NORA #1663 - 7 Inch Line Slayer - Alis Volat Propriis (she flies with her own wings)
$ 430.63
Every knife in this batch will do some good beyond just supporting our small business. For this knife, we aren't donating to a charity. Instead, we are going to use a portion of the proceeds from this knife to go out and support a family friend who just opened her first restaurant: Noble Bird Rotisserie. The food is outstanding but the timing could not be much worse for a brand new, first timer, to start a restaurant. But...she's a fighter.
She and her husband are working tirelessly to keep the business alive and we want to support them anyway we can. So we are going to brave the hour and a half drive into Long Beach and purchase the best damn take-out we can possible get. If anyone else wants to treat themselves to some amazing yardbird, this is the place to go. We're rooting for you, Sid!!
KNIFE HIGHLIGHTS
- Blade Type: Japanese Styled Utility Knife - “Line Slayer”
- Blade Length: 7 Inches
- Total Length: 12.25 Inches
- Handle Style: Western | Right or Left Hand Use
- Steel: AEB-L Stainless Steel
- Handle Materials: Stabilized & Dyed Mango Wood, Forest Green G10 Stripe, Arizona Ironwood, Tan G10 Liners, Brass Pins
- Rockwell Hardness: 62 HRC
- Grind Type: Full Flat Hybrid - Performance Grind (3 different bevels blended)
- This Blade is Ground...
- Thin for Performance (best performance but delicate)
- Thick for Durability (tough, built to last for heavy wear-n-tear)
- >>> Mid-Range with Special Geometry (specially ground for food release and glide but blade is kept slightly thicker for durability)
- This Knife Feels...
- Heavy in Hand (Hefty. Durable.)
- Light (nimble, maneuverable)
- >>> Not too heavy, not too light (Switzerland. Fitting weight for the size of the knife.)
GENERAL USES OF THIS KNIFE:
"LINE SLAYER"
We affectionately call this style blade our "line slayer". This is really an all around great utility knife. It is an extremely versatile knife that is a jack-of-all-trades worker and should serve you well in the kitchen and on the line. It's compact and sleek but also tough enough to handle some of the heavier lifting in the kitchen, including protein breakdown.
Be aware that this knife excels at push and pull cuts along with chopping. What it does not excel at is rocking. There is very little belly (none actually) on this knife so if you prefer a rocking motion when cutting then we would suggest our chef or gyuto design. Also important to note, we angled the handle upwards on this knife to account for knuckle clearance for most people but if your have larger hands and do not use a pinch grip when cutting then this may not be the ideal handle for you as knuckle clearance may be limited.
ENGRAVING:
The engraving on this knife features the phrase: "Alis volat propriis" which is a latin phrase and translates as: "She flies with her own wings."
Side note: this is also the official motto of the state of Oregon. (Goonies never say die!)
We added a simple heart with a geometric design to the text and called it a day. Sometimes simple really is better.
This knife was made in honor of all of the hard-working women out there who are getting it done on the daily. Keep on keeping on ladies!
**This knife has been custom engraved. The engraving was done via a dual diode laser so there is depth to the engraving more so than you usually see with an electro etch or CO2 laser. We do, however, keep the depth relatively minimal so it does not catch food and minimally interferes with the primary cutting function of the knife. A small amount of stickage is normal around the engraved area, especially initially. This will lessen over time as the blade is used. Please note though, if performance is your #1 priority then we encourage you to NOT purchase this blade. A blade with no engraving WILL have a smoother glide than a blade with engraving. For most, however, this difference is minimal. We just like to provide a full disclosure up front so you know exactly what you are purchasing.
The engraving should last as long as the knife itself but please note that it will slightly degrade over time as abrasives are used on the knife. We recommend the soft end of a sponge with soap and water for cleaning and mineral oil periodically to condition the blade (and handle). Keep in mind that stronger abrasives, such as steel wool, scotch brite pads, sand paper or stone sharpening directly on the engraved image will degrade the image over time if continually used.
HANDLE DESIGN & MATERIALS:
Every one of our knives is handmade, unique and numbered. This NORA knife has been handled with a mix of uber-durable Arizona ironwood, along with a colorful dose of mango wood that has been dyed a beautiful teal blue hue. The two woods are separated by a simple stripe of forest green G10 which complements the color in the mango wood. The mango wood has been stabilized for added durability. (Arizona ironwood, on the other hand, is one of the densest woods in the world and does not actually benefit from stabilization so we do not stabilize Ironwood.)
So what is G10? G10 is an incredibly strong & durable fiberglass laminate that was originally used in the electronics industry. It has been adapted in the knife making world and has proven to be an excellent material for handles as it has high strength, low moisture absorption and can be found in a variety of colors. It’s one of our favorite materials to work with outside of wood.
And what about wood stabilization...what's that? Wood stabilization is an added feature that we offer with our knives. Wood that is stabilized has been injected with a clear acrylic resin under a vacuum process. Stabilization helps to minimize, if not eliminate, any cracking, warping, shrinkage and/or expanding of the material. Stabilized wood will not absorb water and is generally impervious to oils. The process helps to ensure your knife has a long lifespan in the kitchen.
STEEL INFORMATION:
AEB-L STAINLESS STEEL
This knife blade is composed of AEB-L stainless steel which is a high-quality Swedish metal, originally developed for razor blades. Recently, steel suppliers have made this steel available in thicker sheets and it has proven to be an excellent adaptation for the cutlery industry.
AEB-L has a beautiful balance of carbon and chromium and, with proper heat treatment, this steel produces both a very fine edge as well as excellent toughness and edge stability. The fine grain structure also makes this steel very easy to sharpen. We believe it is one of the finest stainless steels available on the market today for use with kitchen knives.
As a side note, there are two things we like to mention about this steel:
1.) This steel responds beautifully to honing and if the knife is honed regularly it should need infrequent sharpening.
2.) AEB-L is a stainless steel but just barely. The concept of stainless steel is very misleading because every steel is, at some level, reactive to water and other elements.
The higher carbon content in this stainless is what allows it to get a fine edge and higher hardness compared to many other stainless steels but it also has a tendency to sometimes form very fine rust spots on the blade. If this happens, these are easily removed with a green or red scotch brite pad and usually the rough end of a kitchen sponge will also do the trick. Take extra care to remove any excess wetness that remain on this blade. Drip drying is NOT recommended.