Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

"Arcturus" Tactical Combat, CSAR, Survival Knife

• Size: Length overall: 14.0" (35.6 cm), Blade Length: 8.75" (22.2 cm), Thickness: .248" (6.3 mm)
• Weight: Knife: 1 lb., 3.0 oz. (539 grams), Sheath (with extender, accessory package, HULA and Maglite): 1 lb., 13 oz. (822 grams)
• Blade: ATS-34 High Molybdenum Martensitic Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C59, Bead Blasted
• Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Bead Blasted
• Handle: Red and Blue G10 Fiberglass/Epoxy Laminate Composite
• Sheath: Locking, Black Kydex, Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Polypropylene and Nylon belt loop extender with Firesteel/Magnesium fire starter, Fine DMT diamond pad sharpener
• HULA (Holder, Universal, Lamp, Articulating): Welded and machined 304 high nickel, high chromium austenitic stainless steel, 5052H32 corrosion-resistant, high strength aluminum alloy, 6AL4V titanium alloy, Maglite XL100 series flashlight
• Knife: A knife designed for combat, rescue, survival, and emergency response, the Arcturus is named for the brightest star in the constellation Bootes. The name comes from ancient Greek meaning guardian of the bear, befitting of this extremely aggressive and powerful knife. I designed the blade as an evolution of some ancient and proven styles, namely the kopesh, tanto, and khukri. The blade has a low angle tanto forward geometry with a bit of curve to make slicing (and sharpening) simple and smooth. The blade has a complex recurve and is extremely thin as it nears the ricasso, an excellent location for my micro-blade serrations. These are effective serrations that excel in smoothness, and can cut a wide variety of materials with limited tearing, ripping, and hanging. There is plenty of blade length forward of the serrations for the substantial hollow ground cutting edge. The blade point is enhanced with a two-thirds length top swage that reduces the point cross section without sacrificing strength, creating a serious piercing capability, essential in combat knives. The blade width is minimized near the grind termination, while the spine is thickest and widest at that location. This gives the knife tremendous blade strength with unique character and balance. The choil area is deeply sculpted with trapping hooks, blending into the serrations, with the hand protected by the large and effective quillon of the front bolster. The razor sharp hollow ground blade is made of ATS-34 high molybdenum martensitic stainless tool steel, which excels in high toughness (resistance to breakage) at a high level of hardness and wear resistance. This steel also has extremely high temperature resistance, keeping its temper even when exposed to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit or 540 Celsius. The super steel blade is fully fileworked with a punchy and deep pattern that aids in grip security extending from the thumb rise and completely around the fully tapered tang to the front quillon. The handle has very large and substantial quillons for an extremely secure grip and a substantial belly for comfort. The knife is bolstered with zero-care 304 high nickel, high chromium austenitic stainless steel, the same steel used to make stainless bolts and mechanical fasteners. The bolsters are dovetailed and bed a pair of beautiful G10 fiberglass/polyepoxide thermoset composite handle scales in a blue and red laminate. The scales are secured with eight through-tang .125" diameter 304 stainless steel pins and are sealed to the tang for complete moisture and contaminant protection. All surfaces of the handle are contoured, radiused, rounded, and smoothed for a comfortable grip in either forward or reverse style. The rear bolster has a chamfered 5/16" through-tang lanyard hole for extra security. The nicely placed thumb rise gives extra support and control for fine and controlled cutting. The significant angle of the handle to the blade gives the wrist a more comfortable position, allowing a square-fisted wrist position, reducing the possibility of strain and wrist injury. The knife has a balance point right at the front quillon, giving a great center of percussion at the angle of the two tanto edges. The knife feels easy, yet substantial in the hand, surprising for its generous size.
• Sheath: The sheath is a professional assembly, frankly, the best tactical sheath and accessory package made in the world. It's also an example of my commitment to making the finest combat tactical, and rescue knives and sheaths on the planet. It starts with double thickness (.125") kydex (methyl acrylate and polyvinylchloride), hot-formed over an  aluminum welt frame of 5052 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy in H32 hardness. The body and welts are secured with bead blasted and slotted 304 stainless steel Chicago screws for the ultimate in durability with no care and no glare. The sheath is one of my long-proven positively locking waterproof models, with all stainless steel locking mechanism and components for the ultimate in reliability and trustworthiness. Even the machine screws are stainless steel. The sheath can be worn in any position, even upside down when worn with the die-formed high alloy aluminum belt loops (included). The belt loops can be located in several positions along the welt frame and are reversible for a variety of wear options.
