Jay Fisher - World Class Knifemaker

"Arctica" Tactical Combat, CSAR, Survival Knife

• Size: Length overall: 12.75" (32.4 cm), Blade Length: 7.0" (17.8 cm), Thickness: .239" (6.1 mm)
• Weight: Knife: 1 lb., 3.5 oz. (553 grams), Sheath (with extender and accessory package): 1 lb. (454 grams)
• Blade: ATS-34 High Molybdenum Martensitic Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C58, Bead Blasted
• Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Bead Blasted
• Handle: Red and Black G10 Fiberglass/Epoxy Laminate Composite
• Sheath: Locking, Black Kydex, Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Polypropylene and Nylon belt loop extender with Firesteel/Magnesium fire starter, Fine DMT diamond pad sharpener, Maglite Solitaire® flashlight, all stainless steel fittings.
• Knife: Here is one of the absolute toughest, most durable knives I make. The Arctica is named for rigid and unyielding ice breaker-styled geometries of ships that clear the arctic shipping lanes and the name of an ancient continent formed early in the earth's age in what is now the Canadian and Siberian shields. This combination of thickness, slight curves, and a very substantial handle is what I call "the PJLT on steroids." Since my PJLT is my most popular design of knife, and since it has a proven combat and tactical search and rescue heritage with our nation's top military rescue service (United States Air Force Pararescuemen), it was the inspiration for this next generation of incredibly durable knives. The Arctica is larger, thicker, heavier, and stronger than the PJLT. This Arctica starts with an high alloy ATS-34 high molybdenum, high chromium martensitic stainless steel blade, deeply and accurately hollow ground, with a thick and meaty spine. ATS-34 is a very tough steel, which means it has extremely high resistance to fracture, even at high hardness. I tempered this knife to 58HRC, so the blade will be as fracture-resistant as possible, while being extremely wear resistant as well. Another added characteristic of ATS-34 is that it has a very high tempering temperature, so it is a true "hot work" stainless steel that will not change temper unless the blade temperature exceeds 1000° Fahrenheit! The tanto point is a complex one, with an aggressive curve in the point belly, and plenty of thickness at the secondary point for bearing down. The spine has a two-thirds length top swage, which decreases the point cross sectional thickness without sacrificing strength. The blade has over two inches of my Piranha deep cutting serrations, combining hollow ground and chisel ground geometries for a vicious cutting action. I fileworked the entire knife blade and tang with an aggressive pattern and the tang is fully tapered for balance. The knife is bolstered with substantial, multi-pinned 304 high nickel, high chromium austenitic stainless steel bolsters that are zero-care and bead blasted for a low key, non-glare, businesslike finish. The bolsters are heavy, thick, and the rear bolster has a 5/16" through-tang chamfered lanyard hole for extra security if needed. The dovetailed bolsters lock and bed a pair of black and red G10 fiberglass reinforced epoxy laminate composite handle scales, which are secured with six strong 304 stainless steel pins and bead-blasted for a good tooth and texture that is easy to grip and simple to maintain. The knife feels great in the hand, in either forward or reverse grip style, and the front and rear quillons lock the hand well to the handle. The balance point is right at the forefinger location, and the thumb is comfortably drawn to the thumb rise for great control.
• Sheath: The sheath is more of a professional assembly than a simple knife sheath, and an example of why I'm committed to making the finest combat tactical, and rescue knives and sheaths on the planet. It starts with double thickness (.125") kydex hot-formed over a high strength, corrosion resistant aluminum welt frame, secured with bead blasted 304 stainless steel Chicago screws for the ultimate in durability and no glare. The sheath is one of my proven positively locking waterproof models, with all stainless steel locking mechanism and components for the ultimate in reliability. Even the machine screws are stainless steel. The sheath can be worn in any position, even upside down when worn with the die-formed high alloy aluminum belt loops (included, but not shown). The belt loops can be located in several positions along the welt frame and are reversible for a variety of wear options.
• Accessories: This knife and sheath needed my ultimate accessory package, so I included my Ultimate survival, CSAR sheath belt loop extension accessories with new and added features and devices. The polypropylene accessory is waterproof, durable, and extremely stout, and allows the locking knife sheath to be worn in a more traditional belt position at the hip. The extension is mounted with 304 stainless steel straps and stainless steel machine screws attached to the existing stainless Chicago screws, and the assembly is stiffened by multiple zigzag nylon stitching to prevent the extension from folding, bending, or collapsing when the knife is extracted from the sheath. The belt loop is 2.5 inches wide for the widest of belts, and has a top placement shock cord with snap retention to prevent the knife handle from flopping around during active movements. The shock cord is not for retention of the knife; this is done with the stainless steel sheath lock. At the lower back of the extension I've included a custom fit pocket for a DMT (Diamond Machining Technology) Mini-Sharp diamond-nickel abrasive hone, to bring up the cutting edge in the field with ease, even on this high alloy wear resistant blade. These are great tools that can re-sharpen or just touch up even the hardest tool steel edges, as they are surface bonded with diamond abrasives. The pocket for this tool is situated at the sheath back and against the body, so the sharpener can not be removed unless the sheath is off the body and the industrial strength Velcro closure is open. I also added a specially modified critical survival component to this accessory: the Firesteel/Magnesium block with custom fittings. These blocks are waterproof and durable, with soft magnesium that can be easily shaved off with the knife blade, and a Firesteel striker to ignite the magnesium shavings when placed into tinder to start a fire. A unique addition to this block is the stainless steel rod guard. This minimizes the possibility of the Firesteel contacting any other metals and causing accidental sparks and ignition when worn or removed, guards the knife tip (or swage) when the blade is dragged over the Firesteel, helps concentrate and guide the spark direction, and offers a variety of mounting options, besides on the sheath extender's industrial strength Velcro straps. Being all 304 stainless steel, it will not corrode or rust. A recent inclusion on these useful accessory packages is the Maglite Solitaire, a small and durable flashlight that is waterproof, with o-ring seals and made of black anodized machined aluminum. I custom make a stainless steel retention ring mount for locking the light in its dedicated sleeve for security yet "up front" access in the package. There are much more to these accessories; learn about these critical accessories on a special page on my site at this link. Mounting, care, and use instructions are posted there.
• A professional, top of the line, brutally tough beast of a knife, a combat, rescue, and tactical knife that is simply one of the best made. This knife defines robust.

Thanks, C. B.!