Jay Fisher - World Class Knifemaker

Top twenty one reasons my knives are worth your money

There are thousands of knives to choose from in this world. Knives range from cheap imports to museum pieces, from hunting tools to combat weapons. This page was created to give you a quick insight into how my knives, craftsmanship, and art differs from the common fare, and what I have to offer my knife client.

Knife making can be a versatile and challenging trade and art. The combination of tough, hard, tool steels with organics like wood, horn, bone, and ivory is a unique devotion. Add gemstone, leathers and exotics and skills like engraving, computer artwork and photography and you have a wide-ranging mix of pursuits. Knives, unlike jewelry, sculpture, and other static creations, are meant to not only be beautiful, unique, and stunning, but also be primarily a tool. First, the knife maker must learn to be a skilled tool maker before he can grow into an artist. Bringing all these professions together takes literally decades.

The list below does not encompass all the facets of my trade and skills, but will give you a good idea of why my knives are worth your money.

Real Knives for Real Tactical Combat Use

1. I make the real thing. I make authentic combat, tactical, CSAR, CQC, CQB, SERE, and other professional knives, weapons, and tools. I make knives for our nation's top military rescue service, United States Air Force Pararescue. I've also made professional tactical knives for various SWAT teams and other law enforcement agencies including the FBI and DEA.  I make knives for professional police tactical and emergency response teams, hazardous materials teams, urban rescue groups, and Explosive Ordinance Disposal professionals. I make knives for the United States Army, the 101st Airborne, Special Forces, Army Intelligence, and Rangers. I make knives for Marines, SEAL Teams, and Principle Security Details in combat, in foreign lands. I also make knives for the instructors of all of the above listed groups. These are real combat and tactical knives, often built with input from the professional and military clients, and have seen the exposures and actions of real combat and tactical responses. The same tough standards applied to these knives are applied to knives I make for the public, collectors, or other knife users. You can see the many types of tactical knives I make through my Tactical Knife Portal on this site.

Sole Authorship of Knives and Accessories

2. I do all my own work using the finest high quality modern high-tech tool and die steels: stock removing, forging, cutting, grinding, shaping, drilling, milling, heat treating, and finishing by hand or machines offhand, that is, everything on my knives, including all fittings, handles, sheaths, cases, and stands. I even hand-carve and hand-cast fittings and display components with lost wax casting in bronze and other metals. NOTHING is farmed out to other makers, companies, or entities. I start with a bar of fine, clean, modern tool steel, a chunk of wood, and a piece of rock and am responsible for the entire piece, from cutting edge to engraving, from the finish on the blade to the stitches on the sheath. Though there are some collaboratives on this website, if it has only my name on the blade, it is all my work. More details on the FAQ page.

Heat Treating by the Knife Maker

3. I do all my own heat treating in my vacuum-nitrogen inert gas electric furnaces. My high-tech steel blades are treated in high purity conditions, just as the steel was manufactured and meant to be, and never exposed to harmful oxygen during heat treat which would cause decarburization, redistribution, or alteration of the originally designed alloy. When I heat treat your knife, you are assured of a proper stress-relieving pre-soak for the thickness and geometry of your blade. I also sub-zero quench then double temper, assuring the correct balance and depth of hardness and toughness. The military, police, and professionals rely on my heat treating skills. All my knives have performed with outstanding results, and I've been doing this over 30 years. More about heat treating on the FAQ page.

High Quality Grinds and Finish

4. I'm known by some of the best grinds and blade geometry in the business. My blades are accurate, precise, matched side to side, and most of them are mirror finished all by off-hand grinding. While other makers grind straight, flat, or use a jig, which can't compensate for the curvature of the blade profile leading to uneven thickness, my grinds are perpendicular to the cutting edge, so uniform thinness is achieved along the whole blade length.  Most of my grinds are hollow, creating some of the thinnest, sharpest edges possible with the longest useable life of any blade grind.  I don’t hand-sand blades along their length (unless you request it), and I finish through 10 steps of grind, keeping accurate grind lines that are not washed over by too much buffing on a wheel. This result is some of the finest mirror finishes on any knife. On tactical models, some have a bead blasted finish to reduce glare, some are finished to 220 grit for a satin finish that the user is not afraid to scratch. Blades with saw teeth are extremely aggressive. I will put my blades against any other knifemaker's in the world for accuracy, finish, and quality. More on the Blades page.

