Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

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"Skeg"  tactical, counterterrorism, crossover knife, obverse side view in T4 Cryogenically treated ATS-34 high molybdenum martensitic stainless steel blade, 304 stainless steel bolsters, white and black tortoiseshell pattern G10 fiberglass/epoxy composite handle, hybrid tension tab-locking sheath in kydex, anodized aluminum, black oxide stainless steel and anodized titanium
"Skeg"

Thuban

"Thuban" obverse side view in hot-blued 1095/nickel damascus blade, hand-engraved 304 stainless steel bolsters, Shattuckite gemstone handle, hand-carved, hand-dyed leather sheath
"Thuban"
Please note that all of the photographs of this knife are at least a 2 power enlargement!
  • Size: Knife: Length overall: 7.8" (19.8 cm), Blade Length: 3.5" (8.9 cm), Thickness: .165" (4.2 mm)
  • Weight: Knife: 6.0 oz. (170 grams) Sheath: 3.0 oz. (85 grams)
  • Blade:1095 high carbon steel, pattern welded with 200 series, damascus, hardened and tempered to 59HRC,  polished, hot-blued
  • Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, mirror polished, hand-engraved
  • Handle: Shattuckite (with Malachite and Quartz) Gemstone
  • Sheath: Hand-carved leather, hand-dyed
  • Knife: Thuban is the name of a star in the constellation of Draco, and was the north pole star in ancient times. The knife design is a popular one, and I was pleased to make this knife with some unusual materials. The first is the blade, which is 1095 and nickel damascus, pattern welded in a simple and clean twist. I mirror polished the blade and hot blued it for a jet black glassy appearance and striking contrast. 1095 is a high carbon steel, and offers decent wear resistance while being one of the few steels that can be welded to nickel with good predictability. The blade is fully fileworked with graduated pattern around the fully tapered tang with a punctuated, simple pattern. I bolstered the knife with zero-care 304 stainless steel into which I engraved a small, delicate and interlocking blades of grass pattern, deeply center relieved for high contrast to match the blade. The knife is handled with a scarce gemstone with striking color. This is Shattuckite, a hydrated copper silicate which came from Ajo Arizona in the 1950s. It's named for the Shattuck mine and is rare in this matrix and form. It is the heavy black-blue to sky-blue color in this matrix, combined with malachite and quartz. It has good fibrous toughness, and in millions of more years, the blue oxidation product of secondary copper minerals (Shattuckite) will replace the green malachite... but of course, we will never see it. Examining the stone closely and you can imagine this happening. That's just a fascinating glimpse of geologic time that has captivated me for decades. The rock overall is tough and solid, with micro crystalline forms throughout. The handle is contoured, shaped, rounded and finished for a smooth and solid feel. The balance point is between the forefinger and the middle finger for a light-feeling blade.
  • Sheath: I wanted to make a delicately accented sheath that echoed the character of the knife, so I hand-carved the 9-10 oz. leather shoulder and hand-dyed it in many progressive steps, to represent the dark Shattukite blues and malachite greens of the gemstone, standing apart from the black background by natural colored cuts in the leather. The sheath front, back, and belt loop are carved and dyed, and the sheath is hand-stitched with black nylon, sealed and finished.
  • A truly unique knife, with rare gemstone material and striking contrast.

Thanks, L. B.!


Please click on thumbnail photos

Please note that all of the photographs of this knife are at least a 2 power enlargement and some are 6 power!

"Thuban" reverse side view. Note carving and hand-dying on sheath back and on belt loop, stitched with nylon "Thuban" spine filework, edgework detail of graduated filework in nickel-carbon steel damascus blade, fully tapered tang. "Thuban" inside handle tang detail. Bright lighting shows highlights of polished and blued steel. Bolsters are dovetailed to lock and protect handle scales to the tang "Thuban" obverse side handle detail. high contrast throughout from gemstone to engraving to blade "Thuban" reverse side handle detail. This is a three power enlargement! "Thuban" reverse side gemstone handle detail. This is a 4 power enlargement and you can see the crystalline forms throughout this rare gemstone. "Thuban" obverse side gemstone handle 4 power enlargement. The crystals of white quartz, blue and black shattuckite, and green malachite are striking in this gem. "Thuban" 6 power enlargement of obverse side front bolster engraving. Yo can see the reflection of the camera in this photo! "Thuban" Six power enlargement of the reverse side front bolster. All surfaces contoured, rounded and finished  for a smooth feel and fit. "Thuban" six power enlargement of obverse side rear bolster engraving. The interlocking grass blade pattern is backgrounded for high contrast. "Thuban" obverse side blade detail. This is a five power enlargement of th blade detail. The black is blued 1095 carbon steel, the bright lines are 200 series nickel "Thuban" 5 power enlargement of reverse side blade. The pattern welded high contrast damascus is 1095 and nickel "Thuban" blade point detail. The drop point is thin and super sharp at the tip, with good belly and blade strength. The sheath is thick and strong. "Thuban" sheathed front view. This is a 2 power enlargement. Knife is well-protected in deep and thick sheath "Thuban" sheath mouth view. Sheath welts are thick and strong, stitched with black nylon. Front cut in sheath exhibits striking handle material. "Thuban" sheath front carving detail. This is a 3 power enlargement. Sheath carving has natural finish in cuts for contrast between hand-dyed pattern and background. "Thuban" sheath back detail. This is a 3 power enlargement, showing carving on belt loop as well as sheath back.

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