Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

Iraca

• Size: Length overall: 7.8" (19.8 cm), Blade Length: 4.1" (10.4 cm), Thickness: .193" (4.9 mm)
• Weight: Knife: 7.8 oz. Sheath: 4.0 oz.
• Blade: 440C High Chromium Martensitic Stainless Steel, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C59, mirror finished
• Bolsters, Fittings: Hand-engraved 304 Austenitic High Nickel, High Chromium Stainless Steel
• Handle: Polished Bronzite Hypersthene Gemstone
• Sheath: Frog Skin Inlaid in Hand-carved Leather
• Knife: Iraca is an Incan word and used naming a feature on the surface of Rhea, Saturn's largest moon. In making this knife, I tried to keep that exotic flavor in the shape, the profile, the materials, and the embellishment. This is a unique small tanto. I started with my favorite 440C high chromium stainless steel blade, for minimal care, high corrosion resistance, and longest lasting value. I profiled the shape in a sweeping slight trailing point blade, with a high angle to make a narrow yet strong point. Both of the cutting edges have a slight curve, making the knife easy to sharpen, and aggressive to cut with. I hollow ground the blade with a 10" contact wheel, so the deep grind leaves plenty of thin blade, while preserving a substantial spine for strength. The knife has full filework in a conspicuous Incan geometric pattern of deep vees, squared spacers, and pyramidal angles. The tang is fully tapered for weight balance, and the filework extends completely to the clean, rounded choil that terminates the cutting edge. The angled handle is a three-fingered handle; the first three fingers of the hand wrap comfortably while the rear bolster of the handle lays easily in the heel of the hand. It also handles well with the forefinger across the top of the spine and the other fingertips around the belly of the handle. To match the geometric design of the filework, I designed and hand-engraved an intricate complimentary design on the 304 high chromium, high nickel stainless steel bolsters. There are few engravers who work with 304 stainless because of the great difficulty of hand-engraving. That toughness and resistance to cutting makes for stunning mirror-polished bolsters that will retain their finish and appearance indefinitely. The bolsters are dovetailed to bed a pair of Bronzite Hypersthene gemstone scales. It is likely that this is the first knife in existence to have a Bronzite Hypersthene handle. This is a unique and unusual gemstone with dark gray metallic hematite veins and pockets interspersed with rich golden, crystalline, chatoyant (cat's eye) spangles and reflective metallic areas. It's been described as having a fibrous bronzy luster and a peculiar iridescence called "schiller" from tiny brown scales of unknown material in it. It takes some special skill and practice to finish it; not a material for the casual lapidary, but the effort was worth it. It is hard and durable, and feels good in the hand.
• Sheath: Of course I had to make a commensurate sheath for this knife, so I designed one that would show off the handle gemstone and the engraving, yet protect the knife blade and wearer. The design has a long ramp to glide in the cutting edge and nest the face of the bolster. The sheath is inlaid with ten inlays of black Frog Skin arranged in geometric form in hand-carved and tooled leather shoulder. I've stitched the dark tan sheath with polyester sinew, lacquered and sealed it.
• This is a richly beautiful tanto, with a distinctly mysterious and masculine style and tone.

Thanks, P.K.!