NORA K-Tip Chef #1078 - M4 Carbon Steel
$ 408.00
Our take on the classic Chef knife. This is an extremely versatile knife that is a jack-of-all-trades worker and one of the single most important knives in a kitchen.
This chef is a nimble 8 inches (just under) in length and has a k-tip end. Our Chef knife design can easily accommodate both a pinch grip and a full hold. It is a good choice for those with larger hands or those who prefer a full hold on the handle. Our design is also excellent for those who like a rocking motion while cutting.
Every one of our knives is numbered and unique. This NORA knife, number #1078, was an experimental design for us in regards to the handle. We hand cast a black urethane resin around several curved white stripes to come up with this design. The black resin has a very subtle, almost imperceptible shimmer in some areas of the handle. We like the end result and the sort of simple graphic design. We complemented the handle design with a simple geometric pattern on the blade itself.
Please note that there is a very small flaw in the casting along one of the white lines on the logo side of the knife. It's a small void in the resin. It's barely visible and purely cosmetic but in full disclosure, we want to be transparent about all aspects of the knife. We have also slightly discounted this knife compared to our normal pricing because of this small flaw.
The blade on this knife is composed of a high carbon CPM M4 steel. M4 is the best carbon steel we have ever used in regards to blade performance. After doing a wide amount of research on this steel, we decided to give it a go and have been extremely impressed with its performance thus far. CPM M4 steel is unique in that it gets extremely hard. We took this blade to a solid 66 HRC. The hardness allows it to maintain amazing edge retention but unlike other steels at this hardness it's not as brittle. It is actually highly wear resistant which means you don't need to worry as much about the knife chipping or breaking. As an added bonus, M4 is surprisingly corrosion resistant when compared to other carbon steels.
It's a rugged knife for the performance it offers and this combination is rare when you harden steel to beyond 62 HRC. **Please note though that the steel isn't bullet-proof...if you drop the knife on a very hard surface or slam it down on a hard object, it is likely to chip. We grind our knives for performance which means they are thin. The blade edge and particularly the tip are the thinnest parts of the knife so care must be taken around these areas.
The pros of this steel outweigh the cons in our opinion but it must be mentioned that this steel is harder to sharpen than many others so you will need to factor that into your decision as it does represent a bit more maintenance than other knives. On the flip side, you don't need to sharpen this knife nearly as frequently as others. Note that we provide free sharpening on all of our knives and we are always happy to help in this respect.
As this is a carbon steel, the blade will form a slight patina over time. This is normal and is actually the mark of a beautifully used knife. Please note, however, that a carbon knife does require more maintenance than its stainless steel counterpart, mainly that it must be washed or wiped clean shortly after each use to prevent unwanted rust or stains. We have acid etched this knife to protect the steel and start the patina process. Over time this etch will fade slightly and will be replaced by the individual patina you make while using the knife.
{ Knife Details }
Metal: CPM-M4 Carbon Steel
Blade Length: 7.9 inches
Total Length: 12.75 inches
Handle Material(s): Urethane Resins, White G11 Pins, White G10 liners
Rockwell Hardness: 66 HRC
Grind Type: Hybrid Flat Grind