Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

"Nunavut" Collector's/Art Skinning Knife

• Size: Knife: Length overall: 7.5" (19.1 cm), Blade Length: 3.4" (8.6 cm), Thickness: .205" (5.2 mm)
• Weight: Knife: 10.0 oz. (284 grams) Sheath: 5.2 oz. (147 grams)
• Blade: 440C high chromium stainless steel, hardened and tempered to 59HRC, mirror polished
• Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, mirror polished, hand-engraved
• Handle: Petrified Wood Gemstone, Agate and Jasper
• Sheath: Hand-carved, hand-dyed leather shoulder
• Knife: The pattern for the Nunavut was designed with the direct input of a client in the new territory of northern Canada, Nunavut, thus the name. It was such a beautiful style that I decided that I would make the design in high art style, with striking materials and embellishment.
  The steel for this piece is 440C, the most corrosion resistant stainless tool steel available, for the least worry and care in its critical use, as well as long term stability with little care. The grind is hollow, accurate and well-matched side to side, with a curved geometry that was difficult to execute but worth the effort in every way, resulting in a blade that is razor keen along an extremely curved cutting edge, which is what the skinning knife style is all about. The mirror polish is flawless and will help with cleaning and longevity for many decades. The knife has full, punchy and bold modified vine filework around the fully tapered tang from the grind lead-off to the choil. The fully tapered tang helps balance the weight of the knife and the fulcrum point is exactly at the forefinger location when held in forward grip. The knife is bolstered with zero-care, high nickel, high chromium 304 austenitic stainless steel, into which I hand-engraved a fine, deep relief Victorian pattern. Most engravers will not touch 304 stainless steel; it is one of the toughest steels to engrave, and that is precisely why I love it. It will, literally, outlast the owner, indeed multiple owners of the knife for generations. The bolsters are dovetailed and lock a bedded pair of handle scales to the tang, held with hidden rivets. The handle material is a gorgeous pair of petrified wood gemstone scales. This material is hard jasper, a microcrystalline quartz, in scarlet red to gold with areas of clear agate and even crystalline forms included. This is a very hard, tough, and durable gemstone, and will outlast all other parts of the knife! I've sculpted it completely and all areas are contoured, radiused, rounded and smoothed for comfort in grip and a high, glassy polish. The knife feels robust and solid in the hand, incredibly well-balanced, and is one of my finer pieces. I'm so glad I took the time to create this unique style in exceptional execution and finish.
• Sheath: A knife of this caliber needed a special sheath, one that was designed exactly for the individual knife. I enlarged and hand-carved a version of the engraved bolster Victorian design, carefully cut and tooled into the sheath front and belt loop on the back. I took many hours to apply individual hand-mixed colors with micro-brushes into the leather for hand-dyed original beauty that reflects the color change from the darkness of the engraving background through the scarlets and golds of the gemstone handle. Hints of darkness around the leaf edges help to bring forth the advancing tones, and give a bit of seasoned look. The sheath is hand-stitched with black nylon thread for strength, and sealed for longevity.
• A stunning and elegant piece of classic work that I'm very proud of. See the photo set below for beauty in action!

Thanks, S.!