Steel · KAI (Shun)

VG-MAX in kitchen knives

VG-MAX is a proprietary stainless steel from KAI (Shun). In our survey it is the stated core of 199 damascus kitchen knives from 7 brands. A chef knife with VG-MAX at its core costs a median of $175 in the United States.

Survey of 14 November 2026Source : methodology

Listings

199

7 brands

Stated hardness

60-61HRC

typical range

Median · Chef

$175

United States

Low

$95

Cutlery and More

Nominal composition

The maker does not publish a full composition for this steel, so we do not print one.

What it costs, United States

By knife type

The comparison column is the median for all listings of that knife type, whatever the steel.

Type	n	Median VG-MAX	All steels	Low
Damascus knife set	27	$370 ▲ +40 %	$265	$240
Damascus chef knife	19	$175 ▼ −15 %	$206	$135
Damascus utility knife	17	$170 ▲ +6 %	$160	$120
Damascus santoku	13	$200 = 0 %	$200	$130
Damascus paring knife	9	$150 ▲ +68 %	$89	$95
Damascus kiritsuke	7	$200 ▼ −23 %	$259	$130
Damascus boning knife	6	$160 ▲ +70 %	$94	$160
Damascus nakiri	6	$190 = 0 %	$190	$130
Damascus bread knife	5	$190 ▲ +78 %	$107	$150
Damascus slicing knife	3	$220 ▼ −26 %	$299	$200

Brands using it

Brand	n	Median	Market
Cutlery and More	104	$190	US
Couteaux du Chef	41	€225	FR
Kookgigant	15	€239	FR
Klingen-Boutique	14	€208	DE
Kitchen Kapers	10	$187	US
SharpEdge	9	€133	DE, FR
Du Bruit dans la Cuisine	6	€219	FR

