Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

"Axia" Custom Tactical Knife

• Size: Length overall: 11.0" (27.9 cm), Blade Length: 6.5" (16.5 cm), Thickness: 0.21" (5.3 mm)
• Weight: Knife: 14.5 oz. (411 grams) Sheath HTL: 8.1 oz. (230 grams), Leather: 5.9 oz. (167 grams)
• Blade: CPM 154CM high molybdenum powder metal technology martensitic stainless steel blade, T3 deep cryogenically treated with triple tempering to 61.5 HRC, mirror polished
• Bolsters/Fittings: 304 high chromium, high nickel austenitic stainless steel, mirror polished
• Handle: Polvadera Jasper gemstone (New Mexico)
• Sheath: Hybrid tension lock in kydex, anodized 5052H32 aluminum, darkened 304 stainless steel, anodized 6AL4V titanium
• Sheath: Hand-carved 9-10 oz. leather shoulder, hand-dyed, inlaid with shark skin
• Hardware, Fasteners: 304 stainless steel, darkened, 6AL4V anodized titanium, 5052 H32 high strength aluminum alloy, anodized
• Duffle: 1000 Denier Cordura Ballistic Nylon, polypropylene, polyester, nylon, blued steel, embroidered tags
• Knife: This is a great custom knife, based on my client's input. The name is Axia, which is the Latin word for merit. I chose this name because the substantial presence, size, shape, and weight of the knife merits attention, and the recipient of this custom knife merits appreciation for his service.
  • The Steel Chosen for the Axia blade is is CPM154CM, a powder metal technology 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 molybdenum 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 T3 deep cryogenic process in heat treating this blade; it's a highly detailed, extremely sophisticated process that takes 33 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, CPM154CM at its very finest advanced condition.
  • The Blade is a custom design, based on my client's ideas for dimension and arrangement. It's a great tanto style blade, with imposing and broad hollow grinds, done with a 12" diameter contact wheel. These broad grinds assure proper thinness at the cutting edge, great support in the spine, and unsurpassed longevity of the knife. The powder metal stainless is flawless in the mirror finish, and the spine of the blade is significant and stiff; the knife has no flex. The 3/4 length top swage decreases point thickness without sacrificing strength, and the thumb rise offers a broad area for the thumb to apply pressure.
  • The handle is thick and solid and incredibly strong. My client requested an extended front bolster to offer a wider surface for the thumb to bear pressure, and the front bolster contour all but eliminates a ricasso; the knife transitions from bolster face to cutting edge with almost no "wasted" space on the ricasso. The bolsters are 304 high chromium, high nickel austenitic stainless steel, for great durability and zero care. They are mounted to the tang with zero-clearance multiple peened pins, a permanent attachment. They are dovetailed to bed a pair of gorgeous Polvadera Jasper gemstone scales. I selected these bookmatched scales specially for my client's knife, and this stunning jasper has fantastic patterns ranging from deep reds, through golden browns, to whites, and even some clear areas of agate. Seams, brecciated areas, and flow patterns are abundant in this gem, which comes from the Polvadera hills in central New Mexico. It's incredible to examine this stone, and wonder about how it came to be, millions of years in the making. Please examine the 5 power enlargements below. I've removed the white reflector above the knife, so that you can see what the stone looks like without the glare of the glassy polished surface. The jasper is hard, tough, and durable, an eternal gemstone that will outlast the knife and all of us!
  • The knife feels extremely stout in the hand; this is a substantial, solid mass. The wide hollow grinds have a bold geometry, and the hand settles well and secure into the curves of the substantial handle.
• Sheath (HTL): The tactical sheath is one of my hybrid tension-locking sheaths, a proven performer in the counterterrorism field.
  • Materials: It's built on a frame of 5052 H32 corrosion-resistant high strength aluminum alloy welts. The individual welts are then anodized for a full mil of thickness, twice the thickness of typical anodizing. The anodizing creates a built-up near-ceramic hard surface on the aluminum, and it's entirely corrosion-resistant and non-conductive. It's permanently dyed (in black) and sealed with a solution that inhibits ultraviolet degradation of the dye and anodized surface. In fact, all of the aluminum components in this assembly are the same alloy and are treated this way; this is the most advanced condition that will even withstand marine use. The sheath front and back are double-thickness kydex, twice the thickness of typical knife sheaths, and the sheath is bonded with waterproof marine-grade cement and secured with darkened 304 stainless steel Chicago screws. I included three extra-length anodized titanium springs for an easy release and unsheathing of the knife.
