Shun Premier Tim Mälzer Knives

Premium Japanese Kitchen Knives

Shun Premier Tim Mälzer Knives

Created for demanding kitchen use, Shun Premier Tim Mälzer combines Japanese craftsmanship, high-performance materials and a striking three-part blade finish. The series pairs VG-MAX steel with Damascus cladding, a hand-worked Tsuchime surface and warm Pakkawood handles for a knife that performs as impressively as it looks.

Handmade in Japan A premium knife series created around the requirements of professional chefs
VG-MAX Damascus Blade Extremely hard VG-MAX core steel surrounded by 32 Damascus layers on each side
Tsuchime Hammered Finish A distinctive hand-worked surface designed to help ingredients release from the blade

Shun Premier × Tim Mälzer

Built Around the Demands of Professional Chefs

Shun Premier combines the high-quality material properties associated with Shun Classic with a more commanding design. The blade moves through three distinct textures, from its hammered upper surface through the fine Damascus grain to the highly polished cutting edge.

VG-MAX steel cutting core
32 Damascus layers on each side
61 ±1 HRC hardness
Double-sided cutting edge
Continuous tang for balance
Handmade in Japan

Signature Shun Premier Design

Three Distinctive Blade Textures

One of the defining features of Shun Premier is the transition through three different finishes across the blade.

1
Tsuchime Hammering The upper blade is hammered to create the distinctive Japanese Tsuchime finish and small air pockets that can help food release during cutting.
2
Damascus Grain Below the hammered surface sits the fine layered Damascus pattern associated with Shun's premium Japanese knives.
3
Polished Cutting Edge The blade finishes in a highly polished precision cutting edge designed for clean, controlled preparation.

The Blade

VG-MAX Core & Damascus Steel

The extremely hard VG-MAX cutting core is surrounded by 32 layers of Damascus steel on each side. This layered construction combines a hard cutting edge with surrounding steel designed to provide flexibility, durability and long-lasting cutting performance.

The Handle

Medium Brown Pakkawood

The highly worked blade is paired with a medium brown grained Pakkawood handle. Its symmetrical form makes the knife suitable for both left and right-handed use, while the continuous tang supports stability and balance.

Find Your Knife

Which Shun Premier Knife Is Right for You?

Choose your blade around the preparation you do most often, from general everyday work to smaller precision tasks.

Chef's Knife The everyday workhorse for chopping, slicing, dicing and a broad mix of professional kitchen preparation.
Santoku A versatile Japanese blade suited to vegetables, meat and fish, with a compact profile for controlled preparation.
Paring Knife A smaller precision knife for peeling, trimming and detailed preparation work.
Shun Premier or Shun Classic? Both ranges are premium Japanese knives built around high-performance VG-MAX steel. Shun Classic has its recognisable flowing Damascus finish and ebony-coloured D-shaped handle, while Premier adds a hammered Tsuchime surface, warmer brown Pakkawood styling and a more elaborate three-texture blade design.
Explore Shun Classic
Care for Your Shun Premier Knife Wash your knife by hand with mild detergent after use and dry it immediately with a soft cloth. Do not place Shun Premier knives in the dishwasher or leave the Pakkawood handle soaking in water. Correct cleaning, storage and sharpening will help protect the blade and maintain its cutting performance.
Hand Wash Only
Explore More Japanese Kitchen Knives Compare Shun Premier with Shun Classic, KAI Wasabi and our wider Japanese knife selection, or browse the complete kitchen knife collection for more blade styles and price points.
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About Shun Premier Tim Mälzer Japanese Knives


Shun Premier Tim Mälzer is a premium Japanese kitchen knife series created around the needs of professional chefs. Handmade in Japan, the knives combine an extremely hard VG-MAX steel cutting core with 32 layers of Damascus steel on each side and a distinctive hammered Tsuchime finish.


The Shun Premier blade is defined by three different surface textures. A hammered upper section creates the characteristic Tsuchime finish, followed by the fine Damascus grain associated with Shun and a highly polished precision cutting edge. The hammered surface also creates small air pockets that can help ingredients release from the blade while cutting.


Medium brown grained Pakkawood handles give Shun Premier its distinctive warmer appearance. Their symmetrical shape makes the knives suitable for both left and right-handed users, while the continuous tang helps provide stability and balance during preparation.


Compare the range with our Shun Classic knives, browse our wider Japanese knife collection or explore all kitchen knives available from The Chef Shop.