Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

New to the website? Start Here
"Kochab" obverse side view in T3 deep cryogenically processed 440C high chromium martensitic stainless steel blade, 304 stainless steel bolsters, Petrified Sycamore Wood gemstone handle, sheath of lizard skin inlaid in hand-carved leather shoulder, nylon
"Kochab"

"Shrike" Custom Tactical, Utility Push, Punch Dagger/Knife

"Shrike" Custom  Push/Punch knife, obverse side view in T4 cryogenically treated CPM 154CM high molybdenum powder metal stainless steel blade, sheath in hand-tooled bison brown basketweave leather, nylon, stainless steel
NOTICE!
I've made a new layout for the tactical knife descriptions, seen on this page. I've separated the components, briefly describing them in individual boxes. In those boxes are links to dedicated pages describing everything about the part, component, or accessory. The pages are substantial, and offer the history, operation, materials, use, mounting, and care of each accessory.
"Shrike" Custom Tactical, Counterterrorism, Push-Punch Dagger/Knife (Shadow Line)
With Post-Locking Heavy Leather Sheath

A fine custom knife, handmade for serious counterterrorism, PSD, and personal defensive use, this is a top-of-the-line, extremely tough and corrosion-resistant knife and basic sheath. NO OTHER SOURCE can supply what you see here, all finely handmade to work when you most depend on it: safe when sheathed, lightweight and ultimately useful when in hand.

Thanks, S. L.!

Jay—
Picked up my knife today.  The craftsmanship of the knife and the sheath exceeded my expectations.
It will take me a day or two to get used to it.  The handle fits my hand well.  Looking forward to putting it to work. The blade grind and edge are superb.

Sincerely,
-S.

More photos of this custom Shrike below!

Included:

The Knife

  • Size: Length overall max: 7.8" (19.8 cm), Width max at handle: 4.5" (11.4 cm), Blade Length at cutting edge: 4.75" (12.1cm), Thickness: 0.270" (6.9 mm)
  • Weight: 6.9 oz. (196 grams)
  • Blade: CPM 154CM High Molybdenum Martensitic Powder Metal Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered, T4 Specialty Cryogenically treated to Rockwell C61, proprietary surface oxide treatment "Ghost Slate."
  • Type/Purpose/Origin: Answering requests for an ultra lightweight yet tough and wear-resistant push-punch dagger that would function as a crossover between tactical/counterterrorism/combat use and daily working and carry, I designed my "Shrike" pattern. The name comes from a carnivorous bird of the Laniidae family, which is Latin for "butcher." It's a bird that wears a dark mask, and is also known as a "butcherbird," because of its aggressive feeding habits. The name suited the knife pattern well.
  • Blade Steel Alloy: My client requested the blade steel in CPM 154CM, a powder metal tool steel, a high technology steel known for extremely even distribution of alloy elements and a uniform microstructure. It's a high molybdenum stainless steel, and the molybdenum aids in forming nucleation sites for complex carbide development. The moly also increases the toughness dramatically, resulting in a blade that's extremely durable. This allows me to temper the steel at a higher overall hardness, for great wear resistance as well. The high chromium and high carbon results in profuse chromium carbides, increasing corrosion resistance as well as wear resistance.
  • Heat Treatment: To bring this steel to its zenith, I used my proprietary T4 deep cryogenic process in heat treating this blade; it's a highly detailed, extremely sophisticated process that takes 36 individual steps and takes over a week long. The result of this is an incredibly wear-resistant blade that has extremely high carbide development, fine grain, and extremely high toughness. Asperity is reduced; the microstructure development is superior to any other typical handmade knife, and far above any factory or manufactured knife. This is, simply put, 154CM Powder Metal steel at its very finest advanced condition. The result is an incredibly tough, very hard, very wear-resistant stainless steel. 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 and knifemaking field. This is, simply put, CPM 154CM at its very finest advanced condition.More about the heat treating designation.
  • Blade Design and Geometry: I double-hollow-ground the edges of this Shrike blade with a 3" contact wheel, something few, if any, other makers do, simply because it's very difficult to achieve. What this tight grind geometry produces is a blade that is extremely thin at the cutting edge, yet thick and substantial down the central spine, critical for support of a double-edged knife blade. This is a double-edged tanto design, so the secondary cutting apex of the tanto can be used to bear down when cutting in utility chores, and the tanto point is wide-angled and very strong, for the thin geometry. The blade has no choils to become trapped or snagged in any clothing, gear, or object being cut and the cutting edges simply taper to a stop in the grind for smoothness in motion. The blade has substantial quillons that are 2.5" (6.4 cm) at the widest that serve four purposes: one is to stop penetration of the blade at its limit, the second is to protect the fingers from any metal, edges, or projections, the third is to provide a smooth, rounded, contoured surface for the fingers for maximum grip security, and the fourth is to engage in the sheath retention method in the leather (described below). The blade is supported by over a 1/4" thick and heavy central neck-ricasso to provide transfer of force from the hand to the blade edges and point, and the handle tang is full thickness in the palm for a solid, complete support.
  • Blade Finish: The blade is finished in my flat, dark "Shadow" line of counterterrorism, rescue, and tactical knife finishes. Answering the request for completely subdued and non-reflective surfaces, I developed the Shadow Line with my Ghost Slate finish. This means darkening in a permanent fashion the stainless steel of the knife, to color-compliment the sheath. Read more about my Shadow Line and Ghost Slate finish on my Counterterrorism Knives page at this bookmark.
  • Handle: I milled the tang in a skeletonized geometry, for ultimate weight reduction. The skeletonized handle tang is the lightest possible, and all surfaces are rounded, contoured, and smoothed for a comfortable, extremely lightweight grip. This type of handle results in a knife that is fully half of the weight of full tang punch daggers with handles. This results in a thinner, lower flat profile when sheathed, as well. The handle of the Shrike is designed with one of my "talon" palm heel points, used in my popular "Guardian" and "Ari B'Lilah" models. The notable thing is that this talon is comfortably concealed in the sheath, safe for the knife owner; he won't encounter the point unless the knife is unsheathed.
  • Balance and Feel: The balance point of the knife is exactly at the quillons, and the knife feels extremely lightweight, yet strong, molded to the hand when gripped in the fist. By design, the fingertips engage the inside of the handle milling for extra secure grip. This knife was conceived for the wearer to be able to immediately put it in his hand, with the handle shank between the first two fingers, in closed-fist form, without an elaborate grip technique, and to use or defend his life with simple punching and and thrusting motion natural to human movement. No matter where the enemy is attacking, the blade will yield an extremely aggressive point and razor-sharp cutting edge with enough power behind it to drive through heavy clothing, around gear and equipment with tremendous force. The tanto design of the blade makes it a sure performer for daily carry and work as well.
  • This is a serious defensive and tactical weapon for the most critical of counterterrorism and tactical close quarters combat situations, while being a fully functional daily carry useful utility tool.
More photos of this custom Shrike below!