Hot Blued Knife Blades

5. I do all my own hot bluing. When I blue knife blades, I do a professional hot blue, both with sodium nitrate boiling caustic (black gun blue) and potassium nitrate molten salt (cobalt blue-vermilion-straw). I blue for 40-60 minutes, giving the deepest penetration of the tool steel for the best corrosion inhibition and dark or tactical appearance. This results in a deep, rich corrosion inhibition that can last many decades. I never cover blades with coatings or paints. More on the Blades page.

Custom Etching

6. I have the highest resolution blade etching in the business. It took six years to develop and perfect my proprietary photo resolution process, with line resolutions at 1/100,000th of an inch. I can take nearly any artwork, detailed images, text and graphics and etch it permanently and deeply into the blade or metal components of sheaths, stands, or cases. I can customize any knife to any client's wishes and frequently personalize commemorative tactical and personal knives. More on the Embellishment page.

Precious Metal Electroform

7. I have the highest resolution precious metal electroform in the business. I use the same proprietary process to electroform (heavy, thick metal electroplate) Yellow Gold, Green Gold, Rose Gold, Nickel, or Copper on to carbon steel and even stainless steel blades.

Hand Engraving

8. I do all my own hand engraving. I engrave by hand in carbon steel, high chromium stainless steel, brass, nickel silver, and silver. The design characteristics and motifs will match the style of the knife, the piece will flow with the original artwork intent and flavor, since I am the only one making and engraving the knife. One of my favorite steels to engrave is 304 high chromium, high nickel austenitic stainless steel. Most engravers and makers would never touch this type of steel, it's simply too hard and tough to engrave. I like it because it's bold, zero care, and matches the beauty of the knife blade and will maintain its appearance indefinitely, without concern for rusting, pitting, or maintenance. This is, quite simply a zero-care fitting material that outlasts all others.  More on the Embellishment page.

Computer Engraving

9. I do all my own high resolution computer engraving. On commemoratives, legends, flash plates and insignia, nothing matches the 1/10,000th of an inch microscopic resolution of computer engraving. I design with the client, do all the image digitizing and computer programming, setup, and execution right here in my studio, all for a reasonable price. The images are cut into the blade, handle, sheath or components with a diamond stylus, a diamond burnisher, or carbide cutters or burnishers. The cuts are clean, deep, and permanent. More on the Embellishment page.

Gemstone Knife Handles

10. I make more gemstone-handled knives than any single knife maker in the world. I have been making gem handled knives for over 30 years, have made over two thousand. Half of my studio is geared for professional lapidary, with the capabilities of gem mosaic, inlay, gem engraving and carving. There simply is no other maker in the world who has made as many gemstone handled knives for as many years as I have, and gem is the longest lasting, most beautiful handle material known to man throughout history. See hundreds of pictures of my gemstone knife handles.

All Real Gemstone

11. I use all real gemstone in my gem handled knives, not plastic rock, not stabilized resin material, no pretend rock, ever. Nothing matches God’s creation of rock and minerals, and stone does not fade, deteriorate, crack, check, or dry up. It has a similar thermal coefficient as steel (which is a refined mineral itself) and does not shrink, burn, melt, or soak up water, blood, or change dimensionally. The agates and jaspers I use are harder than the steel blade itself, and a gem like nephrite jade is nearly as tough. Simply put, the gemstone handle will outlast even the best blades. Learn more about gemstone knife handles.

Locking Military and Tactical Knife Sheaths

12. I make the best, toughest locking military tactical sheaths in the world.  United States Air Force Pararescue jumpers have had them strapped across their chests, upside down, while doing parachute jumps and rescues, often into the ocean. Army soldiers from field artillery to infantrymen wear these tactical knives on their body armor and gear. The knives will positively stay locked, in a waterproof, locking sheath with a handmade, multi-component stainless steel mechanisms fitted to each individual knife. The bodies of the sheath are double thickness kydex or co-extruded acrylic, built on a 5052H32 corrosion-resistant high-strength aluminum frame for strength and light weight. The sheaths are screwed together with .250" blued steel, stainless steel, or nickel plated steel screws. They are equipped with reversible, high strength, corrosion resistant die-formed aluminum belt loops or anchor straps, and usually allow a variety of mounting options on either side of the body. They are the toughest sheaths made by anyone, suitable for full combat mounting and use. These are the finest tactical knife sheaths made in the world. I also make a substantial line of accessories for these sheaths, and continually add new features and options. Learn more about my locking combat and tactical knife sheaths.

