NORA #1639 -7.5 Inch Santoku - O1 Carbon Steel - Love Letter
$ 489.95
PLEASE BE AWARE - THIS IS A CARBON STEEL KNIFE. THIS IS NOT A STAINLESS STEEL KNIFE. A CARBON STEEL KNIFE WILL FORM A PATINA ON THE KNIFE AND IS PRONE TO RUST IF NOT CARED FOR PROPERLY.
KNIFE HIGHLIGHTS
- Blade Type: Santoku
- Blade Length: 7.5 Inches
- Total Length: 12.5 Inches
- Handle Style: Western | Right or Left Hand Use
- Steel: O1 Carbon Steel
- Handle Materials: Stabilized Curly Maple, Various G10 colors: Pink, White, Gray & Black, black micarta pins
- Rockwell Hardness: 61 HRC
- Grind Type: Full Flat
- 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)
- Light (nimble, maneuverable)
- >>>Not too heavy, not too light (Switzerland)
GENERAL USES OF THIS KNIFE:
SANTOKU KNIFE
Our version of a Japanese Santoku, this is an extremely versatile knife that functions similarly to a Chef knife. Santoku literally translates from Japanese as "three virtues" which refers to the three tasks this knife does exceedingly well: slice, dice, and mince. While Santoku knives generally lend themselves towards a chopping motion, we have also designed the blade with just enough belly to facilitate a slight rocking motion as well.
This is a revamp of our original "NORA" knife. We started by making a single Santoku design and that is all we sold our first year in business. Since then we have had roughly 4 different versions of our Santoku and I think we finally arrived on a blade profile and handle that really work great together.
HANDLE DESIGN & MATERIALS:
Every one of our knives is handmade, numbered and unique. The number on each knife represents the production order of our small company. As such, if you have NORA #1000, that knife represents the 1,000th knife made here at NORA knives.
This NORA knife has been handled with a mix of G10 and stabilized maple wood. The G10 has softer colors in pink, gray and white and the lighter maple is a nice accent to it.
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.
ENGRAVING:
We used this engraving once previously on a batch for Mother's day. With Valentine's Day looming close we thought we would bring it back once more as it would be a lovely gift for that special lady in your life. (Or gent...we don't judge. Pink is getting pretty progressive these days.)
General Notes: This knife has been custom engraved. The engraving was done via fiber laser so there is depth to the engraving more so than you generally 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 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. 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.
STEEL INFORMATION:
01 CARBON STEEL
The blade on this knife is composed of a high carbon O1 tool steel with a hand-sanded, satin finish. O1 tool steel is a great all around choice for carbon steel as it is easily sharpened and the fine grain structure produces a very sharp edge. It is also an economical alternative to some of the more expensive Japanese carbon steels while offering similar benefits and a more hardy steel. HRC hardness on this knife comes in at a solid 61.
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 steel 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.