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"

Vesta

"Vesta" Dagger, obverse side view in hot-blued O1 high carbon tungsten-vanadium tool steel blade, hand-engraved 304 stainless steel bolsters, Australian Black Jade and Apache Gold (pyrite and shale) gemstone handle, hand-carved leather sheath inlaid with stingray skin
"Vesta" Custom Black Rune Dagger
  • Type: An investment grade custom collector's dagger and athame
  • Size: Length overall: 13.0" (33.0 cm), Blade Length: 7.6" (13.3 cm), Thickness: .240" (6.1 mm)
  • Weight: Blade: 1 lb. 4 oz. (567 grams) Sheath: 8.0 oz. (227 grams)
  • Blade: O1 high carbon tungsten-vanadium tool steel, hardened and tempered to Rockwell C59, mirror polished, hot-blued
  • Fittings/Bolsters: 304 austenitic stainless steel, hand-engraved
  • Handle: Polished Australian Black Jade, Apache Gold (Pyrite and Shale) gemstone mosaic
  • Sheath: Black stingray skin Inlaid in hand-carved 9-10 oz. leather shoulder
  • Knife: In dynamic harmony of materials, finish, design and theme, this piece flows together like no other. This is one of my most beautiful daggers and will always be one of my favorites. Please take some serious time examining the extensive photo set below to understand what I mean. Commissioned by a special client to his specifications, the Vesta pattern (named for the Roman goddess of the hearth), is a stunning custom black rune dagger and athame, with some very special features. The blade is tightly and cleanly hollow ground with a three inch contact wheel for a firm and substantial spine with elegant and thin cutting edges. Made of hard and wear-resistant O1 high carbon tungsten-vanadium tool steel, I meticulously ground and mirror polished this fine blade before I professionally hot-blued it for a deep, dark, glossy and slick black oxide surface that just soaks up the light while offering improved corrosion resistance. I also blued the spine of the full tang handle, and fully fileworked the tapered tang with a deep vine pattern. The knife is bolstered with sculpted and polished zero-care high nickel, high chromium 304 austenitic stainless steel, in which I hand-engraved my client's custom runes. The front bolster has special bind runes and the rear bolsters have individual historic Germanic runes to my client's specifications. It took quite a bit of effort to engrave them in deep relief, with blackened backgrounds and flanked by high detail entwined leaves, bringing it all together for the look that is just right. The bolsters are dovetailed and bed unique mosaic gemstone handle scales in polished Australian black nephrite jade gemstone paired with matched wedges of Apache Gold, a metallic, lustrous polished pyrite and shale gemstone. The knife feels substantial and vital in the hand, with the balance point at the front bolster face.
  • Sheath: The sheath for this magnificent dagger had to be very special, so I created one in 9-10 oz. leather shoulder, dyed in black cherry, with 32 (yes, 32!) mirror-placed inlays of black stingray skin. This is a very difficult and painstaking sheath to make, with plenty of hand-carving and tedious scalpel-work, but the effort truly paid off, as this is one of the finer knife sheaths I've made. Even the double-row stitched belt loop has ten inlays of the exotic ray skin proudly standing above the rich, deep, black cherry leather surface. I hand-stitched the sheath with black nylon for high strength and durability, and finish-coated the surface with glossy organic surface sheen sealant. The knife is just right in the sheath, with the front sculpted bolster pointing right into the sheath face and mouth.
  • This is a magnificent piece; an honor to make!

Thanks, R.N.!


Hello Jay, it arrived on the 10th safe and sound. It is truly amazing! I cannot thank you enough for the amazing work you did bring this dagger to life for me. It is truly a work of art that I will cherish for years to come. It is amazing to say the least!! I was almost moved to tears with how perfectly you have brought the athame that I envisioned into reality for me. Thank you.

--R.N.


Please click on thumbnail photos
"Vesta" black rune dagger, without reflection on the blade. This photo shows accurately the blackness of the blued surface on this fine athame "Vesta" black rune dagger reverse side view. Sheath back is covered in stingray skin inlays "Vesta" black rune dagger, athame, handle tang view showing deep full vine filework on blued tang, tang taper, matched placement of pyrite and shale mosaic gemstone in handle scales "Vesta" black rune dagger, spine tang view. Stainless steel bolsters are dovetailed and lock and bed handle scales of black jade, tang is fully tapered for balance. "Vesta" black rune dagger, obverse side handle view. Stunning blade and handle in hard, tough, and durable tool steel and neprite jade "Vesta" black rune dagge, reverse side view. Bind rune on front bolsters, different runes deeply engraved on rear bolsters of high nickel, high chromium stainless steel "Vesta" black rune dagger, athame, front bolster engraving detail. 304 high chromium, high nickel stainless steel deeply background engraved with client's special bind rune design "Vesta" black rune dagger, obverse side rear bolster engraving detail. Many hours are required to hand-engrave in 304 stainless steel "Vesta" black rune dagger, reverse side rear bolster engraving detail, rune for Justice, victory by law "Vesta" black rune dagger, obverse side view, handle detail. Black Australian Jade is very hard and tough, flanking mosaic of black shale with pyrite (Apache gold) gemstone "Vesta" black rune dagger, sheathed view. Sheath and dagger are well matched, custom made "Vesta" black rune dagger, sheath face detail showing 12 inlays of black stingray skin in heavy leather shoulder dyed in black cherry "Vesta" sheath back detail. Note multiple inlays in sheath back, full and complete working of sheath surfaces in this elegant and fine dagger sheath "Vesta" sheath back inlay detail. Meticulous carving places each inlay in a special pocket, yet standing above and proud from the surface of the leather. Heavy stitching is black nylon "Vesta" sheath belt loop detail. Who else has ten inlays of rayskin in their belt loops for the sheath? Note double row hand stitching for strength in belt loop "Vesta" black rune dagger, point detail. Three inch hollow grind creates devastatingly sharp cutting edges and point in high tungsten-vanadium tool steel "Vesta" black rune dagger, sheathed handle view. Piece flows together in dynamic harmony of materials, finish, design and theme. "Vesta" black rune dagger, sheath detail. All parts are finished and blend in unison, bedded in harmonious blend

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