"Thuban" Custom Knife
"Thuban" Fine Handmade Custom Knife
- Size: Length overall: 7.6" (19.3 cm), Blade Length: 3.5" (8.9 cm), Thickness: .144" (3.7 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 6.0 oz. (170 grams) Sheath: 3.8 oz. (108 grams)
- Blade: CPM154CM High Chromium, Molybdenum Powder Metal Martensitic Stainless Steel, Hardened and Tempered with T3 Cryogenic Process to Rockwell HRC 62, Mirror Polished
- Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Hand-engraved, Mirror polished
- Handle: Blue-gray Moss Agate Gemstone (Texas)
- Sheath: Hand-carved, hand-dyed Leather Shoulder Inlaid with Gray
Frog skin
- Knife: This is an exemplary knife, custom
made for my client. The Thuban is named for the pole star that was
the northern guiding star 5000 years ago, when the Egyptians built
the pyramids. My Thuban design is a popular model because it's an
excellent knife: a sturdy, tough, and comfortable drop point that is not
only extremely useful, but is also quite striking and a great canvas
for art. My client directed the design, finish, steel type, and
handle selection of this knife, and I'm extremely proud of how it
came together, truly one of my very best knives.
- The steel my client chose for his knife is
CPM154CM, a powder metal technology 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. To bring
this steel to its zenith, I used my proprietary T3 deep
cryogenic process in heat treating this blade; it's a highly
detailed, extremely sophisticated process that takes 33
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, CPM154CM at its very finest
advanced condition. The grind is deep and even, with
well-curved grind terminations and a bright, beautiful
mirror polish. The blade has full filework in a sculpted
vine style, blackened at the handle for contrast. The tang
is fully tapered for balance, and the single bevel cutting
edge is razor-keen.
- I bolstered the knife with zero-care 304 high chromium, high
nickel stainless steel bolsters, which are contoured, rounded and
finished for a comfortable feel. The bolsters are secured with
zero-clearance peened pins and dovetailed to bed the
handle scales.
The front bolster covers the quillon for protection and
comfort; the rear bolster is light and wide and presents
a great canvas for the engraving artwork. To complement the
complex handle material, I engraved a highly detailed,
tight, small leafy pattern on the bolsters. The photos below
are illustrative, but it's good to remember that every
single photo on this page is at least a 1.5 power
enlargement. The handle enlargements below are over 5 power
magnifications!
- The handle scales are a sight to
behold; there simply is no other material like this on
earth! This is a special agate that was acquired from Texas
decades ago, and in all my years of lapidary, I've never
encountered any of this agate again! I only had a small rock
of this moss agate, and I only had enough for two small
handles. This handle is the very last of my stock; you will
likely never see this stone again. This is the mystery and
magnificence of gemstones; many are absolutely unique. The
gemstone is classified as a moss agate based on its appearance, but
it is a brecciated stone that was formed, broken apart,
reformed and created deep in the earth's crust, with
fascinating results. The moss agate is blue-gray, with some
white outlines, brown inclusions, and a ridiculous bold
pattern. The agate is a cryptocrystalline quartz, very tough
and hard, and has a great vitreous polish. I wish I had
more, but I'm glad my client has requested this stone on his
knife.
- The knife feels extremely solid and
tight in the hand, the
contoured shape locks the grip while the handle shape is
swallowed in the palm, and the blade is smooth, even and
keen. The filework and engraving complements the gemstone
perfectly.
- Sheath: The sheath had to match the knife in
every way, so I chose a tough, deep layered type design, made of
9-10 oz. leather shoulder, stitched with heavy brown nylon thread
throughout. The artwork for the sheath reflects the leaf patterns in
the engraving, and the carving is intermittently inlaid with 20 gray
frog skin inlays. The gray frog skin in brown leather reflects the grays
and browns in the gemstone handle. The sheath is deep and
protective, with a high back, the entire sheath is sealed with
lacquer for longevity.
- A beautiful, wonderful custom made knife in premium materials
and elegant and detailed artwork.
Thanks, J. W.!
Jay - it looks amazing. Thanks!
Can't wait to have the knife in hand. My wife and i both keep going through the pictures over and over. It is really stunning.
—
Jay - just wanted to let you know that I do have the knife in hand
and it is absolutely stunning. I think I need to get back in the queue
for another one or two in the future.
Best regards, J. W.
Please click on thumbnail knife photos