NORA #1646 - 10" Yanagiba - 01 Carbon Steel
$ 752.00
KNIFE HIGHLIGHTS
- Blade Type: Yanagiba
- Blade Length: 10 Inches (254 mm)
- Total Length: 16 Inches (406.4 mm)
- Handle Style: Right Hand Use
- Bevel: Single Bevel
- Steel: O1 Carbon Steel, triple tempered
- Rockwell Hardness: 64 HRC
- Grind Type: Single Bevel with a Concave Backside
- Weight: 12.265 oz
- Handle Materials: Layered Black G10, Stainless Steel Pins
GENERAL USES OF THIS KNIFE
Yanagiba
The Yanagiba knife is a Japanese-style slicing knife that is primarily used to slice boneless fish fillets for Sashimi and Sushi dishes. They also excel at skinning and filleting fish and work just as effortlessly with just about any boneless protein.
Yanagiba's typically have narrow blades and a relatively acute edge angle. These two factors allow fish to be cut in one single pull, from heel to tip. No sawing necessary. The smooth draw of this knife produces very little cellular damage in the cut surface. This is why the knife is so popular with sushi chefs, since it is particularly important for dishes where the fish is eaten raw, because it helps to preserve the original flavor and texture of the fish. The ultra-clean cut also helps with the presentation of the food.
Japanese yanagiba knives are made with only a single bevel. They are sharpened on just one side of the blade, leaving the other side concave. This provides an anti-stick property to the knife and also facilitates easier sharpening. The single bevel also also causes it to be hand-specific. In this case, the knife we made is made specifically for a right hand user.
If you want to see a video on how a Yanagiba is used, you can refer to this video with Chef Chris Cosentino. Chris uses the Shun Yanagiba and although we would love for you to buy our knives, it must be mentioned that Shun makes an excellent knives. We have more than a few. They are a great value for the money if a NORA isn't in your budget. :)
STEEL INFORMATION:
01 Carbon Steel
The blade on this knife is composed of a high carbon, O1 tool steel. O1 tool steel is a time-tested, great all around choice for carbon steel as it is easily sharpened and the fine grain structure produces a very sharp edge.
Steve has been experimenting for quite a while with different heat treatments on O1 and we are happy to say that we feel we have truly unlocked this steel's full potential with our current heat treatment cycle.
We perform a triple temper on the steel which allows the metal to entirely relax and essentially recover from the high heating. This process helps retains hardness but the knife also gains strength back at the same time, so its not as brittle. The end result is the knife coming in at a very robust 64HRC with a highly acute edge.
As this is a carbon steel, the blade will form a slight patina over time. This is normal and 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. For more information on the care of our knives, please feel free to visit our Knife Care page under our FAQ section which provides more info.
HANDLE DESIGN & MATERIALS:
Every one of our knives is handmade, unique and numbered. This NORA knife has been handled with a sleek and simple piece of onyx black G10. Sometimes simple is better and we like the clean, elegant look of this knife with only the stream of stainless steel pins as an accent. The pins provided added durability as well but are mainly decorative in nature. The design is a step away from our usually colorful knives.
The handle has been faceted to help lock your hand into position but the beautiful thing about this profile is that it is comfortable to hold in a number of different ways including a full hand hold and pinch grip. We are super pleased with the way this feels in hand.
So what is G10? G10 is an incredibly strong & durable fiberglass laminate that was originally used in the electronics industry. It has been adapted in the knife making world and has proven to be an excellent material for handles as it has high strength, low moisture absorption and can be found in a variety of colors. Its one of our favorite materials to work with outside of wood.