Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

"Opere" Fine Handmade Custom Knife

• Size: Length overall: 10.7" (27.2 cm), Blade Length: 6.25" (15.9 cm), Thickness: 0.139" (3.5 mm)
• Weight: Knife: 9.6 oz. (272 grams) Sheath: 6.3 oz. (179 grams)
• Blade: CPM 154CM high molybdenum powder metal martensitic stainless steel blade, T4 deep cryogenically treated with quadruple tempering to 61 HRC
• Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Mirror polished
• Handle: Nephrite Jade Gemstone (Wyoming)
• Sheath: Hand-carved, hand-dyed Leather Shoulder inlaid with green ray skin, nylon stitching, stainless steel fasteners
• Knife: Opere is the Italian word for works, as this knife is initially designed as a working and utility knife for the kitchen. However, this is—like many of my knife designs—a crossover pattern, suitable for a wide range of uses as well as investment. This is a magnificent custom Opere, made to my client's specifications, with a premium treatment and accurate geometry, a very thin, hard knife in premium materials, for the chef or professional, as well as collection.
  • The steel my client chose for his knife is CPM 154CM, a powder metal tool steel, a high technology steel known for extremely even distribution of alloy elements and a uniform microstructure. It's a high molybdenum stainless steel, and the molybdenum aids in forming nucleation sites for complex carbide development. The moly also increases the toughness dramatically, resulting in a blade that's extremely durable. This allows me to temper the steel at a higher overall hardness, for great wear resistance as well. The high chromium and high carbon results in profuse chromium carbides, increasing corrosion resistance as well as wear resistance. To bring this steel to its zenith, I used my proprietary T4 deep cryogenic process in heat treating this blade; it's a highly detailed, extremely sophisticated process that takes 35 individual steps and takes over a week long. The result of this is an incredibly wear-resistant blade that has extremely high carbide development, fine grain, and extremely high toughness. Asperity is reduced; the microstructure development is superior to any other typical handmade knife, and far above any factory or manufactured knife. This is, simply put, 154CM Powder Metal steel at its very finest advanced condition. My client requested a flat grind on this knife, not one I do often, but beautiful and mirror polished throughout. This means the blade is thin, tapering from just over 1/8" thick at the spine of the blade to just under 1/32" behind the cutting edge at the relief. The blade has a small choil that keeps only the sharp edge at a cutting board while offering safety to the forefinger, and a good heel to keep the knuckles off the board. The blade has no filework for easy and smooth cleaning and comfort and the tang is fully tapered for balance and handmade beauty. It's a gorgeous, tough blade ready for many decades of work and admiration.
  • 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 handle scales. The rear bolsters are wide and support the rear quillon that locks the handle into the hand.
  • The handle scales of this knife are magnificent, highly polished Nephrite Jade from Wyoming. The handle has a good belly for a comfortable grip and the Jade scales are some of the toughest (most resistant to fracture) gemstones I use. I worked them to a high vitreous polish that is slick and glassy. This is a handle that is more fascinating the closer and more intensely it's scrutinized; see the enlargements below. It requires zero care, maintaining the appearance indefinitely. I included two sets of enlarged photos below, both with the photographic reflector and without, showing the depth of the finish and gemstone without glare or reflection... magnificent; I love this gem!
  • The knife feels extremely solid and substantial in the hand, with a sure grip in the handle shape, guidance applied by the front bolster finger groove. The butt of the knife is heavy and tough; this is one long-lasting workhorse of a beautiful knife. This knife is food-contact safe.
• Sheath: To match the bold color in the stone, I chose an inlay sheath in hand-carved heavy leather shoulder with  of 9 individual inlays of ray skin, in forest green. I applied a graduated russet color background with randomized tooling around the forms. This is a deep sheath, with a high back, to protect the knife and the wearer from the cutting edge of the blade. while allowing a low wear position on the belt. The rear finger quillon helps pull the knife from the sheath and the drop point makes sheathing easy and fast. I stitched the sheath throughout with heavy nylon brown thread, and reinforced the welts and opening with indestructible stainless steel Chicago screws. The thick, hard sheath is sealed in multiple coatings of lacquer for longevity.
• The word "magnificent" keeps coming up for me; a beautiful knife to honor a great couple, a family heirloom.

Thanks, B. and M. B.!