NORA # 1350 - 10' AEB-L Kiritsuke - Jonah and the Whale
$ 389.00
KNIFE HIGHLIGHTS
- Blade Type: Kiritsuke
- Blade Length: 10 Inches
- Total Length: 15 Inches
- Handle Style: Western | Right or Left Hand Use
- Steel: AEB-L Stainless Steel
- Handle Materials: Arizona Ironwood, Blue & White G10 liners, Brass Pins
- Rockwell Hardness: 62 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 for durability)
- This Knife Feels...
- >>> Heavy in Hand (G10 and Ironwood are both inherently dense, heavy materials but it balances out this large blade nicely. NOT recommended if you prefer lighter blades.)
- Light (nimble, maneuverable)
- Not too heavy, not too light (Switzerland)
GENERAL USES OF THIS KNIFE:
KIRITSUKE KNIFE
This blade shape is our take on the traditional Japanese Kiritsuke knife.
A Kiritsuke knife is one of the very few Japanese knives that is considered multi-purpose. It is a hybrid between a Yanagi (fish slicer) and a Usuba (vegetable knife.). A Kiritsuke knife works well for slicing and breaking down protein but it also excels at vegetable prep. and general purpose tasks. In Japanese kitchens, the Kiritsuke knife is reserved only for the executive Chef as a sign of respect and also due to the skill needed to efficiently use these knives.
Our Kiritsuke design does not have as flat of a belly as the more traditional Japanese style knives. We have done this to allow just the slightest amount of rock in the cut. We feel it adds a bit more versatility to the knife.
HANDLE DESIGN & MATERIALS:
Every one of our knives is handmade, unique and numbered. This NORA was specifically made with the Jewish faith in mind, as part of a series of knives we made which each have a tie-in with various religions. This is a one-of-a-kind knife and will never be reproduced.
To be completely honest...we struggled with a design for this one. We researched Purim, Pesach, Pomegranates and Pickles. We contemplated a David and Goliath set, switched to a braided "challah" wood handle idea (yeah, seriously) and even started a lime green "kosher dill" handle. Nothing seemed to quite work though until I came upon the idea for an engraving with Jonah and the Whale.
The story goes that Jonah denied the Lord's command and escaped to the sea only to be swallowed by a whale. Jonah sat for three days in the belly of the whale and realized his error. He prayed and repented and the Lord delivered him back to land with the same command as before.
"And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah a second time.." Jonah 3:1
The Lord commanded, once again, that Jonah preach to his enemies. It was the second chance Jonah needed. The Lord had shown mercy on him. The story goes on and has several other lessons wrapped in it but the significance of second chances, repentance and forgiveness is central to the book of Jonah which is probably why it has such a special place during prayers on Yom Kippur, which is considered one of holiest days of the year for those who follow Judaism.
The imagery from this story was too good not to use. I engraved a whale on the blade and if you look closely you can find a stoic Jonah sitting inside the whale. The engraving above the whale reads: "...and the word of the lord came unto Jonah a second time...". The engraving below reads: "we serve a god of second chances"
(Side note, the font I used to design this image is all lowercase. I wasn't trying to be disrespectful by not capitalizing the Lord's name. Just thought I would throw that in there so it was understood.)
Near the NORA logo and number (#1350) you will also find the Hebrew "Chai" symbol which is translated as "life" but tends to have several layers of meaning, maybe most importantly it is a reminder to live a life of meaning and remember how precious it is to you. If that isn't a nice reminder to have each day as you are preparing the food that will nourish you, I don't know what is.
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 concept of stainless steel is very misleading because every steel is, at some level, reactive to water and other elements.
The higher carbon content in this stainless is what allows it to get a fine edge and higher hardness compared to many 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 or red scotch brite pad and usually the rough end of a kitchen sponge will also do the trick. Take extra care to remove any excess wetness that remain on this blade. Drip drying is NOT recommended.
CUSTOM ENGRAVING
**This knife has been custom engraved. The engraving was done via a dual diode laser so there is depth to the engraving more so than you usually see with an electro etch or CO2 laser. 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.