PRE-SALE ~ NORA - 7.5 Inch Stainless Steel Cleaver

KNIFE HIGHLIGHTS

• Blade Type: Cleaver
• Blade Length: 7.5 Inches
• Blade Height: 3 Inches at Heel, 3.75 Inches at highest arc near end
• Total Length: 12.75 Inches
• Weight: 1.41 lbs. (SHE'S STOUT! NOT A LIGHT CLEAVER.)
• Handle Style: Western | Right or Left Hand Use
• Steel: AEB-L Stainless Steel
• Handle Materials: Your Choice of either Walnut, Quilted Maple, Bubinga, Padauk, or Cherry.   Picture shown has a Bubinga handle (no engraving) with gray & white G10 liners and brass pins.   You can see the various wood colors below.
• *We will complement the wood handle with either a black, white or gray liner for added durability/contrast.  We will also use either stainless, brass or copper pins depending on what we feel works best with your wood choice.  If you have a specific preference on the liner and/or pins you can communicate that to us via email at: dani@noraknives.com
• Rockwell Hardness: 56 HRC
• Grind Type: Convex Grind

• 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. Make no mistake, this is a HEAVY cleaver.)
• Light (nimble, maneuverable)
• Not too heavy, not too light (Switzerland)

GENERAL USES OF THIS KNIFE:

CLEAVER

This blade design is our take on the traditional, Western Style Cleaver.

These blades don't hide behind any fancy names...they do exactly what they say which is cleave large bits and bones apart from each other. If it's force and brute strength that you need, this is the knife to get the job done.  Cleavers are primarily used for butchering but they also work well for tougher squashes and vegetables. 

As a huge opposite to most of our other knives, our cleaver has a thick, softer edge which reinforces the toughness that this blade needs to withstand the blows that this knife takes.  Further, we don't sharpen these knives particularly keen because these knives work off momentum and weight, not necessarily sharpness. Speaking of weight...this is a HEAVY knife.  The weight is what allows the knife to make clean cuts the first time thru.

And of course, a cleaver would not perhaps feel entirely like a cleaver without the signature hole near the top of the blade.  This provides the user the option of hanging if desired and also helps lighten the weight of this particularly hefty knife.

HANDLE DESIGN & MATERIALS:

Every one of our knives is handmade, unique and numbered. This listing offers you the ability to choose between 6 different durable & time-tested hardwoods. Note that all of our woods are sent out for professional stabilization.  (You can read more about stabilized wood below.)  Pictures of each wood option can be seen below. Two pictures of each wood are provided below to show you the possible variations in color and grain.  Also, please note that the handles offered on the cleaver are a single wood handle.  If any extra materials are displayed below in the handle it is only to show you the wood itself.  We are not offering complex handles/glue-ups in this pre-sale.

Padauk:

Note that Padauk starts out with a very orangey-reddish hue and then will gradually fade in color over time to a rich dark brown.  We love this wood both new and aged.  

Quilted Maple:

Quilted maple has always been one of our favorites, the lighter wood and soft, undulating patterns are always gorgeous.

*PLEASE NOTE THE SECOND PICTURE IN THIS SET HAS A BASE OF QUILTED MAPLE WITH AN UPPER PORTION OF DARK GREEN G10.  THE HANDLE OF YOUR CLEAVER WILL BE ONLY A SINGLE WOOD, SIMILAR TO THE FIRST IMAGE SHOWN.  THE SECOND IMAGE IS PROVIDED ONLY TO SHOW YOU VARIATIONS IN COLOR AND GRAIN WITHIN THE SAME WOOD.  

Bubinga (African Rosewood):

Often compared to Honduran Rosewood due to color and figure.  This wood is derived primarily from Africa and has a rich, reddish brown tone to it with various degrees of figure.  We love the classic, rich look of this wood.

*PLEASE NOTE THE SECOND PICTURE IN THIS SET HAS A BASE OF BUBINGA WITH AN UPPER PORTION OF DARK GREEN G10.  THE HANDLE OF YOUR CLEAVER WILL BE ONLY A SINGLE WOOD, SIMILAR TO THE FIRST IMAGE SHOWN.  THE SECOND IMAGE IS PROVIDED ONLY TO SHOW YOU VARIATIONS IN COLOR AND GRAIN WITHIN THE SAME WOOD.

Walnut:

Always a classic for a reason.  American black walnut wil have various degrees of figure and a rich chocolate brown color than sometimes ranges from a lighter milk chocolate brown all the way to (you guessed it) dark chocolate brown depending on the grain.

*PLEASE NOTE THE SECOND PICTURE IN THIS SET HAS A BASE OF WALNUT WOOD WITH GRAY AND ORANGE STRIPES.  THE HANDLE OF YOUR CLEAVER WILL BE ONLY A SINGLE WOOD, SIMILAR TO THE FIRST IMAGE SHOWN.  THE SECOND IMAGE IS PROVIDED ONLY TO SHOW YOU VARIATIONS IN COLOR AND GRAIN WITHIN THE SAME WOOD.  

