Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

"Random Access III" Professional Grade Tactical, Working, Combat, Counterterrorism Knife
Skeletonized, Lightweight, (Shadow Line)
All gear Matching in non-reflective flat black camouflage

• Size: Length overall: 8.25" (21.0 cm), Blade Length:3.5" (8.9cm), Thickness: .233" (5.9 mm)
• Weight: Knife: 6.2 oz. (176 grams), Horizontal Leather Sheath: 5.4 oz. (153 grams), Vertical Leather Sheath: 5.0 oz. (142 grams), Hybrid Tension-Locking Kydex Sheath: 9.2 oz. (261 grams)
• Blade: ATS-34 High Molybdenum Martensitic Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered, T3 Specialty Cryogenically treated to Rockwell C60, proprietary surface oxide treatment "Ghost Slate."
• Sheath, Horizontal: Heavy 9-10 oz. thick leather shoulder, hand-stamped, black lacquered
• Sheath, Vertical: Heavy 9-10 oz. thick leather shoulder, hand-stamped, black lacquered
• Sheath: Hybrid Tension-Locking in Black Kydex, Black Anodized Aluminum Alloy, Blackened Stainless Steel, 6AL4V Titanium
• Accessories:
  • Standard Belt Loops: accommodates .190" thick by 1.5" belt, black anodized 5052H32 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil thickness
  • High Profile Belt Loops: accommodates .250" thick by 1.5" belt, black anodized 5052H32 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil thickness
  • Vertical Flat Mounting Straps: accommodates up to 2.4" wide belt, web, strapping, or gear, clamps rigidly and vertically 90 degrees to the long axis of the sheath, black anodized 5052H32 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil thickness
  • Horizontal Flat Mounting Straps: accommodates up to 1.5" wide belt, web, strapping, or gear, clamps rigidly and horizontally (in line with the long axis of the sheath), black anodized 5052H32 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil thickness
  • Horizontal Belt Loop Plates: allows wear with the long axis of the sheath in line with standard belt, without rigid clamping, accommodates .250" thick by 1.5" belt, welded black anodized 5052H32 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil thickness
  • Vertical High Strength Flat Mounting Straps: allows rigid and high strength clamping of sheath to web, strap, or both belt loop extenders, made of drilled and milled blackened 304 high nickel, high chromium stainless steel
  • Ultimate Belt Loop Extender (UBLX): allows wearing with locking sheath and knife handle just below the belt line, with DMT folding pocket diamond abrasive sharpener, in black polypropylene, polyester, blackened stainless steel, DMT diamond sharpener, acetyl buckles. More about the UBLX on this dedicated page.
  • Sternum Harness Plus: allows wearing of locking sheath upside down across sternum, handle down, in black polypropylene, polyester, acetyl buckles and accessory clips.
  • Lamp Independent Mount Assembly (LIMA): Backup, emergency, safety LED programmable flashlight and independent web frame and mount, in polypropylene stitched with high strength polyester, anodized 5052 high strength corrosion resistant black anodized aluminum mounting bar, 304 stainless steel ring retainers, nylon elastic shock cord, with ThruNite Ti3 flashlight. More about the LIMA on this dedicated page.
  • Diamond Abrasive Sharpener with Pad/Sheath: Diamond abrasive sharpening stone, 2" x 6", double-sided (400G/600G), nickel bonded diamond abrasives over phenolic core, heavy nylon sheath to store and protect other gear from diamond abrasives; sheath doubles as work pad so diamond does not scratch surfaces, stitched with polyester, hook and loop closure
  • Lanyards: 550 Nylon Kernmantle Rope (Paracord) sliding noose lanyard, waterproof adjustable SCUBA lanyard with silicone rubber padding
  • Hardware and Fasteners: all in 8-32 standard thread, 304 (18-8) high nickel, high chromium stainless steel, blackened, all user-changeable with one size of hex wrench. This differs from my kits of the past, where two or three sizes of hex wrenches are needed. I've tuned up the fastener set so that, in this particular style of knife sheath, only one hex wrench (Allen wrench) is needed for all of the fasteners: 3/32". A smaller hex wrench (5/64") is needed to reverse the locking components of the hybrid tension-locking sheath. Also necessary is a simple flat bladed screwdriver (not included) to make up all of the typical hardware arrangements.
  • Duffle Bag: 1000 denier Cordura® ballistic nylon, waterproof polyurethane coated, nylon, polyester, polypropylene sling handles, closed cell foam bottom in 600 denier Cordura nylon bag for storage of papers, thin gear, protection from abrasion, embroidered patch, removable embroidered name patch with hook and loop
• Knife: The Random Access III is a unique crossover knife; it's a skeletonized knife that's all about being extremely lightweight, yet critically effective. Because traditional counterterrorism and tactical combat knives have such a large and imposing profile, their wear and use can be easily determined by an enemy, and this is not always a good thing. What my counterterrorism clients have asked for is a knife that is much lower "profile," a knife that is extremely functional and useful as a working knife, yet doesn't appear to be too imposing, or is large, bulky or hard to wear, carry or conceal. While I don't suggest or support concealed wearing of knives (and it's illegal to carry concealed in public places in the state where I live), I do understand that professional counterterrorism, law enforcement or principle security details need a knife that is small and yet robust, lightweight and yet highly effective. This is the idea behind my Random Access line. My first Random Access pattern was small and completely made for working and daily use. I remember a roofer who used his small Random Access I as his daily knife and he depended on it so much, he wore completely through his leather sheath! The wear was not from the knife, but from him rubbing the stitches right off the outside of the sheath! He depended on this little Random Access I every day of his difficult, abrasive tradecraft. This was a design that first found favor in the early 1990s, and I still make them from time to time. Random Access II is a design that is larger, beefier, and more sizeable than the first Random Access, with a larger blade, larger finger rings, and the same upswept blade. Random Access III is even more of the best of both of these predecessors, with a very thick, strong skeletonized design, large finger rings, a more upswept, curved blade, a deeper grind, and a serious top swage at the end of a substantial thumb rise. When my counterterrorism clients wanted a serious blade in professional grade that could easily cross over to a working man's tool, Random Access III was the result.
