Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

"Bulldog" Fine Handmade Knife

• Size: Length overall: 11.75" (29.9 cm), Blade Length: 7.0" (17.8 cm), Thickness: .285" (7.2 mm)
• Weight: Knife: 13.5 oz. (383 grams) Sheath: 8.2 oz. (232 grams)
• Blade: 440C High Chromium Stainless Steel, Hardened and Tempered, Cryogenically Treated to Rockwell HRC60, Mirror Polished
• Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Hand-engraved
• Handle: Carnival Crazy Lace Agate Gemstone
• Sheath: Hand-carved, Hand-dyed Leather Shoulder, stitched with polyester
• Knife: The Bulldog is an incredible knife, and it's a popular style of mine for many reasons, from the first design created for combat to the fine artwork of this elegant piece, the Bulldog is one of the finest knives I make, and I gave this one my premium treatment. The blade is high chromium 440C, my most requested steel because it's hard and tough and wear resistant, and extremely corrosion resistant, requiring little to no care, maintaining its finish for generations. I gave this particular blade my best treatment, with deep cryogenic processing for maximum martensitic conversion with a 32 hour cryogenic soaking at -325°F for maximum eta-carbide precipitation. The hardening and cryogenic aging was followed by triple tempering with deep cryogenic soaks in-between, for maximum thermal stabilization and the best possible balance of hardness, toughness, and corrosion resistance along with dimensional stability. What this process yields is a blade that is in the pinnacle of performance, the very best it can possibly be. I've made sure that the blade is very thick at the heaviest part of the spine, over a quarter of an inch, which gives it great strength, and allows a graceful and deep hollow grind for the longest possible service life of the razor keen cutting edge. The hollow grind is tapered for a thicker edge at the ricasso, supporting great force application, with a thin, needle like point. The blade has a two-third's length top swage that reduces point profile while maintaining spine strength, and the tang is fully tapered through the handle for balance. The blade has full deep and bold filework in an alternating budding style, and is terminated at the butt with a full and comfortable finger ring. All surfaces of the knife are rounded, contoured, polished, and smoothed for a great, comfortable feel. I bolstered the knife with 304 stainless steel: super tough and durable, zero care, and I hand-engraved the bolsters with a lightly interwoven sickle design, echoing the curvature of the blade. The bolsters are dovetailed and bed and anchor a pair of beautiful, striking Carnival Crazy Lace Agate gemstone handle scales. Though they are bookmatched (see the photo of the spine below), the look on each side is distinctive and remarkable. On the obverse side, I took care to focus the center of the handle scale with placement of a small, crystal-lined cavity, and left it open to see literally deep into this tiny crystal pocket. On the other side, the patterns and figure of the stone is beyond complex, and examination under magnification reveals layer upon layer of beautiful creation and formation of this agate. The agate is very hard and tough, and will literally outlast the knife. The knife feels powerful and strong in the hand in either the forward or reverse grip, with the balance point exactly at the front bolster face.
• Sheath: The sheath needed to be commensurate with the knife, and this was no easy task since the knife is so bold and dramatic. I used the long, sickle-like interwoven design motif of my bolster engraving and hand-carved the design in the thick 9-10 oz. leather shoulder on the front and back of the sheath along with the belt loop. I hand-dyed the leather with a color gradient reflected in the boldest parts of the gemstone handle, and stitched the thick welts in heavy black polyester thread in a very tight pattern. For increased strength, I stitched the belt loop in double rows. The sheath is lacquered and sealed, and the knife fits deeply to protect the wearer and the knife.
• A big, bold and distinctive Bulldog, a tough and beautiful knife.

Thanks, S. K.!