Cygnus EL
"Cygnus EL" Fine Handmade Chef's Knife
- Size: Length overall: 11.4" (29.0 cm), Blade Length: 6.75" (17.1 cm), Thickness: 0.126" (3.2 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 8.1 oz. (230 grams) Prise: 25.8 oz. (731 grams)
- Blade: CPM 154CM high molybdenum martensitic powder metal technology stainless steel blade, T3 deep cryogenically treated with triple tempering to 61.5 HRC, mirror polished
- Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Mirror polished
- Handle: Horse Canyon Plume Agate Gemstone (California)
- Prise: Hand-cast, hand-dyed, Food Contact Safe, High Strength Silicone
- Knife: The Cygnus is a great design of mine,
and this one has a bit of extra length blade, thus the "EL"
designation. It's named for the constellation of the Swan, in our
northern sky, in the plane of the milky way. The knife has a
swan-like appeal, with a smooth, graceful blade and a gentle curving
handle. It's just the right size for most kitchen work, a light,
strong knife without a lot of heel, but suited to most board work
and tasks in the kitchen.
- The steel I chose for his knife is
Food Contact Safe CPM154CM, a powder metal technology tool steel, a high
technology steel known for extremely even distribution of
alloy elements and a uniform microstructure. It's a high
molybdenum stainless steel, and the molybdenum aids in
forming nucleation sites for complex carbide development.
The moly also increases the toughness dramatically,
resulting in a blade that's extremely durable. This allows
me to temper the steel at a higher overall hardness, for
great wear resistance as well. The high chromium and high
carbon results in profuse chromium carbides, increasing
corrosion resistance as well as wear resistance. To bring
this steel to its zenith, I used my proprietary T3 deep
cryogenic process in heat treating this blade; it's a highly
detailed, extremely sophisticated process that takes 33
individual steps and takes over a week long. The result of this is an
incredibly wear-resistant blade that has extremely high carbide
development, fine grain, and extremely high toughness. Asperity is
reduced; the microstructure development is superior to any other
typical handmade knife, and far above any factory or
manufactured knife. This is, simply put, CPM154CM Powder
Metal steel at its very finest
advanced condition. The grind is wide and uniform, with
well-curved grind terminations and a bright, beautiful
mirror polish. The blade is clean and smooth with no
filework for easy cleaning and an even grip. The tang is
fully tapered for balance, and the single bevel cutting edge
is razor-keen. I hollow ground this blade with a substantial
spine; it's an extremely strong, stiff blade with limited
flexibility at the tip only.
- I bolstered the knife with zero-care
304 high chromium, high nickel stainless steel bolsters. 304
is an austenitic stainless steel, and zero-care, as it's a
NSF certified safe kitchen material, used in stainless nuts,
bolts, and fasteners as well as most stainless restaurant
tools and equipment. The bolsters are rounded and smoothed
for comfort, sealed with food contact safe sealant, and
permanently mounted to the tang. They are dovetailed to lock
and bed the gemstone scales to the handle.
- The gemstone handle of this knife is
one of the most striking agates ever mined, coming from
Tehachapi, California. The area is known for this type of
moss agate, but nothing you will see can compare with the
size, boldness, or depth of this gemstone. It's a true
agate, with clear areas and banding fortifications, and a
wide range of green. From a distance, it looks like a pastel
or pea green, but on closer examination, the mossy field
shows fine lines of deep green interspersed. There are
mossy ledges, waves of texture, and even crystal pockets. There simply is
no way to describe this magnificent stone. Please look at
the huge magnifications (5 power, and 10 power) in the photos below.
In most of my photos, I use a white top reflector, and in
these, the bolsters look white. But this produces some glare
on the stone, since the finish of the stone is like shiny
glass. In order to see deeper into the stone, I've included
some photos without the reflector. In these, the bolsters
appear black. These photos show the greatest depth and a
truer rendition of the gemstone. It's amazing to think of
the geologic and mineralogical processes that happened to be
able to create this rock within our earth, It offers endless
fascination, even under magnification. What a stunning
gemstone!
- The knife feels perfectly balanced on
the forefinger, it's solid and lightweight in the hand.
It's smooth and sharp and yet long and substantial enough
for most kitchen chores. This is a beautiful mid-range sized
knife, ready for decades of work in the kitchen, and is
absolutely stunning.
- Prise: New to the field and new to the world,
in early 2020, I developed the prise. This is a substantial block of
hand-cast 800 psi tensile strength silicone, grippy and tough and completely food contact
safe. This nearly 2 pound silicone form is heat-resistant to 450°F (232°C) and
is the perfect companion for the fine chef's knife. More than a rest
for the knife, it's storage, safety, protecting the knife from other
utensils, stopping movement, creating a safe zone for the knife
during use (instead of laying it bare on the countertop or cutting
board where it could spin around dangerously). It's easy to clean, extremely durable, and won't move on the
counter due to its "grippy" nature. Nothing sticks to it, and a
quick rinse in soapy water and rinse is usually all that is required to
clean it. I took special care to mix and formulate a hand-dyed
pattern in this prise, to match the knife in the best way possible.
You'll see the greens of the knife handle and the clarity of the
agate, with attractive flows, currents, and eddies that reflect the
complexity of the handle. There is nothing else like it, and it
can't be repeated. This prise is made for a right-handed user, so when the knife is to
the right side or at the top of the cutting board, the cutting edge
of the knife and point face away from the user for safety.
Please take the time to
read more about the prise at this bookmark, and see how our own
family uses this wonderful adjunct to the kitchen knife.
- A perfect, mid-sized, razor-keen extremely long lasting chef's knife, in
advanced technology materials and eternal stunning
gemstone, with perfect matching accessory and ready
to bring beauty and function to a new level in the kitchen.
Thanks, J. N.!
Hi Jay!
The knife came today!
The Cygnus EL is a beautiful knife. The Plume Agate is really extraordinary, I have never seen anything quite like it.
The swirls and color remind me of the ocean. The feel in my hand is perfect with a nice weight to it that makes it feel
really solid. I am glad I got the “EL”. The extra length is going to make it very versatile in the kitchen and the
cutting jobs I will be using it for. The shape and design are very clean and sleek looking, and that edge is really sharp.
And I have to say, I do not know how you made this with such precision. At the points where it all comes together
with the Agate, the bolsters and the tang I cannot feel any seam or uneven surface. This truly is remarkable craftsmanship.
This is also the first time I have ever seen a Prise. I think I am going to prefer this over a stand and certainly more than a
sheath. It will keep it handy so I can just grab it when I need it and keep it and myself safe.
Thanks for a great knife Jay.
--J.
-and later:
Oh, I love it! I use it for everything. I am so bad, I will make things just so I can use it.
The other day I used it to slice up some strawberries, way over kill for a simple strawberry but
it was another opportunity to use it. I love that thing and I have shown it to several friends
who all like it and are amazed by the plume agate handle. Thanks for making such a great knife.
Thanks,
--J.
Please click on thumbnail knife photos