Bestselling Nora #1677 - 3.5" Paring Knife - 2020 Trusted Seller [8j06a5GC]

KNIFE HIGHLIGHTS

• Blade Type: Paring
• Blade Length: 3.5 Inches
• Total Length: 8 Inches
• Handle Style: Western | Right or Left Hand Use
• Steel: AEB-L Stainless Steel
• Handle Materials: Black & OD Green G10, Red G10 Pins & Liner
• 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:

PARING KNIFE

The paring knife is often overlooked but the truth is it is one of the single most-used knives in the kitchen. It is also unique with respect to where it is used...not just on a cutting board but also in hand. 

With this in mind, we redesigned our paring knife to have a smaller, more nimble handle that feels great in hand and gives its user a wide amount of maneuverability. This knife works wonderfully for small tasks that are easier completed by using the knife in-hand, such as hulling a strawberry, paring fruit, or deveining shrimp.

ENGRAVING:

2020 is the year of the rat.  Since the rat is the first of the zodiac symbols in Chinese astrology, it typically represents new beginnings. And new beginnings we have indeed had!  Steve and I have no doubt that we are watching a large footnote in history unfold right now.  Our kids will remember their lives pre and post COVID the way that we remember our lives pre and post 9.11.  Further, the BLM movement will go down in history in likely the same manner that the civil rights movement was noted in the 60's. All this in less than half a year!  We have no idea what is next but we bought the ticket and are along for the ride.  We just thought we would make a little knife to memorialize the year.  It's one to remember.  

**This knife has been custom engraved.  The engraving was done via a dual diode laser so there is depth to the engraving more so than you usually see with an electro etch or CO2 laser. We do, however, keep the depth relatively minimal 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. This will lessen over time as the blade is used.  Please note though, if performance is your #1 priority then we encourage you to NOT purchase this blade.  A blade with no engraving WILL have a smoother glide than a blade with engraving.  For most, however, this difference is minimal.  We just like to provide a full disclosure up front so you know exactly what you are purchasing.

The engraving should last as long as the knife itself 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 degrade the image over time if continually used.  

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.  In this case, this is NORA knife #1677.

This NORA knife has been handled with a sleek mix of G10 in OD green and black. For a small pop of punch we added the red pins.  So what is G10 you ask? 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 and its damn near indestructible.  This knife will look and feel good for many years to come.

STEEL INFORMATION:

AEB-L STAINLESS STEEL

This knife blade is composed of AEB-L stainless steel which is a high-quality Swedish metal, originally developed for razor blades.  Recently, steel suppliers have made this steel available in thicker sheets and it has proven to be an excellent adaptation for the cutlery industry.

AEB-L has a beautiful balance of carbon and chromium and, with proper heat treatment, this steel produces both a very fine edge as well as excellent toughness and edge stability.  The fine grain structure also makes this steel very easy to sharpen. We believe it is one of the finest stainless steels available on the market today for use with kitchen knives.

As a side note, there are two things we like to mention about this steel:

1.) This steel responds beautifully to honing and if the knife is honed regularly it should need infrequent sharpening.

2.) AEB-L is a stainless steel but just barely.  The higher carbon content in this stainless is what allows it to get a fine edge and higher hardness than other stainless steels but it also has a tendency to sometimes form very fine rust spots on the blade.  If this happens, these are easily removed with a green scotch brite pad and usually the rough end of a kitchen sponge will also do the trick.