Included:

The Sheath

The Post Lock Leather Sheath
  • Weight: 6.6 oz. (187 grams)
  • Materials: 9-10 oz. Leather Shoulder, Nylon high strength thread, stainless steel Chicago screws, stainless steel dot snaps
  • Description: I've created an advanced leather sheath for this model, based on client feedback and necessity of safety and strength for daily carry. My clients may typically wear a leather sheath for daily carry, so I wanted to create a leather sheath that was as close to indestructible as leather can be. I started with the thickness; this is thick shoulder, about 0.2" (5 mm) thick, as heavy as leather armor, and the heaviest leather straps for rigging, and twice as thick as the leather on a saddle. I hand-stamped/tooled the sheath in a traditional basketweave design, and dyed it Bison brown. The first thing you'll notice about the sheath is the very high front, covering the knife blade and handle almost completely, protecting the wearer from the persuader point. It also shields the knife handle from view for privacy. On the sheath front are two "D" shaped tab stitched points; these are the locations of the two D-shaped "post" retention points that engage specific locations on the knife handle. These posts have stainless steel (corrosion-proof and very strong) dot snaps that snap to the inside sheath back. When the knife is in the sheath, these dot snaps are engaged, making two audible and tactile "snaps" that assure the wearer that the knife is secured. When snapped, it's impossible for the knife to be removed, to fall, to vibrate out, or to even be forced from the sheath. This makes this design a positively-locking leather sheath that can't be forced, even in the most violent and active situations. When the wearer wants to remove the knife, he pushes his fingertips into the handle, unsnapping and folding the front face of the sheath outward, unsnapping the posts, moving them out of engagement points on the knife handle. Because the front of the sheath folds, it's made of extra-thick leather and it's reinforced at that critical point with two 304 stainless steel Chicago screws, which go completely through the sheath front, welts, and sheath back. This way, no stress is on the stitching at this point. What about the stitching? The belt loop I secured with heavy stitching of nylon, for great strength and durability. The belt loop will accommodate a 2.5" (6.3 cm) wide belt. On the welts, back, and front, I stitched the sheath with double-row stitches, for extreme strength, stiffening, and durability. The sheath is rounded, contoured, smoothed, and sealed with lacquer for longevity.
  • Casual and PSD wear: Clearly, most of my tactical and combat gear cannot be mistaken for utility wear. Heavy, solid kydex sheaths can be bulky and weighty to wear in the casual sense, nor are they meant to be. The Shrike sheath is different. Because it's hand-tooled leather, more common daily and casual wear is possible, traditionally on the belt. This makes the knife a good choice for PSD (Principal Security Detail, or Security Detail) work.
  • Simply put: This is the most secure, durable, and well-constructed leather sheath possible.
Get more details about this post-locking leather sheath at this link
More photos of this custom Shrike below!

