NORA #1157 - Hybrid Honesuki - CPM-M4 Carbon Steel
$ 445.00
KNIFE HIGHLIGHTS
- Blade Type: Hybrid Honesuki/Petty
- Blade Length: 6.5 Inches
- Total Length: 11.5 Inches
- Handle Style: Western | Right or Left Hand Use
- Steel: CPM-M4 Carbon Steel
- Handle Materials: Custom Cast Sea Blue Topo Scale (from WKRMN), white G11 pins, White G10 liner
- Rockwell Hardness: 66 HRC
- Grind Type: 3/4 Flat grind, Double Bevel with a tanto tip
- Weight: 6.7 oz / 190 g
- This Blade is Ground...
- >>>Thin for Performance (best performance but can be 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. It does have a THICKER HANDLE though. (good for larger hands)
GENERAL USES OF THIS KNIFE
Honesuki/Petty Hybrid
NORA knife #1157 is a custom one-off design that was meant to mimic a honesuki in look but maintain a wider ability in terms of use. This is different from a traditional honesuki in that it has a double bevel which allows both left and right handed individuals to use the knife. This knife will work wonderfully for light protein prep and poultry breakdown and it also mimics a petty/utility knife in that it can swiftly work through vegetables and a variety of other items when needed. The blade is ground thin for performance and should be a beast on the line.
STEEL INFORMATION:
CPM - M4
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 but remains durable. As an added bonus, M4 is more corrosion resistant than many other carbon steels.
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 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 slam it down on a hard object, 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 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 and given it a stonewashed finish 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. Please note that the etch process does not always leave the knife completely uniform and, as such, you may notice minor differences in tone of the etch color and also some residual marks which can almost look like a stain on the knife. These are not stains, they are part of the etch itself.
HANDLE DESIGN & MATERIALS:
Every one of our knives is handmade, numbered and unique. The design for this NORA knife, number #1157, is an amazing hand cast scale made of urethane based resins that mimic a topographic map. To us the various shades of blue reminded us of the mapping of an ocean bottom floor and to complement this theme we added a hammerhead shark because it just seemed to fit with the overall shape of the blade and feel of the handle. Please note that this handle is thicker than most of our others.