Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

"Achelous" Fine Handmade Custom Knife

• Size: Knife: Length overall: 14.6" (37.1 cm), Blade Length: 8.25" (21 cm), Thickness: .258" (6.6 mm)
• Weight: Knife: 1 lb. 6 oz. (624 grams) Sheath: 10.1 oz. (286 grams)
• Blade: ATS-34 high molybdenum martensitic stainless steel, hardened and tempered to 59HRC, mirror polished
• Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, mirror polished, hand-engraved
• Handle: Green Moss Agate Gemstone (India)
• Sheath: Hand-carved leather shoulder inlaid with bi-colored frog skin
• Knife: Achelous is named for the silver-swirling river god of Greek mythology, the son of Oceanus and Tethys, and the father of the sirens. The knife fits the silver swirling inspiration, with beautiful curves and lines of stainless steel. The majestic size, scope and weight of the blade certainly exhibits a mythological god's force and bearing, and the green gemstone and matching sheath express a green river's life and source of energy. This is a custom knife made for a great client, and I enjoyed every aspect of bringing this piece from idea to reality. I started with a very distinctive leaf-shaped blade in ATS-34, a high molybdenum, high chromium, high carbon stainless tool steel with incredible toughness. This is a highly alloyed steel and close inspection reveals a distinctive grain visible in the mirror polish. The blade is thick and substantial at the spine, with tight hollow grinds made on a three inch diameter wheel, rarely done on any handmade knife. The grinds are very thin at the cutting edge and quickly transition to a heavy spine, with graceful sweeping grind terminations and plenty of thickness at the ricasso. The blade has full filework, with a staccato pattern in the integral guard and deep vine around the fully tapered tang. The filework is contrasted darkly at the guard, and filled with acrylic around the handle to blend with the translucent agate of the gemstone and aid in cleanliness. The guard is a bold area of the knife; the large quillons are supported with carved bolsters in 304 stainless steel, the high nickel, high chromium stainless steel used in heavy corrosion resistant nuts, bolts, and fasteners. This zero-care material is my premium choice for bolster material, and I prefer the look of deep hand engraving in the bright stainless steel. I chose a twisted leaf pattern, one that reflects the living idea of the river with its expressive swirling, eddies and currents. The bolsters are dovetailed and bed a pair of Indian Green Moss Agate gemstone scales, a striking stone of extreme hardness and toughness, polished and finished to a high luster. This microcrystalline quartz gemstone has fascinating patterns of visual play, with white and clear areas contrasted by sea-green mossy filaments, figures, and areas that challenge the mind in considering what geologic process produced such magnificent intricacies. One can spend hours examining this stone under magnification and still not see everything there! The agate feels very comfortable and inviting to the hand, and the dagger has a substantial blade presence as the balance point is precisely in the center of the bolster location.
• Sheath: As with all of my works, the sheath had to be commensurate with this knife, so I created a deep, high-backed sheath out of heavy leather shoulder. Into the sheath face, back, and belt loop, I carved areas for inlay of two colors of frog skin, green and gray. These I chose because they blend well with the gemstone colors, and the pattern of inlay is the same pattern of twisted leaves and flowing water I executed on the bolsters, represented also in the shape of the blade. The profile of the sheath has scalloped curves echoing the forms on the engraving and the curves of the blade. I stitched the sheath with black polyester in complete double rows in the belt loop and through the welts for maximum durability. The edges are contoured, smoothed, and sealed, and the sheath is highlighted in a light application of black, sealed with a glossy and protective finish.
• A beautiful handmade custom dagger of substance and elegance.

Thanks, J. S.!