Macha Navigator Custom Knife
"Macha Navigator" Fine Handmade Custom Knife
- Size: Length overall: 11.75" (29.9 cm), Blade Length: 6.5" (16.5 cm), Thickness: .284" (7.2 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 17 oz. (482 grams) Sheath: 6.9 oz. (196 grams)
- Blade: 440C High Chromium Stainless Steel, Hardened and Tempered, T3 Cryogenically Processed to Rockwell HRC 60.5, Mirror Polished
- Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Mirror polished
- Handle: Rooster tail Agate Gemstone (Mexico)
- Sheath: Hand-carved, Hand-dyed Leather Shoulder, stitched with nylon
- Knife: This is a great custom knife, made for a
wonderful client, and it was an honor to create every part of this
unique and stunning knife for him, his family, and as a legacy
piece. He chose my "Macha Navigator" pattern, pronounced mak-kha,
named for the Celtic goddess of war. The original Macha was
created with the design input of a Principle Security Detail
professional. The navigator differs from the original
Macha design, with a more traditional front bolster making it
lighter and more streamlined but with the same purposeful blade
design and style. The
blade steel chosen for this project is 440C but not just any 440C;
it has my premium heat treatment and processing: T3. This
process yields an astounding blade in incredible condition through
advanced processing protocols. How advanced is this treatment? It's
a multi-stage cryogenic treatment, involving temperatures ranging in
over 1950°F (1066°C) to -320°F (-196°C). The process is an evolution
of my advanced heat treating processes, and consists of 33 dedicated
and specific steps and takes 172 hours. This means that just to heat
treat this blade takes over a week! The reason for this is
scientific and critical, but yields the most stable, most
wear-resistant, most durable and long-lived structure of this steel,
profuse with fine multi-element carbides and a uniform and
unbelievably robust structure. This is a testament to my
determination to make the very best knives, steels, treatments and
kits in the modern world. I know of no one else who has advanced the
treatment to this level; it's unheard of in the metals field.
The blade is incredibly robust, with a very thick spine and
carefully matched deep hollow grinds for a tough, yet thin and
hard-working cutting edge. The specialized treatment along with the
steel type and geometry create a smooth and razor-keen cutting edge
with extremely high corrosion resistance, fine grain structure
profuse with fine eta-chromium carbides and molybdenum-chromium
carbides, and a complete and stable martensite microstructure. The
blade has over 4" (10 cm) of standard cutting edge, and has an
additional 2" (5 cm) of my Vampire rip-tooth serrations,
with highly aggressive and acute cutting teeth, points, and edges.
The blade has a two-third's-length top swage which reduces point
profile without sacrificing strength and has vine filework
completely on the spine, from the swage to the butt and rear
bolster. The tang is fully tapered and my client requested a smooth
belly so the knife has no filework on the inside of the handle tang.
The knife is bolstered with zero-care 304 austenitic stainless
steel, secured by multiple pinned and peened stainless steel pins for absolute
permanence. The bolsters are smooth, contoured, rounded, and
polished for a very comfortable, inviting feel. They are dovetailed
to lock and bed a pair of gorgeous and striking gemstone handle
scales. They are Rooster tail Agate, a rare and striking gemstone I
acquired from the last of a special stock mined decades ago in
Mexico. This is
an extremely hard and tough cryptocrystalline quartz, very
fine-grained, super durable and bold with areas of red, gold,
orange, and white, with some clear and translucent parts. The stone
is very difficult to grind and polish, taking many hours to bring to
a fine glassy luster. This is a gemstone that will literally outlast
the entire knife, and probably most of human civilization! It
will maintain its polish and appearance indefinitely since the only
thing that will scratch it is the hardest silicon carbide or
diamond. The rock feels very smooth and comfortable in the hand, and
the balance point of the knife is at the placement of the forefinger
in a forward grip style. The knife also feels secure in a reverse
grip, with the thumb "capping" or riding over the rounded and
substantial rear bolster.
- Sheath: My client requested a sheath as bold
and striking as the gemstone-handled knife, so I created this very
special work of art. Carrying on with the theme of the rooster's
tail, I hand-carved overlapping tail feathers in the front, back,
and even in the belt loop of the 9-10 oz. heavy shoulder leather of
the sheath. I hand-dyed the feathers to match the gemstone and gave
it a bold, green Celtic background for brilliant contrast and
ancestral recognition. I stitched the sheath with heavy black
nylon, with double-row stitching in the belt loop for high strength,
and the sheath is sealed with acrylic for durability and resistance
from the elements.
- A fine, personal treasure made for a very special client and his
family.
Thanks, P. B.!
Jay,
The knife and sheath look awesome!
I have read the provenance info on your website, and I particularly love the link between the knife and the sheath i.e.
The Celtic Goddess "Macha" and the design of the sheath; the rooster tail agate colours, name etc., and the feathers on the sheath.
A knife for the ages, and a family treasure for future generations!
The knife is a beautiful thing.
Regards,
P. B.
Please click on thumbnail knife photos