Cherry:

*PLEASE NOTE THE SECOND PICTURE IN THIS SET HAS A BASE OF CHERRY WOOD WITH RED AND ORANGE STRIPES.  THE HANDLE OF YOUR CLEAVER WILL BE ONLY A SINGLE WOOD, SIMILAR TO THE FIRST IMAGE SHOWN.  THE SECOND IMAGE IS PROVIDED ONLY TO SHOW YOU VARIATIONS IN COLOR AND GRAIN WITHIN THE SAME WOOD.  

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. Although the stabilization process drastically increases the lifespan of your knife, the wood itself remains an organic product and will benefit from frequent oiling for overall shine and longevity.

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 higher carbon content in this stainless is what allows it to get a fine edge and higher hardness than 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 scotch brite pad and usually the rough end of a kitchen sponge will also do the trick. 

ENGRAVING:

You have the option to custom engrave your cleaver.

We offer two choices:

1.) Choose an engraving that we have done on a knife in the past.  You can see  20 examples of some of our more popular engravings below.  For more inspiration feel free to browse our PAST WORK section or Instagram.  If you choose this option we will email you within 3 days to confirm your choice.  Please note the number below or provide the best description possible of the engraving you would like and we will email back to confirm your choice.  

2.) You can send us your logo or artwork that we will convert into a usable format for our engraver.  The cost is higher with this option as set-up for each image is extensive.

**Please note that our engraver works with black and white images only.  We can not convert images with shading or multiple colors.  We generally prefer files in vector format but many times we can also convert large sized JPGs so long as the design is somewhat simple.  If you have a fairly simple JPG then we can easily convert it.  If you have a highly detailed JPG then we will do our best to convert but we can not guarantee the desired results.  If we do not feel that we can adequately engrave your image then we will let you know and offer you either a full refund or the option of a knife with no engraving. If you have an idea for an engraving but don't necessarily have an image in mind then we can offer you suggestions on where to find quality images that may work. **

GENERAL NOTES ON ENGRAVING:

Note that the engraving will be done using a fiber laser so there is depth to the engraving more so than you see with an electro etch or CO2 laser. We do, however, keep the depth low so it does not catch food and minimally interferes with the primary cutting function of the knife. (A deeper engraving on a cleaver is not generally a worry anyways due to the thickness of a cleaver)

A small amount of stickage is normal around the engraved area, especially initially. (due to a very small burr that is formed around the engraved area) 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. (Particularly with a cleaver)  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.  

BELOW REPRESENTS A SMALL SAMPLING OF SOME OF OUR PAST ENGRAVINGS.  IF YOU DESIRE ANY OF THE ENGRAVINGS BELOW SIMPLY MAKE NOTE OF THE NAME AND NUMBER OF YOUR CHOICE AND WHEN WE EMAIL YOU TO CONFIRM YOUR CHOICES WE CAN EASILY REFERENCE WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE.  YOU ARE ALSO FREE TO BROWSE ALL OF OUR PAST WORK OR INSTAGRAM FOR INSPIRATION IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

NUMBER 1: "HOOTIE"

NUMBER 2: YEAR OF THE PIG

NUMBER 3: THE GREAT WAVE

NUMBER 4: JELLYFISH

(NOTE THIS ENGRAVING IS ON A DARK ETCHED BLADE, AS THE CLEAVER IS STAINLESS STEEL THE ENGRAVING WILL BE A DARK BLACK, AS OPPOSED TO WHITE)

NUMBER 5: MARY JANES

NUMBER 6: MEMENTO AMARE / MEMENTO CONDONO (LOVE/FORGIVE)

NUMBER 7: MERMAIDS

NUMBER 8: VIVA MEXICO

NUMBER 9: ROCK LOBSTER

NUMBER 10: SLOW FOOD

NUMBER 11: SKULLS

NUMBER 12: BUOY

NUMBER 13: PAPER CRANES

(NOTE THIS ENGRAVING IS ON A DARK ETCHED BLADE, AS THE CLEAVER IS STAINLESS STEEL THE ENGRAVING WILL BE A DARK BLACK, AS OPPOSED TO WHITE)

NUMBER 14: GEISHA HOUSE 

(NOTE THIS ENGRAVING IS ON A DARK ETCHED BLADE, AS THE CLEAVER IS STAINLESS STEEL THE ENGRAVING WILL BE A DARK BLACK, AS OPPOSED TO WHITE)

 NUMBER 15: RHIANNON

NUMBER 16: HEART

(NOTE THIS ENGRAVING IS ON A DARK ETCHED BLADE, AS THE CLEAVER IS STAINLESS STEEL THE ENGRAVING WILL BE A DARK BLACK, AS OPPOSED TO WHITE)

NUMBER 17: FRENCH BUTCHERING DIAGRAM - BEEF

(NOTE THIS ENGRAVING IS ON A DARK ETCHED BLADE, AS THE CLEAVER IS STAINLESS STEEL THE ENGRAVING WILL BE A DARK BLACK, AS OPPOSED TO WHITE)

NUMBER 18: SPRING

NUMBER 19: MAKE FOOD NOT WAR

NUMBER 20: ARROW / "FLETCHING"