NORA M4 8.5' Chef - Two Kings
$ 427.00
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.
Every one of our knives is handmade and numbered. We have three in this limited edition series numbered 1050 - 1052. Each of these knives has an 8.5 inch blade length and has been handled with a mix of durable gray G10 and black honeycomb c-tek on the upper portion of the blade. The mix is understated and classic.
The blade has also been custom engraved with two kings in a playing card style. On one side of the banner it reads: "memento mori" which translates from Latin as "remember you must die." The other side reads: "memento viviere" which is also Latin and translates as "remember to live." Everyone takes away what they want from quotes but for us we like the contrasting ideas and how they each bring you to the general same conclusion: life is short so go do what you were meant to do here.
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. 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 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. 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 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 knives are not yet sharpened. That is the last step we do before the blades are sent out which is why you do not see an edge on these knives.
{ Knife Details }
Metal: CPM-M4 Carbon Steel
Blade Length: 8.5 inches
Total Length: 13.25 inches
Handle Material(s): Gray G10, Black G10 Liner & Spacer, Black Honeycomb C-Tek, Stainless Steel Pins
Rockwell Hardness: 66
Grind Type: Full Flat Hybrid
Weight: .53 lbs. / 8.5 oz.