Stainless
Stainless Steel
"Stainless" means stain-resistant, not stain-proof. In kitchen use, the steel can still discolour or pit if exposed to acidic environments — citrus, vinegar, or salt water — for extended periods. Wash and wipe dry after every use, and avoid leaving the blade soaking in water. With basic care, a stainless knife is very low-maintenance and a great everyday choice.
"Stainless" means stain-resistant, not stain-proof. In kitchen use, the steel can still discolour or pit if exposed to acidic environments — citrus, vinegar, or salt water — for extended periods. Wash and wipe dry after every use, and avoid leaving the blade soaking in water. With basic care, a stainless knife is very low-maintenance and a great everyday choice.
VG-MAX
Typical hardness
Rockwell C Hardness(HRC) measures how resistant a steel is to permanent deformation. For kitchen knives:
55–58 HRC — Soft. Easy to sharpen and forgiving of rough use, but dulls faster. Typical of most German knives.
59–61 HRC — Balanced. Good edge retention with manageable sharpening. Common in mid-range Japanese knives.
62–64 HRC — Hard. Excellent edge retention, holds a very fine edge. Requires more care and a fine stone to sharpen.
65+ HRC — Very hard. Exceptional edge longevity but more brittle — more prone to chipping if used roughly.
Higher is not always better — it depends on how you use and maintain your knife.
55–58 HRC — Soft. Easy to sharpen and forgiving of rough use, but dulls faster. Typical of most German knives.
59–61 HRC — Balanced. Good edge retention with manageable sharpening. Common in mid-range Japanese knives.
62–64 HRC — Hard. Excellent edge retention, holds a very fine edge. Requires more care and a fine stone to sharpen.
65+ HRC — Very hard. Exceptional edge longevity but more brittle — more prone to chipping if used roughly.
Higher is not always better — it depends on how you use and maintain your knife.
60 to 61 HRC
555759616365+
VG-MAX is a Shun steel. Kai USA's Shun steel page calls it the newest in the line of VG steels and proprietary to Shun, and says it builds on the VG10 formula with more carbon, additional chromium and increased tungsten, plus molybdenum and vanadium. The page gives the added chromium as being for wear and corrosion resistance, and says Shun uses VG-MAX in its Classic and Premier series.
We list Shun Classic and Shun Premier paring, utility, santoku, chef's and bread knives in VG-MAX. Wash and dry the knife after use.
We list Shun Classic and Shun Premier paring, utility, santoku, chef's and bread knives in VG-MAX. Wash and dry the knife after use.
VG-MAX Composition
What's in VG-MAX
What each element does in your knife.
| Element | Composition | What it does in your knife |
|---|---|---|
| CrChromium | 16.0% | Raises corrosion resistance; at roughly 13%+ free chromium the steel qualifies as stainless. Also improves hardenability and wear. |
| VVanadium | 3.0% | Forms extremely hard vanadium carbides for superior edge retention, and refines the grain for a finer, tougher edge. |
| WTungsten | 3.0% | Forms hard carbides for wear resistance and edge stability, and keeps the steel hard even at elevated temperatures. |
| CoCobalt | 2.5% | Allows higher hardening temperatures for more hardness and wear resistance, and strengthens the steel matrix. |
| MoMolybdenum | 1.5% | Improves hardenability and toughness, boosts corrosion resistance, and helps the steel hold hardness under heat. |
| CCarbon | 1.1% | The primary hardening element. More carbon means a harder edge that holds longer — but past a point it trades away toughness and rust resistance. |
Composition from zknives (K&S steel dataset) reference material. These ranges come from the K&S steel composition dataset, which is derived from zknives; maker figures are cited separately only when they are used on the page.
Frequently asked questions
How is VG-MAX different from VG10?
Published by K&S Education Desk; staff review pending
Knives in VG-MAX
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Shun Classic Bread Knife 22cm (9")
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Shun Classic Chef's Knife 20cm (8")
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Shun Classic Santoku Knife 18cm (7")
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Shun Classic Utility Knife 15cm (6")
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Shun Classic Paring Knife 9cm (3.5")
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Shun Premier Bread Knife 23cm
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Shun Premier Chef's Knife 20cm (8")
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Shun Premier Utility Santoku 18cm (7")
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Shun Premier Utility Knife 16cm (6.5")
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KAI