Included:

Storage

  • Envelope Bag: 1000 denier Cordura® ballistic black nylon, waterproof polyurethane coated, inside layered in heavy polyester felt. Stainless steel dot snaps, embroidered patch, removable embroidered name patch with hook and loop
Get the details about the bag at this link

Thanks, S. L.!

Jay—
Picked up my knife today.  The craftsmanship of the knife and the sheath exceeded my expectations.
It will take me a day or two to get used to it.  The handle fits my hand well.  Looking forward to putting it to work. The blade grind and edge are superb.

Sincerely,
-S.




To Counterterrorism Knives Page

To Tactical Combat Knives Page

To Featured Knife Pages


Main Purchase Tactical Specific Types Technical More
Home Page Where's My Knife, Jay? Current Tactical Knives for Sale The Awe of the Blade Knife Patterns My Photography
Website Overview Current Knives for Sale Tactical, Combat Knife Portal Museum Pieces Knife Pattern Alphabetic List Photographic Services
My Mission My Knife Prices All Tactical, Combat Knives Investment, Collector's Knives Copyright and Knives Photographic Images
The Finest Knives and You How To Order Counterterrorism Knives Daggers Knife Anatomy  
Featured Knives: Page One Purchase Finished Knives  Professional, Military Commemoratives Swords Custom Knives  
Featured Knives: Page Two Order Custom Knives USAF Pararescue Knives Folding Knives Modern Knifemaking Technology My Writing
Featured Knives: Page Three Knife Sales Policy USAF Pararescue "PJ- Light" Chef's Knives Factory vs. Handmade Knives First Novel
Featured Knives: Older/Early Bank Transfers  27th Air Force Special Operations  Food Safety, Kitchen, Chef's Knives Six Distinctions of Fine Knives Second Novel
Email Jay Fisher Custom Knife Design Fee Khukris: Combat, Survival, Art Hunting Knives Knife Styles Knife Book
Contact, Locate Jay Fisher Delivery Times Serrations Working Knives Jay's Internet Stats  
FAQs My Shipping Method Grip Styles, Hand Sizing Khukris The 3000th Term Videos
Current, Recent Works, Events Business of Knifemaking Concealed Carry and Knives Skeletonized Knives Best Knife Information and Learning About Knives  
Client's News and Info   Military Knife Care Serrations Cities of the Knife Links
Who Is Jay Fisher?   The Best Combat Locking Sheath Knife Sheaths Knife Maker's Marks  
Testimonials, Letters and Emails     Knife Stands and Cases How to Care for Custom Knives Site Table of Contents
Top 22 Reasons to Buy   Tactical Knife Sheath Accessories Handles, Bolsters, Guards Knife Making Instruction  
My Knifemaking History   Loops, Plates, Straps Knife Handles: Gemstone Larger Monitors and Knife Photos  
What I Do And Don't Do    Belt Loop Extenders-UBLX, EXBLX Gemstone Alphabetic List New Materials  
CD ROM Archive   Independent Lamp Accessory-LIMA Knife Handles: Woods Knife Shop/Studio, Page 1  
Publications, Publicity   Universal Main Lamp Holder-HULA Knife Handles: Horn, Bone, Ivory Knife Shop/Studio, Page 2  
My Curriculum Vitae   Sternum Harness Knife Handles: Manmade Materials    
Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 1 Blades and Steels Sharpeners, Lanyards Knife Embellishment     
Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 2 Blades Bags, Cases, Duffles, Gear    
Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 3 Knife Blade Testing Modular Sheath Systems  
Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 4 440C: A Love/Hate Affair PSD Principle Security Detail Sheaths      
Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 5 ATS-34: Chrome/Moly Tough
Funny Letters and Emails, Pg. 6 D2: Wear Resistance King        
The Curious Case of the "Sandia" O1: Oil Hardened Blued Beauty        
The Sword, the Veil, the Legend Elasticity, Stiffness, Stress,
and Strain in Knife Blades
   
Professional Knife Consultant Heat Treating and
Cryogenic Processing of
Knife Blade Steels