The Shun Classic 8" Chef's Knife (DM0706), also known as the "French" or "Cooks" knife, is the most important knife in the home or professional kitchen. Whether cutting, chopping, or slicing, no other knife is as versatile as the multi-purpose chef's knife because it is a designed to perform a variety of common cutting tasks rather than excelling at any one. The upward curve of the knife's edge allows for a rocking/chopping motion that allows for fast, fine mincing of small foods such as garlic, herbs, or ginger. The wide, flat blade is also excellent for pressing or smacking garlic cloves and popping them out of their papery husks. The chef knife's extra width also makes chopping larger vegetables easy because it keeps your knuckles off the cutting board. In a pinch, it will even work for slicing and carving tasks due to its length and fine balance. With its fine edge and high level of steel hardness, the Shun Classic 8" Chef Knife will hold its edge longer than most knives with regular honing. As a result, it'll be one of the sharpest slicing blades you'll ever use and will even work fabulously with boneless meats or even supreming an orange. But because of its fine edge and hardness, you'll want to keep it clear of any bone or any other similar solid ingredients including avocado pits. You definitely don't want to chip or ding this finely tuned blade. The Shun Classic 8" Chef Knife is also available with a beautiful blonde Pakkawood handle . Take care of your Shun knives and tools with a Combination Whetstone and Leveling Stone