Shun 11-Slot Bamboo Block

Perfect storage for your Japanese knives!
No one ends up with just a couple of good Japanese Kitchen knives. I had just bought several expensive knives and my old block just wouldn't fit the larger blades of the Japanese knives. This one was made for the wider knives. Mine holds a couple of gyutos, a Banno Bunka, Nakiri, 2 pettys, and I measured it and it will house my new Hiromoto Sujihiki slicer, the longest one.
I like the slanted angle and the arrangement of the slots makes for easy entry and removal without other knives gettng in the way.
Good price at about $60 as I believe it sold for about $90, although I dont think I would buy it at that price.
The best feature is that it will hold 4 WIDE CHEF type knives....most others don't
And the HORIZONTAL layout is easier on the blades...won't dull them.
The other one I have is vertical and the blade road cuts against the block when you withdraw the knife.

Block of Ages
As I slowly replace my old Sabatiers with new Shuns I sprung for their block. I've actually never owned a "knife block" before so I have nothing to compare this little bamboo beaut to but I am impressed by its ability to both sit on a counter and hold knives of different sizes all at the same time. Mine came with a discreet Shun logo on a brushed aluminum plate pressed onto the lovely bamboo. Some block!

Not worth the price, but what are your other options?
I first purchased a J.A. Henckels International 10-Slot Knife Storage Block from Amazon to hold my 4 Shun products: honing steel, 8'' chef's knife, 6'' chef's knife, and a 5 1/2 inch Santoku. Well, I was unpleasantly surprised when I found that I could not fit those three Shun knives because of the very small holes in the Henckels block. So, I reluctantly spent three times the price of the Henckel block and ordered the Shun 11-Slot Bamboo Block. The reason I give it only 3 stars is because I simply don't feel it is worth the price at which I paid, especially what it is valued at full retail. When you compare this quality to the quality of the actual Shun knives, it just doesn't fit in the same class. However what are my other options?

I have done research, and I think there may be a correlation between the use of magnetic strips with Shun knives, and their tendency to chip. So I decided a block was the best route. There are not a lot to choose from that will fit the wide...

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