Fortune Cookie NORA #1372 - 8.5' CPM-M4 Chef - The Dude Abides
$ 431.25
KNIFE HIGHLIGHTS
- Blade Type: Chef
- Blade Length: 8.5 Inches
- Total Length: 12.65 Inches
- Handle Style: Western | Right or Left Hand Use
- Steel: CPM M4 Carbon Steel
- Handle Materials: Black G10, Arizona Ironwood, Brass Pins
- Rockwell Hardness: 66 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 near spine for durability)
- This Knife Feels...
- Heavy in Hand (Hefty. Durable. G10 is, by its nature, a very dense material so this one has some heft. If you prefer a very light knife, this will not be the best fit for you. If you like a little weight to your knife, this will be damn near perfect.)
- Light (nimble, maneuverable)
- >>> Not too heavy, not too light (Switzerland. Nicely balanced for the size of the knife.)
GENERAL USES OF THIS KNIFE:
CHEF KNIFE
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. 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.
HANDLE DESIGN & MATERIALS:
Every one of our knives is handmade, unique and numbered. This NORA has a single piece of highly figured Arizona Ironwood. Pins are black micarta and a black G10 liner was added for durability and also to tie the whole design together. Its a very simple, classic look and the wood itself carries this beautiful knife.
ENGRAVING:
This knife falls into a small batch we made that we dubbed our "fortune cookie" batch. All of the engravings in this batch are located on the spine of the knives and all have some form of text. The text isn't necessarily a fortune, but rather a line, quote or saying that resonates with us for whatever reason. The hope is that maybe the saying or text will resonate with whomever adopts this knife.
This knife's "fortune" reads:
"The Dude abides."
This saying derives from the film: The Big Lebowski and its referenced several times in the film. What does this mean exactly? Really, who the hell knows but we like one internet commentator's take on the phrase: Intentionally vague phrase hinting at the fact that The Dude Lives, in his unperturbable state of dudeness, somewhere. Yes...the Dude abides.
STEEL INFORMATION:
CPM- M4 CARBON STEEL
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 can be treated to a very high hardness. Hardness in steel generally equates to a finer edge and great edge retention. We took this blade to a solid 66 HRC which is incredibly hard compared to most production knives which fall in the mid to high 50's.
The high hardness allows it to maintain amazing edge retention but unlike other steels at this hardness its not as brittle or delicate. 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.
Its 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 try to muscle it through a very hard object (i.e. hard gourd, thick bones, etc.), it is likely to chip.
The pros of this steel outweigh the cons, 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. 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.
**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. (Some staining or discoloration will be inevitable as a result of the food the knife comes in contact with.) We have acid etched a portion of 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.