• Accessories: This knife and sheath is made complete with my ultimate accessory package, and I included my Ultimate survival, CSAR sheath belt loop extension accessories with outstanding and critical features and devices. The polypropylene accessory is waterproof, durable, and extremely stout, and lowers the locking knife sheath to be worn in a more traditional belt position with the knife handle at the hip. The extension is mounted with counter bored and dressed 304 stainless steel straps and stainless steel socket head cap screws attached to the existing stainless Chicago screws, and the assembly is stiffened by multiple zigzag nylon stitching to prevent the extension from folding, bending, or collapsing when the knife is extracted from the sheath. The belt loop is 2.5 inches wide for the widest of belts, and has a top placement shock cord with snap retention to prevent the knife handle from flopping around during active movements. Even the dot snap assembly is all stainless steel. The shock cord is not for retention of the knife; this is done with the stainless steel sheath lock. At the lower back of the extension I've included a custom fit pocket for a DMT (Diamond Machining Technology) Mini-Sharp diamond-nickel abrasive hone, to bring up the cutting edge in the field with ease, even on this high alloy wear resistant blade. These are great tools that can re-sharpen or just touch up even the hardest tool steel edges, as they are surface-bonded with diamond abrasives. The pocket for this tool is situated at the sheath back and against the body, so the sharpener can not be removed unless the sheath is off the body and the industrial strength Velcro closure is open. I also added a specially modified critical survival component to this accessory: the Firesteel/Magnesium block with custom fittings. These blocks are waterproof and durable, with soft magnesium that can be easily shaved off with the knife blade, and a Firesteel striker to ignite the magnesium shavings when placed into tinder to start a fire. A unique addition to this block is the stainless steel rod guard. This minimizes the possibility of the Firesteel contacting any other metals and causing accidental sparks and ignition when worn or removed, guards the knife tip (or swage) when the blade is dragged over the Firesteel, helps concentrate and guide the spark direction, and offers a variety of mounting options, besides on the sheath extender's industrial strength Velcro straps. Being all 304 stainless steel, it will not corrode or rust.
• HULA and Maglite XL Flashlight: Included in this professional assembly is my latest offering for field use, the HULA. The Holder, Universal, Lamp, Articulating (HULA), is my answer to a call for not just a backup lamp that I've provided on previous Ultimate Extender packages, but an actual main or key professional grade lamp and mount assembly. The lamp I included is the Maglite XL100, perhaps the most sophisticated programmable flashlight made today, with five modes of operation and infinite power settings. The lamp is a powerhouse of options and longevity, with ultra bright LED technology that is dependable and tough. The only thing the lamp needs is a reliable, adjustable, dependable and corrosion-proof way to mount, use, and carry it on the sheath, so I designed the HULA. This special holder will hold any flashlight that is 1" by 4.75" and also accommodates the Maglite XL200 flashlight that has slightly different options. The holder lamp frame is made of welded 5052H32 high strength corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy, for the highest durability and corrosion resistance combined with low weight This aluminum is suitable for marine (salt water) environments. The lamp is held in custom made socket with a retaining cap that is maintained in a T-slot lock by the elastic tension of replaceable shock cord straps. The T-slot lock can be negotiated even in the dark due to it's simple and clever design and construction. The lamp can be turned operated within the holder, and can even have selected modes while still in the control of the holder. One of the best features of this assembly is my exclusive ball joint and pinch mechanism. This is a very old mechanism, dating back to 200BC, where a ball sits in a dedicated socket, and is held there by the tension of a screw. The ball joint frame, ball, tangs, screw and mounting hardware are all welded 304 high nickel, high chromium stainless steel which is bead blasted for glare reduction. This is a very tough assembly that will probably outlast the knife owner. What it offers is an articulating adjustment, aiming and positioning of the lamp, while still mounted on the knife sheath, wherever the knife sheath is mounted on the body. In the traditional belt line position, the lamp can be aimed at the ground in front of the wearer (great for hiking or movement), or aimed at any object or person in front of the wearer, while freeing the hands for a weapon, tool, or carry. Having the HULA also eliminates the need for a headlamp, a device that has its own limitations. This new development has been highly popular with search and rescue and disaster response teams. Since the lamp can be dimmed infinitely, the setting can allow soft light for subdued movement, and various settings on the lamp can aid in emergencies to signal and draw attention, depending on the program selected. The lamp can even be program-locked to prevent unwanted turning on, even if the switch is operated. If the wearer needs the light in his hand, he simply pulls up on the T-slot locking cap, pulls the lamp from the socket, and replaces the cap so it won't bounce around. I've done my research, and created simply the finest flashlight accessory made in the world today, custom made to mount to my locking sheaths, the best locking sheaths made in the world today. One more important point: the bolt pattern and arrangement on this particular knife sheath allows the HULA to be bolted to 12 positions and 24 orientations along the welts of the sheath. Talk about flexibility! There are much more to these accessories; learn about these critical accessories on a special page on my site at this link. Mounting, care, and use instructions are posted there.
• Additional and Upgrades!: My client requested additional upgrades of all coyote brown locking sheath, with a full accessory package and a hand-tooled basketweave leather sheath. Please look over the last photos at the bottom of this page to see this huge assembly and package.
• This is an extremely well designed and constructed professional grade knife and tool, with outstanding features and accessories, one of the absolute best available in the world today, an ultimate survival tool and weapon with an outstanding accessory package.
• Read a testimonial of an earlier Arcturus I've made below the thumbnail photos on this page.

Thanks, S. H.!