NORA Line Slayer #1066 - M4 Carbon Steel

We affectionately call this style blade our line slayer.  The blade shape is a cross between a chef and a honesuki...a chefsuki if you will. It is an extremely versatile knife that is a jack-of-all-trades worker and should serve you will in the kitchen and on the line. 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 our chef or gyuto design.

Every one of our knives is numbered and unique. This NORA knife, number #1066, is a nimble 6.6 inches and has been handled with a urethane based resin made and patterned by WKRMN.  The colors on it are a mix of shimmering copper and white with black patterned connectors. We liked the design so much we decided to continue it onto the blade using our laser engraver and dual toned frequencies.  The effect is a two tone metallic on the blade and we are very happy with how this one turned out.

Knuckle clearance on this knife is low but that is somewhat par for the course with utility-type 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. 

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 shortly after each use to prevent unwanted rust or stains.  We have acid etched this knife 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.

**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.  

{ Knife Details }

Metal: CPM-M4 Carbon Steel

Blade Length: 6.6 inches

Total Length: 12 inches

Handle Material(s):Urethane Based Resins, Carbon Fiber Pins, Black G10 liners

Rockwell Hardness: 66

Grind Type: Full Flat Hybrid

Weight: 7.1 oz