THE RHINO CHOP - AN ORIGINAL DESIGN
The Rhino Chop: A Uniquely Designed Chopping Knife
Laurence Segal, Rhino Custom Knives, has created a uniquely designed chopping knife, particularly good for chopping vegetables easily and exactly. The Rhino Chop also works very well to cut a whole chicken into parts, to fillet fish, or to slice meat.
Laurence has combined elements of the Chinese cleaver (or chef's knife) and of the ulu, an all-purpose knife traditionally used by Inuit (Eskimo) women.
The Rhino Chop incorporates various elements of the curve and the depth of the blades, the heft and balance of the whole implement, and the sturdiness of both the ulu and Chinese cleaver (chef's knife).
The price for a handcrafted Rhino Chop ranges generally from $180 to $225, depending on the material from which the handle is carved.
The Inuit Knife's Influence on the Rhino Chop
The photo immediately to the right is an Alaskan ulu.
In the past the ulu was made with a caribou antler, muskox horn, or walrus ivory handle and a slate cutting surface, because of the lack of metal in the Arctic. The handle could also be carved from bone, and sometimes wood. In certain areas copper was used for the cutting surface.
The size of the ulu naturally reflects its use. An ulu with a two inch blade would be used as part of a sewing kit to cut sinew. A general purpose ulu had a six inch blade. A large ulu could range up to a foot in length.
In Canada the blade is more often is attached to the handle by a single stem in the center (as shown here). This Canadian ulu has a metal, rather than slate blade, fashioned from a saw blade.
Ulu knives have been found that date back to as early as 2500 BC. The shape of the ulu ensures that the force is centered more over the middle of the blade than with an ordinary knife. This makes the ulu easier to use when cutting hard objects such as bone.
Because the rocking motion used when cutting on a plate or board with an ulu pins down the food being cut, it is also easier to use an ulu one-handed (a typical steak knife, in contrast, requires a fork).
The Chinese Cleaver's Contribution to the Rhino Chop
In the illustration above the Chinese cleaver, or chef's knife, is at the top. Below it is an older North American butcher's cleaver, used for chopping bones. It has a much heavier blade. The Chinese cleaver is used for slicing, chopping, and mincing vegetables, fish, and boneless meat. These are the tasks for which the Rhino Chop has been designed.
Westside Sharpener
Pick-up and Delivery Available in
Santa Monica, West Los Angeles,
Westwood, Culver City, and Venice
Laurence Segal
Telephone:
310- 266-5416
(10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday)
Email: rhinoknives@msn.com
Website: rhinoknives.com