  • Flashplates: NEW! My client requested the emblem of his service, the 118th Infantry Regiment on a flashplate for the sheath. I created one of my "dress" black lacquered brass flashplates, but also an upgraded version of the plate. This upgraded version is made of 304 stainless steel, media-blasted for non-reflective finish, and I digitized the emblem and fused ceramic to the stainless, for a permanent, durable graphic on completely corrosion-proof stainless steel. Additionally, I made this plate reversible, so it can be displayed on either side of the sheath. This is a new development I'm sure to repeat. The graphic is bold and distinctive, and suitable for field use with more durability than the brass. Because I digitized the artwork, I also included a red oak engraved plaque with a simple hanger slot just because I thought it would be neat to have (photos below).
  • Layout: As with all of my sheaths, this one is built on a 2.5" center hole pattern, so the components can be moved around an mounted in various positions on the sheath. As with all of my tactical sheaths, this one is completely reversible for as many wear options as possible. Most of my accessories can be used on this sheath, including any new ones I develop.
    • Horizontal Belt Loop Plates for horizontal belt or webbing wear, welded for ultimate strength and light weight, reversible, and in black anodized aluminum.
    • Flat mounting straps for rigid clamping to webbing, belts, or gear in vertical or horizontal orientation in black anodized aluminum.
    • Low profile belt loops (footman's loops): for tactical webbing belts with maximum .190" thickness and 1.5" width in black anodized aluminum
    • High profile belt loops (footman's loops): for tactical webbing belts with maximum .250" thickness and 1.5" width in black anodized aluminum
    • High profile wide belt loops (footman's loops): for tactical webbing belts with maximum ..250" thickness and 1.75" width in black anodized aluminum
    • Titanium "Dogleg" springs in three thicknesses for versatility, in anodized and engraved 6AL4V titanium
    • All necessary stainless steel hardware, fittings, fasteners and tools for mounting, moving, and adjusting
• Sheath (Leather): My client also requested a fine leather sheath appropriate to the design of the knife. I built this sheath in 9-10 oz. leather shoulder, and I hand-carved it and inlaid 14 designed panels of Shark skin. The color of the leather I hand-dyed to echo the orange red-browns of the gemstone, fading to a mahogany at the edges. The entire sheath is double-row stitched with polyester, for great durability, even at the belt loop. The sheath displays plenty of the handle for a bold display, and it's all sealed with lacquer for longevity.
• Containers, Instructions, Archival: included are tin plated steel containers for the fasteners and hardware, and the instructions for the rig including a checklist for the kit. Included is an engraved co-extruded acrylic archival plate.
• Mini-Duffle: One thing I found out over the years was a need to store these components that was as tough and durable as what they contained. This is why I make the duffles, in my studio, by hand. I make them in 1000 Denier Cordura ballistic nylon, which is coated on the inside with polyurethane for moisture resistance. This is some very tough stuff, and I triple-stitch the seams, all in heavy polyester thread. I've included steel D-rings at the zipper stops on the ends for several reasons: to mount accessory straps or carry options, to clip accessories, and to oppose the zipper when pulling open. Otherwise, you have to pinch the material to open the zippers with one hand and pull the zipper pull with the other. I've used double zipper pulls. The design of the duffle is a box-end, so that the duffle stores neatly, and it's not too big but accommodates the kit well, with some room to spare. It has my "Jay Fisher Knives" embroidery, and opposing that is a hook and loop stitched tag mount, with a removable embroidered identifier of the knife pattern. This is important when clients have more than one knife. These duffles are so great, I have clients buying them alone without a knife, for their friends and other stowed gear!
• This is a great custom knife, a very bold pattern that I enjoyed designing with my client, one that I will be proud to carry in my pattern inventory and make again for others. The choice of handle material was befitting of the knife, confident and brave.

Thanks, A. W. and T. W.!