Imamu
"Imamu" Tactical Combat, CSAR, Survival Knife
- Size: Length overall: 13.75" (34.9 cm), Blade
Length: 8.5" (21.6 cm), Thickness: .244" (6.2 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 1 lb. 4 oz. (567 grams), Sheath
(with extender and accessory package): 1 lb. 6 oz. (624 grams)
- Blade: ATS-34 High Molybdenum Martensitic
Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C57, Bead
Blasted
- Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless
Steel, Bead Blasted
- Handle: Green, Black, Pistachio Fiberglass
Reinforced G10 Epoxy Laminate Composite
- Sheath: Locking, Black Kydex, Aluminum,
Stainless Steel, Polypropylene and Nylon belt loop extender with
Firesteel/Magnesium fire starter, Fine DMT diamond pad sharpener,
Maglite Solitaire®
flashlight, ALL stainless steel fittings.
- Knife: In popular culture, there is special
term for the end of the world when everything is chaos. The term is
Zombie Apocalypse. If that were to happen, this is one of
the few knives that you would want to have in your hand. Imamu
is the the Swahili name for "Spirit Guide" and this
knife was created for intense field, tactical, survival, and combat
use. This is clearly one of the toughest knives I make. I started
with a tough foundation and made the blade in ATS-34. This is a hot
work, high molybdenum martensitic stainless steel, a steel used to
make turbine blades, and extremely high wear mechanical components
that must be very tough. Because it's so resistant to fracture,
this steel can take a lot of abuse without failing. This is due to
the high molybdenum content in the steel, over three and a half
percent. This high moly, along with high chromium (13.7 percent) and
high carbon make ATS-34 one of the toughest stainless tool steels
available. An additional advantage to this fine tool steel is the
extremely high tempering temperature. This means that the knife
blade will not lose its hardness unless the blade temperature
exceeds 1200°F! Talk about heat resistant!
I've ground the blade deeply and accurately side to side,
with sweeping grind terminations that add to the strength of the
blade-to-handle junction. The blade point is clipped at an angle
that lowers the point and helps guide it into the sheath as well as
gives the foundation for the swage. The center of percussion is right at the belly
placement of the blade, and the clipped swage reduces point
cross sectional area without compromising strength. The blade has
2.5 inches of my new Hammerhead rip tooth serrations for trapping, seizing,
and very heavy ripping cuts, as this is one of the toughest
serration geometries I offer. The knife has deep and curvaceous vine filework completely around
the fully tapered tang for increased grip potential and handmade
flair. The knife is bolstered with very substantial,
multi-pinned, radiused and contoured 304 high nickel, high chromium
stainless steel for the ultimate in durability, and the bolsters are
dovetailed to bed a pair of green, black, and pistachio fiberglass reinforced
G10 epoxy laminate composite scales. The G10 is nearly
indestructible and should last generations with no care. With the
substantial curves of the handle belly, large forefinger quillon and the rear hawk's bill
quillon, this knife is very solid and bonded to the hand in the most
active of motion. The rear bolster has a chamfered 5/16"
through-tang lanyard hole for extra security, and the knife feels
meaty and solid with the balance point at the front of the forward
bolster.
- Sheath: The sheath is a professional assembly
of components, and an example of why I'm committed to making the
finest combat tactical, and rescue knives and sheaths on the planet.
It starts with double thickness (.125") thick kydex hot-formed over
a high strength, corrosion resistant 5052H32 aluminum alloy welt
frame, secured with bead blasted 304 stainless steel Chicago screws
for the ultimate in durability and no glare. The sheath is one of my
proven positively locking waterproof models, with all stainless
steel locking mechanism and components for the ultimate in
reliability. Even the machine screws are stainless steel. The sheath
can be worn in any position, even upside down when worn with the
die-formed high alloy aluminum belt loops (included, but not shown).
The belt loops can be located in several positions along the welt
frame and are reversible for a variety of wear options.
- Accessories: This knife and sheath called for
my ultimate accessory package, so I included my Ultimate
survival, CSAR sheath belt loop extension accessories. There is
nothing in this accessory that can rust, corrode or decay, and he
polypropylene accessory is waterproof, durable, and extremely stout,
supporting the weight of over five men. It allows the locking knife
sheath to be worn in a more traditional belt position at the hip as
well as reliable carry of the useful and critical accessories. The
extension is mounted with 304 stainless steel straps and stainless
steel machine screws attached to the existing stainless Chicago
screws, and the assembly is stiffened by multiple zigzag nylon
stitching to prevent the extension from folding, bending, or
collapsing when the knife is extracted from the sheath. The belt
loop is 2.5 inches wide for the widest of belts, and has a top
placement shock cord with stainless steel snap retention to prevent
the knife handle from flopping around during active movements. The
shock cord is
not for retention of the knife; this is done with the stainless
steel sheath lock. At the lower back of the extension I've included
a custom fit pocket for a DMT (Diamond Machining Technology)
Mini-Sharp diamond-nickel abrasive hone, to bring up the cutting
edge in the field with ease, even on this high alloy wear resistant
blade. These are great tools that can re-sharpen or just touch up
even the hardest tool steel edges; they are surface bonded with
diamond abrasives. The pocket for this tool is situated at the
sheath back and against the body, so the sharpener can not be
removed unless the sheath is off the body and the industrial
strength Velcro closure is open. I also added a specially modified
critical survival component to this accessory: the
Firesteel/Magnesium block with custom fittings. These blocks are
waterproof and durable, with soft magnesium that can be easily
shaved off with the knife blade, and a Firesteel striker to ignite
the magnesium shavings when placed into tinder to start a fire. A
unique addition to this block is the stainless steel rod guard. This
minimizes the possibility of the Firesteel contacting any other
metals and causing accidental sparks and ignition when worn or
removed, guards the knife tip (or swage) when the blade is dragged
over the Firesteel, helps concentrate and guide the spark direction,
and offers a variety of mounting options, besides on the sheath
extender's industrial strength Velcro straps. Being all 304
stainless steel, it will not corrode or rust. A recent inclusion on
these useful accessory packages is the Maglite Solitaire, a small
and durable flashlight that is waterproof, with o-ring seals and
made of black anodized machined aluminum. I custom make a stainless
steel retention double ring mount for locking the light in its
dedicated sleeve for security yet "up front" access in the package.
There are much more to these accessories; learn about these critical
accessories on a special page on my site at this link. Mounting,
care, and use instructions are posted there.
- A corrosion-proof, zombie-eating, jungle grade, rescue,
survival, and combat tool for any environment or exposure. This is
an extremely well made professional knife, one of the best
available.
Thanks, G. L.!
I will put the Imamu to good use as well on my woodland hikes and field trips (as well as a precaution to the occasional zombie attack).
--G. L.
Please click on thumbnail knife photos