NORA #1271 - Compact M4 Nakiri - Line Chimp
$ 375.00
KNIFE HIGHLIGHTS
- Blade Type: Nakiri
- Blade Length: 5.375 Inches
- Total Length: 9.8 Inches
- Handle Style: Western | Right or Left Hand Use
- Steel: CPM-M4 Carbon Steel
- Handle Materials: Stabilized African Padauk, White & Blue G10, Stainless Steel Pins
- Rockwell Hardness: 66 HRC
- Grind Type: Full Flat Hybrid
- Weight: .43 LBS.
- 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 (good performance 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)
GENERAL USES OF THIS KNIFE
NAKIRI
The Nakiri knife is a Japanese style knife that is specifically designed to excel at cutting and prepping vegetables and greens. These blades are very thin and literally fall through food. Because of the thinness, these blades should not be used for cutting through any type of bone or harder objects but you would be surprised at the versatility of the Nakiri. We find we use ours for a wide array of tasks in the kitchen - everything from protein prep to bread.
This particular nakiri is a custom profile and was made with the line cook in mind knowing that they work within a fairly small area and do a large amount of prep. Length on this nakiri is a nimble 5.375 inches but the height of the nakiri allows it great versatility in cutting both large and small items.
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 is unique in that it gets extremely hard. 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 slam it down on a hard object, it is likely to chip.
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.
HANDLE DESIGN & MATERIALS:
Every one of our knives is handmade, unique and numbered. NORA#1271 is a mix of stabilized African Padauk accented with a striped pattern of white and blue G10. Liners coordinate and are also white and blue G10. Pins are stainless steel.
As an added something, we custom engraved a line chimp on this knife. What, you may ask, is a line chimp? A line chimp is an overworked, underappreciated line cook with a serious nicotine addiction and a generally surly attitude. Line chimps are plentiful in our parts and they need good knives. We have dutifully obliged and made this compact nakiri.
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 absorb very little water and is generally impervious to oils. The process helps to ensure your knife has a long lifespan in the kitchen.
CUSTOM ENGRAVING
**This knife has been custom engraved. The engraving was done via laser so there is depth to the engraving more so than you see with an electro etch. We do, however, keep the depth 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 so minimal that it is barely noticed. 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 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 further degrade the image.