The Philosophy Behind Western-Style Double-Edged Knives: Pursuing Functionality and Design | Nenohi Record Vol. 8
NENOX represents Nenohi's flagship line of western-style knives. We take pride in the distinctive handle design and rich variety that makes our knives instantly recognizable as Nenohi products - qualities that have earned us our customers' long-standing loyalty.
While our previous article focused on the "manufacturing" aspect of Nenohi's western knives, this time we'll delve deeper into one of our most distinctive features: the handle design.
- Handle Design -
<Balance-Forward Design for Enhanced Functionality>
NENOX handles are characterized by their forward balance point. Many first-time users are surprised by the weight distribution toward the handle. This intentional design choice reflects one of NENOX's core principles.
By concentrating the weight in the handle, we achieve a design where the knife feels natural in hand while making the blade feel lighter, resulting in superior maneuverability and practical functionality. Despite the substantial feel, this design allows for extended use and effortless cutting - exactly the sensation we aimed to create.
<Hand-Fitting Design>
The handles are crafted to feel as if they're melding with your palm when gripped. This beautiful curvature is achievable only through our artisans' meticulous hand-finishing of each handle.
NENOX handles feature a unique full-tang design with both bolster and end cap - a design that initially received mixed reactions for being too bold or flashy. However, it has since become Nenohi's iconic style, particularly popular among professional chefs who appreciate its superior grip.
<Meeting Diverse Needs>
In response to NENOX users' feedback, we've recently focused on developing handles that offer optimal grip for all users. While maintaining the essential NENOX design, we've fine-tuned the width, length, and thickness of our handles.
This research led to the creation of our new "梛-NAGI-" series.
NAGI achieves a 10% weight reduction compared to NENOX while maintaining the forward balance point, ensuring practical functionality and comfortable grip.
Moving forward, we'll continue to expand our reach through these two pillars: NENOX and NAGI.
-Handle Materials-
<Unique Design and Rich Variety>
Nenohi offers over 20 handle variations, including limited editions. We've always pursued visual appeal alongside functionality in our handle materials.
We source materials globally, drawing inspiration from custom knives to incorporate materials previously unused in kitchen knives. Building relationships with suppliers required significant effort, as we needed them to adapt their custom knife manufacturing methods to suit our kitchen knife requirements.
Our craftsmen's expertise in using high-quality abrasives specific to each material allows us to work with materials that would typically be too challenging for mass production.
<Materials Selected for Minimal Aging>
Natural materials like wood and bone tend to undergo changes due to variations in climate and humidity across different regions, as well as through years of use. The materials we select are either those that show relatively minimal changes over time or those that have been specially treated to minimize material alterations. As a result, they maintain both their functionality and aesthetic appeal even after several years. In developing new handle materials, we conduct research using materials sourced from around the world that can meet these requirements, building upon our years of experience.
Additionally, we've ventured into high-tech materials that show minimal aging, such as carbon fiber and glass fiber. While these materials present manufacturing challenges, our advanced techniques have made their implementation possible, further expanding our handle options.
With "NENOX" continuing as our mainstay brand and "NAGI" emerging as a sister brand sharing its concept while offering new choices, Nenohi remains committed to continuous improvement and innovation in response to user needs.