NORA #1158 - CPM-M4 Chef - Red Brick Road
$ 430.00
KNIFE HIGHLIGHTS
- Blade Type: Chef
- Blade Length: 8.5 Inches
- Total Length: 13 Inches
- Handle Style: Western | Right or Left Hand Use
- Steel: CPM M4 Carbon Steel
- Handle Materials: Hand Cast WKRMN Resin Scale in a Topographic pattern (red), Black G10 Bolster
- Rockwell Hardness: 66 HRC
- Grind Type: Full Flat
- Weight: 8.4 oz / 238 g
- This Blade is Ground...
- Thinner for Performance (best performance but somewhat 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
Chef Knife
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.
STEEL INFORMATION:
CPM - M4
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 but remains durable. As an added bonus, M4 is more corrosion resistant than many other carbon steels.
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 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 and given it a stonewashed finish 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 etch process does not always leave the knife completely uniform in finish and, as such, you may notice minor differences in tone of the etch color and also some residual marks which can almost look like a stain on the knife. These are not stains, they are part of the etch itself.
HANDLE DESIGN & MATERIALS:
Every one of our knives is handmade, unique and numbered. NORA #1158 is a weird one. There isn't any way around it. This knife was conceived on a day where Steve and I had absolutely zero desire to make knives. To motivate ourselves we basically said "#uck it" and just decided to do something completely different. This is the product. We used one of WKRMN's handmade scales with urethane based resins cast in a topographic pattern and we added a black G10 bolster to the mix. The blade itself was purposely ground down around the spine to create texture and curves and to go with the theme we added a little custom engraving to boot. Its not for everyone...but for one of you this may be calling your name.