NORA #1159 - CPM-M4 Slicer - Earth & Sky
$ 405.00
KNIFE HIGHLIGHTS
- Blade Type: Slicer
- Blade Length: 8.25 Inches
- Total Length: 13.25 Inches
- Handle Style: Western | Right or Left Hand Use
- Steel: CPM-M4 Carbon Steel (unetched)
- Handle Materials: Urethane Based Resins hand cast by WKRMN in Topo Resin Pattern, Black Carbon Fiber Pins, Black G10
- Rockwell Hardness: 66 HRC
- Grind Type: Full Flat
- Weight: 7 oz. | .44 lbs.
- 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
SLICER
This is a small slicer that we created to carve smaller proteins and also double as an all purpose utility style knife & light boning when needed. Its compact and sleek but also tough enough to handle some of the heavier lifting in the kitchen, including protein breakdown.
Be aware that this knife excels at push and pull cuts along with chopping. What it does not excel at is rocking. There is no belly on this knife so if you are used to or prefer a rocking motion when cutting then we would suggest a different knife.
STEEL INFORMATION:
CPM- M4 CARBON STEEL
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 immediately after each use to prevent unwanted rust.**
HANDLE DESIGN & MATERIALS:
Every one of our knives is numbered and unique. This NORA knife, number #1059, is a nimble 8.25 inches and has been handled with a urethane based resin in a hand-casted topographic style made and patterned by WKRMN. The color has rich, shimmering hues of lime green and the green is accented by black carbon fiber pins and a black G10 liner. The earthy green colors and the topographic pattern gave us the idea for an engraving that contrasted earth and sky so we added an engraving of a star cluster on the blade itself.
Knuckle clearance on this knife is low but that is somewhat par for the course with slicer knives. Also note that this knife is slightly heftier than you would expect so if you are someone that loves your knives super light then this isn't quite the best fit but if you want a workhorse in the kitchen that can handle most tasks, then this is your knife.
**This knife has been custom engraved and it is one of a kind. The engraving was done via laser so there is depth to the engraving more so than you see with an electro etch. We do, however, keep the depth minimal so it does not catch food or interfere with the primary cutting function of the knife. 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. Keep in mind that stronger abrasives, such as steel wool, scotch brite pads, sand paper or stone sharpening on the engraved image will further degrade the image.