114 knives with a VG-MAX core, United States

Core steelBrandMax price

Knife	Brand	Type	Blade	Layers	Core steel	Price
Shun Classic 2.5" Bird's Beak Peeling Knife	Cutlery and More	Paring	–	34	VG-MAX	$94.95
Shun Classic 3.5" Paring Knife	Cutlery and More	Paring	3.5"	34	VG-MAX	$114.95
Shun Classic Blonde 3.5" Paring Knife	Cutlery and More	Paring	3.5"	34	VG-MAX	$114.95
Shun Premier Grey 6.5" Utility Knife	Cutlery and More	Utility	6.5"	–	VG-MAX	$160$119.99
Shun Classic 4" Paring Knife	Cutlery and More	Paring	4"	34	VG-MAX	$124.95
Shun Classic Blonde 6" Kiritsuke Knife	Cutlery and More	Kiritsuke	6"	68	VG-MAX	$160$129.99
Shun Classic 6" Kiritsuke Knife	Cutlery and More	Kiritsuke	6"	68	VG-MAX	$160$129.99
Shun Classic 7" Santoku Knife	Cutlery and More	Santoku	7"	34	VG-MAX	$190$129.99
Shun Premier Grey 5.5" Nakiri Knife	Cutlery and More	Nakiri	5.5"	–	VG-MAX	$205$129.99
Shun Classic 6" Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	6"	34	VG-MAX	$170$134.95
Shun Classic Blonde 6" Utility Knife	Cutlery and More	Utility	6"	34	VG-MAX	$134.95
Shun Classic Blonde 6" Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	6"	34	VG-MAX	$170$134.95
Shun Classic 6" Utility Knife	Cutlery and More	Utility	6"	34	VG-MAX	$134.95
Shun Classic 6" Serrated Utility/Tomato Knife	Cutlery and More	Utility	6"	34	VG-MAX	$134.95
Shun Premier 3" Straight Paring Knife	Cutlery and More	Paring	3"	–	VG-MAX	$149.95
Shun Premier 4" Paring Knife	Cutlery and More	Paring	4"	–	VG-MAX	$149.95
Shun Classic 8" Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	8"	34	VG-MAX	$190$149.95
Shun Premier Grey 4" Paring Knife	Cutlery and More	Paring	4"	–	VG-MAX	$149.95
Shun Premier Blonde 4" Paring Knife	Cutlery and More	Paring	4"	–	VG-MAX	$149.95
Shun Classic Blonde 8" Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	8"	34	VG-MAX	$190$149.95
Shun Premier Blonde 4" Paring Knife	Kitchen Kapers	Paring	4"	–	VG-MAX	$187$149.95
Shun Premier Grey 9" Bread Knife	Cutlery and More	Bread	9"	–	VG-MAX	$230$149.99
Shun Premier Grey 7" Santoku Knife	Cutlery and More	Santoku	7"	–	VG-MAX	$220$149.99
Shun Classic 6" Ultimate Utility Knife	Cutlery and More	Utility	6"	34	VG-MAX	$154.95
Shun Classic Blonde 6" Gokujo Boning/Fillet Knife	Cutlery and More	Boning	6"	34	VG-MAX	$159.95
Shun Premier 6" Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	6"	–	VG-MAX	$200$159.95
Shun Classic 6" Gokujo Boning/Fillet Knife	Cutlery and More	Boning	6"	34	VG-MAX	$159.95
Shun Premier Blonde 6.5" Utility Knife	Cutlery and More	Utility	6.5"	–	VG-MAX	$159.95
Shun Premier Blonde 6" Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	6"	–	VG-MAX	$200$159.95
Shun Premier 6.5" Utility Knife	Cutlery and More	Utility	6.5"	–	VG-MAX	$159.95
Shun Classic 8" Hollow Edge Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	8"	34	VG-MAX	$200$159.95
Shun Classic 4.5" Honesuki Knife	Cutlery and More	Boning	4.5"	34	VG-MAX	$159.95
Shun Premier Blonde 6.5" Utility Knife	Kitchen Kapers	Utility	6.5"	–	VG-MAX	$200$159.95
Shun Premier Chef's Knife · 6"	Kitchen Kapers	Chef	6"	16	VG-MAX	$200$159.95
Shun Classic 4.5" Honesuki Knife	Kitchen Kapers	Boning	4.5"	–	VG-MAX	$200$159.95
Shun Classic 8" Western Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	8"	34	VG-MAX	$205$163.95
Shun Classic 5" Hollow Edge Nakiri Knife	Cutlery and More	Nakiri	5"	34	VG-MAX	$169.95
Shun Classic 5.5" Santoku Knife	Cutlery and More	Santoku	5.5"	34	VG-MAX	$169.95
Shun Premier 6.5" Serrated Utility Knife	Cutlery and More	Utility	6.5"	–	VG-MAX	$169.95
Shun Classic Blonde 5.5" Santoku Knife	Cutlery and More	Santoku	5.5"	34	VG-MAX	$169.95
Shun Premier 8" Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	8"	–	VG-MAX	$220$174.95
Shun Classic 10" Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	10"	34	VG-MAX	$220$174.95
Shun Premier Grey 8" Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	8"	–	VG-MAX	$220$174.95
Shun Premier Blonde 8" Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	8"	–	VG-MAX	$220$174.95
Shun Premier Chef's Knife · 8"	Kitchen Kapers	Chef	8"	16	VG-MAX	$220$174.95
Shun Classic 7" Master Serrated Utility Knife	Cutlery and More	Utility	7"	34	VG-MAX	$179.95
Shun Classic Blonde 6.5" Master Utility Knife	Cutlery and More	Utility	6.5"	34	VG-MAX	$179.95
Shun Classic 7" Asian Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	7"	34	VG-MAX	$179.95
Shun Classic 6.5" Master Utility Knife	Cutlery and More	Utility	6.5"	34	VG-MAX	$179.95
Shun Classic 8" Offset Bread Knife	Cutlery and More	Bread	8"	34	VG-MAX	$184.95
Shun Classic 7" Hollow Edge Asian Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	7"	34	VG-MAX	$189.95
Shun Premier Blonde 6" Gokujo Boning/Fillet Knife	Cutlery and More	Boning	6"	–	VG-MAX	$189.95
Shun Classic 7" Hollow Edge Santoku Knife	Cutlery and More	Santoku	7"	34	VG-MAX	$189.95
Shun Classic 6.5" Nakiri Knife	Cutlery and More	Nakiri	6.5"	34	VG-MAX	$189.95
Shun Premier 6" Ultimate Utility Knife	Cutlery and More	Utility	6"	–	VG-MAX	$189.95
Shun Premier 6" Gokujo Boning/Fillet Knife	Cutlery and More	Boning	6"	–	VG-MAX	$189.95
Shun Classic Blonde 9" Bread Knife	Cutlery and More	Bread	9"	34	VG-MAX	$189.95
Shun Classic Blonde 7" Santoku Knife	Cutlery and More	Santoku	7"	34	VG-MAX	$189.95
