Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

"Arcas" Fine Handmade Custom Knife

• Size: Length overall: 7.75" (19.7 cm), Blade Length: 3.8" (9.7 cm), Thickness: .209" (5.3 mm)
• Weight: Knife: 7.4 oz. (210 grams) Sheath: 4.3 oz. (122 grams)
• Blade: 440C High Chromium Stainless Steel, Hardened and Tempered, T3 Cryogenically Processed to Rockwell HRC 60, Mirror Polished
• Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Mirror polished
• Handle: Blue Tiger Eye Gemstone (Africa)
• Sheath: Hand-carved, Leather Shoulder inlaid with American Buffalo (Bison) skin
• Knife: This is a very nice custom knife, made for a great client, and it was an honor to make this unique knife for him. He chose my "Arcas" pattern, derived from the Greek word "Arktos," the word for bear.
  • This is a very nice, compact design of knife, a lot of knife in a tight package. The steel chosen for this project is 440C but not just any 440C; it has my premium heat treatment and processing: T3. I've discovered that this process yields an astounding blade in incredible condition through advanced processing protocols. How advanced is this treatment? It's a multi-stage cryogenic treatment, involving temperatures ranging in over 1950°F (1066°C) to -320°F (-196°C). The process is an evolution of my advanced heat treating processes, and consists of 33 dedicated and specific steps and takes 172 hours. This means that just to heat treat this blade takes over a week! The reason for this is scientific and critical, but yields the most stable, most wear-resistant, most durable and long-lived structure of this steel, profuse with fine multi-element carbides and a uniform and unbelievably robust structure. This is a testament to my determination to make the very best knives, steels, treatments and kits in the modern world. I know of no one else who has advanced the treatment to this level; it's unheard of in the metals field.
  • The knife geometry is a deep hollow grind in a gentle drop point which results in a very fine point and thin cutting edge with excellent longevity even after repeated sharpenings. The blade is mirror-polished for maximum corrosion resistance and beauty, and has full complex filework throughout the fully tapered tang.
  • I bolstered the knife with zero-care 304 high chromium, high nickel stainless steel bolsters, which are contoured, rounded and finished for a comfortable feel. The bolsters are secured with zero-clearance peened pins and dovetailed to bed the scales.
  • The scales my client chose for his project are beautiful Tiger Eye gemstone. While most tiger eye is uniform and golden in color, this particular set of scales from Africa have blues with even hints of red running through. Technically, this is classified as a "blue" tiger eye, but there is much more color than the photos can display. The gemstone has quite a lot of chatoyancy, the cat's eye effect, when moved and rolled in bright light. The scales are locked beneath the bolster dovetails and bedded to the full, solid tang. They are rounded, smoothed, and polished to a bright vitreous finish and are very comfortable.
  • The shape of the handle is a "three-fingered" style, with a short overall length that allows the knife handle to be completely wrapped by the palm. For a smaller knife, it's surprisingly secure with a substantial forward finger groove and contoured belly for control. The thumb rise allows solid pressure to be applied to the tough, razor-keen edge.
• Sheath: I wanted a very special sheath suited just to this knife, so I chose a beautiful brown Bison skin inlay in leather. Technically, bison is the most accurate scientific description for what many call "American Buffalo." Using the name bison distinguishes the animal from Cape buffalo or water buffalo, entirely different animals. The bison skin is inlaid into 9-10 oz. leather shoulder, hand-carved and dyed a medium brown. The sheath is stitched with heavy nylon for durability, and sealed with weather-resistant lacquer.
• A beautiful knife that was a pleasure to complete!

Thanks, R. F.!