Worthwhile and Useful Sheath Accessories

13. Custom locking knife sheath accessories can be essential. So I construct incredibly tough, waterproof, and useful accessories for my fine locking combat and tactical knife sheaths including belt loop extenders for a variety of wear positions, sternum harnesses for inverted wear across the chest, and include nested and reliable diamond pad sharpeners and even fire starters for the package. All of the accessory parts are extremely durable, with most fittings and mechanical parts made of 304 high chromium, high nickel stainless steel. ach accessory is custom made for the knife sheath and owner's unique needs.

Custom and Handmade Knife Sheaths

14. I do all my own leatherwork. I use real exotic sheath inlays on my fine leather sheaths. Other maker's sheaths are often made of 5-6 oz. leather; mine are hand-tooled out of 9-10 oz shoulder (twice as thick as most other knife sheaths), and usually hand-stitched with 100% polyester sinew, or nylon, the toughest binders on the market. I build the sheaths to be as durable as possible in order to help them last for generations. My artwork is unique; I do multiple piece inlays, overlays, carving, lacing, tooling, embroidering, and all my sheaths are finished and sealed. The artistic motif and quality of the sheath will be commensurate with the quality of the knife, and you can be as proud of the sheath as you are of the knife. The inclusion of a fine sheath made by the knife maker adds to the overall investment value of the knife as well as longevity and usefulness. Learn more about my knife sheaths.

Knife Stands, Cases, and Displays

15. I make all my own knife stands, cases and display components. With my art knives, the stand or case will be commensurate with the quality of the knife, with the same care and attention to detail as the knife. I consider fine knife stands and cases essential to my trade craft, and artistically sculpt, carve, and create each individual display to enhance and compliment your investment. Exotic and domestic woods exhibit professional joinery and the materials are finely finished and beautiful. Many have sculptural components. Learn more about my knife stands, cases, and displays.

Knife Photography, Records, and Website

16. I do all my own photography and website. So I have available an immense photo archive of my work, probably larger than any other knifemaker. On this site there are over 12,000 pictures of my work, including over 400 custom knife patterns. This allows you to see hundreds of other styles, models and individual knives I've made, mixing attributes to design the knife you want. Comparing photos, you also know you’re in good company for investment purposes. You can trace the knives in my career, and that contributes to the investment value of your knife. Additional photographs of your knife may be available, and I maintain a detailed multi-disc CD-ROM archive of my work with huge photos in high resolution. This website is my complete creation, with hundreds of pages, detailed topics and discussions, and thousands of illustrations and photos. Learn more about my photography, background, and history.

Hundreds of Patterns and Styles

17. I have over 400 different knife patterns and styles available. I am not locked in to just a few types of knife, and the variety of designs gives me great experience in versatility. I work with clients to make them the knife they want, if it is within my scope of work and interest. See my hundreds of patterns.

True Custom Knives

18. I am a true custom maker. I work with clients to create for them their dream knife, whether for investment, display, for field dressing big game, for lifesaving tactical work, or for military combat weapons use. They submit drawings, ideas, and input, I  make their knives to order. Learn more about knife design and fees.

Versatility

19. No job is too big or unusual. I have a 9 foot tall Partizan in the Tower of London; I’ve made knife sculptures that weigh in excess of 400 pounds and have taken a year and a half to build. I perform custom wax carving and casting, welding in all forms, sculpting and design. I've worked with just about every material one can imagine on handmade and custom knives, swords, sculpture and artwork. See some of my museum pieces, investment knives and swords.

Guarantee

20. I guarantee my workmanship for my lifetime. While no one can guarantee a knife against neglect or abuse, and nothing is unbreakable, I fully stand behind my workmanship, methods and execution of my pieces for as long as I am physically able. Read about my knife sales policy.

Investment, Appreciation

21. All my knives appreciate in value over the years if properly maintained, and will probably continue to appreciate. The value of an investment knife is directly associated with the maker's ability, longevity, reputation, and clients. You can see on this site that you're in good company with a Jay Fisher custom knife. I've been making knives for over 30 years, professionally and full time for over 20 years. This is my full time job, my chosen profession, and how I derive all my income. I've made thousands of knives, my name and reputation are well established in this field, and accompany each piece. Learn about investment knife value on my FAQ page.