Shun Classic Blonde 6.5" Nakiri Knife	Cutlery and More	Nakiri	6.5"	34	VG-MAX	$189.95
Shun Classic 9" Bread Knife	Cutlery and More	Bread	9"	34	VG-MAX	$189.95
Shun Classic Blonde 8" Kiritsuke Knife	Cutlery and More	Kiritsuke	8"	34	VG-MAX	$199.95
Shun Premier Blonde 5.5" Santoku Knife	Cutlery and More	Santoku	5.5"	–	VG-MAX	$199.95
Shun Premier 5.5" Santoku Knife	Cutlery and More	Santoku	5.5"	–	VG-MAX	$199.95
Shun Premier 10" Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	10"	–	VG-MAX	$250$199.95
Shun Classic 8" Kiritsuke Knife	Cutlery and More	Kiritsuke	8"	34	VG-MAX	$199.95
Shun Classic 9" Hollow Edge Slicing Knife	Cutlery and More	Slicer	9"	34	VG-MAX	$199.95
Shun Premier Chef's Knife · 10"	Kitchen Kapers	Chef	10"	16	VG-MAX	$250$199.95
Shun Premier Blonde 6.5" Master Utility Knife	Cutlery and More	Utility	6.5"	–	VG-MAX	$204.95
Shun Premier Blonde 5.5" Nakiri Knife	Cutlery and More	Nakiri	5.5"	–	VG-MAX	$204.95
Shun Premier 6.5" Master Utility Knife	Cutlery and More	Utility	6.5"	–	VG-MAX	$204.95
Shun Premier 5.5" Nakiri Knife	Cutlery and More	Nakiri	5.5"	–	VG-MAX	$204.95
Shun Premier 6.5" Master Utility Knife	Kitchen Kapers	Utility	6.5"	34	VG-MAX	$256$204.95
Shun Premier 7" Asian Chef's Knife	Cutlery and More	Chef	7"	–	VG-MAX	$209.95
Shun Premier Blonde 9.5" Slicing Knife	Cutlery and More	Slicer	9.5"	–	VG-MAX	$219.95
Shun Premier Blonde 7" Master Serrated Utility Knife	Cutlery and More	Utility	7"	–	VG-MAX	$219.95
Shun Classic 8.5" Hollow Edge Santoku Knife	Cutlery and More	Santoku	8.5"	34	VG-MAX	$219.95
Shun Classic Blonde 8.5" Hollow Edge Santoku Knife	Cutlery and More	Santoku	8.5"	34	VG-MAX	$219.95
Shun Premier 7" Santoku Knife	Cutlery and More	Santoku	7"	–	VG-MAX	$219.95
Shun Premier Blonde 7" Santoku Knife	Cutlery and More	Santoku	7"	–	VG-MAX	$219.95
Shun Premier 9.5" Slicing Knife	Cutlery and More	Slicer	9.5"	–	VG-MAX	$219.95
Shun Premier 7" Santoku	Kitchen Kapers	Santoku	7"	34	VG-MAX	$275$219.95
Shun Premier Blonde 8" Kiritsuke Knife	Cutlery and More	Kiritsuke	8"	–	VG-MAX	$229.95
Shun Premier 9" Bread Knife	Cutlery and More	Bread	9"	–	VG-MAX	$229.95
Shun Premier 8" Kiritsuke Knife	Cutlery and More	Kiritsuke	8"	–	VG-MAX	$229.95
Shun Premier 8 Kiritsuke Knife	Kitchen Kapers	Kiritsuke	8"	34	VG-MAX	$287$229.95
Shun Classic Blonde 8" Chef's & Master Utility Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	34	VG-MAX	$325$239.95
Shun Classic 8" Chef's & Master Utility Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	34	VG-MAX	$325$239.95
Shun Classic Blonde Chef's & Paring Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	34	VG-MAX	$259.95
Shun Classic Chef's & Paring Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	34	VG-MAX	$259.95
Shun Premier Grey Santoku & Nakiri Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$360$259.99
Shun Premier Blonde 8" Chef's & Master Utility Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$370$277.46
Shun Premier 8" Chef's & Master Utility Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$370$277.46
Shun Classic 7" Chinese Vegetable Cleaver	Cutlery and More	Cleaver	7"	34	VG-MAX	$289.95
Shun Premier Grey Chef's & Paring Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$319.95
Shun Premier Chef's & Paring Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$319.95
Shun Premier Blonde Chef's & Paring Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$319.95
Shun 4 Piece Shima Steak Knife Set, Natural Tagayasan	Cutlery and More	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$319.95
Shun Premier 7" Chinese Vegetable Cleaver	Cutlery and More	Cleaver	7"	–	VG-MAX	$329.95
Shun Premier Grey 4 Piece Steak Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$500$349.96
Shun Classic Blonde 3 Piece Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	34	VG-MAX	$369.95
Shun Classic 3 Piece Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	34	VG-MAX	$369.95
Shun Premier Blonde 2 Piece Carving Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$379.95
Shun Classic Blonde 4 Piece Steak Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	34	VG-MAX	$379.95
Shun Classic 4 Piece Steak Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	34	VG-MAX	$379.95
Shun Premier Grey 4 Piece In-Drawer Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$540$399.96
Shun Premier Blonde 3 Piece Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$459.95
Shun Premier 3 Piece Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$459.95
Shun Premier Blonde 4 Piece Steak Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$499.95
Shun Premier 4 Piece Steak Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$499.95
Shun Premier Blonde 4 Piece Steak Knife Set	Kitchen Kapers	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$776$499.95
Shun Classic 4 Piece BBQ Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	34	VG-MAX	$534.95
Shun Classic Blonde 5 Piece In-Drawer Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	34	VG-MAX	$539.95
Shun Classic 5 Piece In-Drawer Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	34	VG-MAX	$539.95
Shun Premier 5 Piece In-Drawer Knife Set	Cutlery and More	Set	–	–	VG-MAX	$639.95