BDD - have you spoken to any of the vendors who have sub-forums here? Both the custom makers and the vendors who carry multiple lines of knives all have excellent reputations as far as product and customer service.
A few people have come close to saying it, but have not flat out said it: for the amount of money you're willing to spend, you're doing yourself a disservice by not at least seeing what some of the other vendors have to offer. If you want something from Shun, by all means, get it. But IMO, just a little more research will get you a much better product.
Oh, and welcome to the forum. The more, the merrier.
Hello unkajonet,
No I haven't checked the vendors who have sub-forums here. Will check them out.
I'm not just looking at Shun. Other brands include...MAC, Tojiro, Takeda, Konosuke, Masamoto, Moritaka...etc. I was just curious what people thought of Shun Premiers and Reserves. And no I don't have to buy a set.
Knives I am buying are...chef's, bread, carving/fork, utility. + steak knives (and thank u to the poster's tip on finding Tojiro steak knives...found the online vendor).
And thanks for the welcome.