up, then we have stock available for immediate dispatch.
Where there's a "Pre-order" or "Order only" product message, these items are out of stock in-store and not available for immediate supply, the restock estimation times will be noted with the listing.
If you place an order for out-of-stock items, any stock we have in transit will be allocated to fill your order as soon as the delivery arrives or we will include stock when we next order from that supplier.
Pre-Order Items
These are products we generally carry in-store and will often have ordered with the supplier, as soon as the stock arrives we will ship with our standard shipping estimate times or let you know the product is ready for your collection (for Click & Collect orders).
Order Only Items
Many of the brands we carry have a large selection of colours and specialty products that we don't necessarily carry in-store, however we're happy to order these specifically for your purchase.
Please select carefully as, because these are not pieces we carry in-store, these items can not be returned for exchange or refund due to a change of mind.
Occasionally we're advised of delays or out-of-stock issues from our suppliers, we will contact you as soon as we're made aware of these and you can decide how you'd like to proceed from there.
Free Freight for purchases over $150.00*
No Charge Click & Collect from our Ponsonby store.
Courier Freight Charges:
- Auckland (Orewa to Pokeno) $7.50
- Rural Auckland (including Waiheke Island) $14
- Nationwide $10.00
- Rural Charge of an extra $4.00 applies to rural delivery
*In-store only gift cards are excluded from our free freight offer, if you'd prefer not to pay for freight please consider purchasing the online version.
See our Shipping Info for all the Shipping Terms & Conditions.
