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"

Vulpecula

"Vulpecula" obverse side view in hot-blued O1 high carbon tungsten vanadium tool steel alloy, hand-engraved 304 stainless steel bolsters, Silver Leaf Serpentine gemstone handle, Frog skin inlaid in hand-carved leather sheath
"Vulpecula"
  • Size: Knife: Length overall: 8.6" (21.9 cm), Blade Length: 4.0" (10.2 cm), Thickness: .159" (4.0 mm)
  • Weight: Knife: 7.0 oz. (198 grams) Sheath: 3.5 oz. (99 grams)
  • Blade: O-1 high carbon tungsten-vanadium alloy tool steel, hardened and tempered to 58HRC, mirror polished, hot-blued
  • Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, mirror polished, hand-engraved
  • Handle: Silver Leaf Serpentine Gemstone
  • Sheath: Hand-carved, hand-dyed leather shoulder inlaid with Frog skin
  • Knife: The name Vulpecula comes from a constellation in the Northern sky known as the Little Fox. This is a nice-sized drop point knife, clean and well-executed with good strength in a compact and beautiful package. I made the blade in a high tungsten-vanadium version of O1, an oil-hardening tool steel made for tough work with good wear resistance superior to all plain carbon steels, and superior to typical O1. This alloy results in a blade that has a high concentration of tungsten carbides and vanadium carbides, both very hard particles that are resistant to wear. I mirror polished the blade to a bright finish and then hot blued the blade with a sodium bluing passivation process. This is not a coating; this is the bare blade, with black oxidation that helps inhibit rust and corrosion. This is the same bluing process found on fine firearms, and on the knife blades I extend the process by doubling the time, resulting in a passive surface that is very deep. The blade is beautifully hollow ground for a thin, uniform and regular cutting edge that will remain thin throughout the life of the knife, generations with simple care. The blade is honed to a razor sharp single bevel edge. The knife blade is fully fileworked and hand-engraved for a delicate and graceful full pattern completely around the fully tapered tang. The Vulpecula is bolstered with zero care high nickel, high chromium 304 stainless steel bolsters, into which I've hand-engraved a pattern that matches the flowing lines of the gemstone handle. The handle is Silver Leaf Serpentine, a gemstone that gets its name for the green, snakelike appearance and is a hydrous magnesium iron phyllosilicate This serpentine has interesting silvery lines that exhibit a metallic, glassy luster in bright light, one of the few types of serpentine to exhibit this interesting sheen, that's why it's also sometimes called silver sheen serpentine. All parts of the handle are rounded, contoured, smoothed, radiused, and polished for a smooth, comfortable feel. The knife has a light blade feel, with the balance point between the first two fingers on the handle.
  • Sheath: This knife needed a special sheath so I constructed a high-backed design that displays a good portion of the striking handle while being easy to unsheathe. The high back protects the wearer from the blade and handle when sheathing and unsheathing, and places the belt loop high in the back. The sheath is made from heavy 9-10 oz. leather shoulder, hand-carved and hand-dyed, inlaid with very nice exotic Frog skin in grays with fascinating patterns. The tough, durable frog skin is inlaid full in the front, full in the back, and even in the belt loop. The sheath is hand-stitched with waterproof black polyester, sealed with an acrylic gloss finish for protection and longevity, waxed and buffed to a high gloss.
  • A classical form of knife, simple, clean, yet elegant with full embellishment and premium materials and finish, unlike no other.

Thanks, J. S.!


Please click on thumbnail photos
 "Vulpecula" obverse side view, without reflective lighting to illustrate black glassy appearance of hot-blued, mirror polished blade "Vulpecula" reverse side view with reflector to show the blade grind lines and engraving highlights on stainless steel bolsters "Vulpecula" reverse side view without light reflector to illustrate true appearance of jet black mirror polished hot blued blade in O1 tool steel "Vulpecula" spine filework, edgework, engraving detail. Tang is fully tapered, with hand-engraved filework in high detail "Vulpecula" inside handle tang view. bolsters are dovetailed to lock bedded gemstone handle scales to tang "Vulpecula" obverse side handle detail. Silver Leaf Serpentine has fascinating light play and sheen in silvery areas "Vulpecula" reverse side handle detail. Lines of gemstone are reflected in the hand-engraved bolster pattern "Vulpecula" obverse side front bolster, makers mark detail. This is a 5 power enlargement! "Vulpecula" obverse side rear bolster 5 power enlargement. Visible is the silvery sheen of the gemstone handle, metallic and bright "Vulpecula" reverse side front bolster engraving enlargement. Bolsters are hand-engraved 304 stainless steel, high nickel, high chromium zero care "Vulpecula" reverse side rear bolster engraving detail. Flowing deep relief pattern echoes the lines in the gemstone "Vulpecula" point detail. O1 is a razor keen tool steel, in high tungsten, high vandium, mirror polished and hot blued "Vulpecula" sheathed view. Sheath is full panels of frog skin inlaid in heavy leather shoulder, sealed, waxed and buffed to a high sheen "Vulpecula" sheath mouth detail. High back on sheath protects wearer during sheathing and unsheathing, displays handle well "Vulpecula" sheath front detail. Frog skin is inlaid in thick, heavy leather sholder, sheat is stitched with black polyester "Vulpecula" sheath back, belt loop detail. Back is inlaid with full panel of frog skin, even the belt loop has frog skin inlay

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