Mercury Magnum
"Mercury Magnum"
- Size: Knife: Length overall: 10.0" (25.4 cm),
Blade Length: 5.25" (13.3 cm), Thickness: .178" (4.5 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 11.0 oz. (312 grams) Sheath: 6.2 oz.(176 grams)
- Blade: O-1 High Carbon Tungsten-Vanadium Alloy Tool Steel,
Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C59, hollow ground, mirror finished, hot blued
- Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Mirror Finished, Hand-Engraved
- Handle: Russian Eudialite Gemstone (Rare)
- Sheath: Elephant Skin inlaid in hand-carved Leather
- Knife: I was commissioned to come
up with a new design for a tactical SWAT team member, a law
enforcement professional in an active west coast police
department. We sent designs and ideas back and forth and came up
with a new tanto style I named Mercury. Here's
a page detailing of
the first Mercury, currently in professional service. Based
on this design, I enlarged both the handle and blade, named it
Mercury Magnum, and created this first knife in the design.
This is already a popular design; I've got half a dozen new
orders on the bench for the model. I wanted to make one a
supreme one-of-a-kind collector's tactical art piece, and this
is my result. This Mercury Magnum has a substantial hollow
ground, mirror polished and hot-blued blade of O-1 high carbon
alloy tungsten-vanadium tool steel, with a two-thirds length
polished top swage that reduces point profile without
sacrificing spine strength. The grind on this blade is clean and
sweeping, with gentle curve on the termination that preserves
strength at the blade-to-handle junction. I put a scalpel-sharp
single bevel cutting edge on the blade and a deep choil for a
defined edge termination. The blade is full tang, one solid
piece of steel from tip to tip, and has full filework in my
detailed heterodyne pattern, an intricate arrangement with
high cut density. The handle is substantial, with front and rear
quillons and large sculpted and polished bolsters, made of 304
high nickel, high chromium austenitic stainless steel for zero
care. I put a substantial amount of time into the bolsters; I
worked up a design based on the combination of curves and sharp
angles found in the knife pattern and created an interlocking
scroll and diamond motif that I engraved on the stainless steel
bolsters in deep relief. Deep relief engraving takes a lot of
time and effort; removing the background of the tough stainless
steel is no chore for the timid! Many hours went into the
execution of this hand-engraving, and it's worth it for the
results. For the handle, I wanted to use some extraordinary
material, and I located this particular Eudialite gemstone from
Russia. This is the only piece I was able to acquire in this
quality and density, and though more may come up on the market,
it may not, and if it does, it will be rare and fleeting. The
rose-raspberry colored Eudialite (or Eudialyte) gem is
transparent to translucent, getting its color from manganese,
and spread throughout light tan to green and gray matrix. This
handle is Victorian in flavor, stunning in color, unique and
unusual, and may never be seen again!
- Sheath: I wanted something extra
special for the sheath, so I chose an Elephant skin inlay set
that match the lightest colors of the gemstone in the handle.
The contrast of the super-tough, light-colored skin with the
black leather is striking, and I incorporated the sharp angles
of the tanto blade shape into the inlay patterns. The nine
inlays cover the sheath front and back; even the belt loop has
three inlays! The sheath is made of 9 - 10 oz. leather shoulder,
heavy and solid and tough, hand-stitched with polyester sinew,
lacquered and sealed.
- A truly rare, gorgeous, investment grade work of art.
Thanks, D. T.!
Dear Jay,
I instantly fell for this beautifully wondrous, esthetically appealing, and superbly functional "Mercury Magnum!"
Seeing, feeling, and holding the Mercury Magnum, I knew that I had added another magical knife to my collection
of Fisher knives! Upon receiving each of your custom knives, I am more and more enthralled with your creative
genius that shapes each knife from concept to final finish.
I have reread your "Who is Jay Fisher?" section again, and your life choices and all your
successes (to include your
extended family) are the constitution of a successful man. I am so glad that Tom H. introduced me to you via
the internet!
--D.
Please click on thumbnail knife photos