  • Blade Steel Alloy: The Random Access III blade is a special hypereutectoid, high alloy stainless tool steel, ATS-34. This steel is extremely high in molybdenum and chromium, and I call it a "chrome-moly tool steel on steroids." First, the carbon in this steel is extremely high at 1.25 percent, allowing significant development of martensite and forming of essential iron carbides. The second element is chromium, and at 14 percent, this is a true stainless steel with high corrosion resistance. High chromium also helps create extremely hard and durable chromium carbides adding to the wear resistance and overall strength and stability of the steel alloy. The third and most transformational element is molybdenum. ATS-34 has 4% molybdenum, providing a high concentration of molybdenum carbide particles, which are extremely wear-resistant and contribute tremendously to toughness. Molybdenum is a very important carbide-former, and it helps precipitate carbides at critical dislocation and grain boundary areas of the crystalline structure, stabilizing the structure against fracture, toughening it. Toughness is resistance to breakage, and since this is dramatically increased in this high molybdenum steel, it allows a very thin cutting edge and blade geometry with high strength. This means a thinner, sharper, and extremely tough, corrosion-resistant blade is possible with this steel.
  • Heat Treatment: This Random Access III has my T3 heat treatment, yielding an astounding blade in incredible condition through advanced processing protocols. How advanced is this treatment? It's a multi-stage cryogenic treatment, involving temperatures ranging in over 2000°F (1090°C) to -320°F (-196°C). The process is an evolution of my advanced heat treating processes, and consists of 33 dedicated and specific steps and takes 172 hours! This means that just to heat treat this blade takes over a week! The reason for this is scientific and critical, but yields the most stable, most wear-resistant, most durable and long-lived structure of this steel, profuse with fine multi-element carbides and a uniform and unbelievably robust structure. This is a testament to my determination to make the very best knives, steels, treatments and kits in the modern world. I know of no one else who has advanced the treatment to this level; it's unheard of in the metals and knifemaking field.
  • Blade Design: The Random Access III is a true crossover, high-performance knife suitable to many fields. This is a continual evolution of my commitment to offer the very best knives in the modern world, based on actual use and performance features and conditions. The Random Access III form is sweeping and large, and the hollow grind is very deep and wide, perfectly matched from side to side. This results in a thin, strong and extremely sharp cutting edge, applied here in a single bevel geometry. The sweeping curve is so incredibly sharp that it will cut just about anything it touches. Because the shape or profile of the knife design at the point is wide (almost 90 degrees), the point is extremely strong, even though it's thin. Add to this the short yet effective top swage that's almost 2" long from the point to the tip of the thumb rise, and the geometry of the point itself is surprisingly robust. The blade was meant to be substantial, yet extremely lightweight, and this is why the T3 treated ATS-34 is such a good fit for this geometry. The Random Access III is a slicing virtuoso, useful as a working knife, tough enough for lightweight counterterrorism and principle security detail tactical solutions.
  • Blade Finish: The blade (and all of the accessories) are in my "Shadow" line of counterterrorism and tactical knife finishes. Answering the request for completely subdued and non-reflective surfaces, I developed the Shadow Line with my Ghost Slate finish. This means darkening in a permanent fashion not only the stainless steel of the knife, blade, and all of the gear in the entire kit: the fasteners, the sheath parts, aluminum mounts, accessories and entire package. Read more about my Shadow Line and Ghost Slate finish on my Counterterrorism Knives page at this bookmark.
• This is a counterterrorism-working knife crossover, extremely lightweight and tough, razor-keen in slicing profile and uncompromising point geometry.
• Handle: The handle of the Random Access III is skeletonized. This means that all of the weight possible for a strong, useful knife has been eliminated, so that the knife is a solid shank of hardened and tempered high alloy steel from tip to butt. In order to have serious grip security with this lightweight blade, two finger rings dominate the shape. They are large (1.23" or 3.1 cm) and they are rounded, contoured, smoothed and comfortable for the hand to easily slide in and out of them. The curve between the two rings is just right for the large middle finger to wrap around the tang, locking the handle in the hand. Normally, in a typical forward grip, the rest of the palm and fingers wrap around the outside of the rear finger ring, filling the hand, yet remaining extremely light. This makes the handle feel much larger than it actually is, when you consider the extremely light mass of the metal. In reverse grip, the same design means the forefinger is in the rear finger hole, the large middle finger in the same curve between the rings, and the rest of the palm wrapping around the front finger ring. The curve and shape of the spine of the knife are designed to accommodate both of these grip styles, and all of the handle is rounded, smoothed, and non-abrasive to the hand that holds it. The thumb is naturally placed on the large ramp, and can apply tremendous pressure to the curved belly of the cutting edge. The balance point is in the center of the forward ring, so the blade mass feels neutral. The knife is, of course, very lightweight and quick.
• Leather Sheath, Horizontal: I've included a heavy, tough, and solid leather sheath for the Random Access III, in 9-10 oz. leather shoulder, hand-stamped and tooled. The leather is shoulder, from mature cows, and is twice as thick as most other knifemakers use. The hand-stamped basketweave-tooled sheath design deep and protects the owner from the highly curved razor-keen cutting edge. This is a neat horizontal sheath, and a specific refinement indicated by my clients cannot be seen in a photograph. Since this is a horizontal sheath, it's made to be worn inline with the belt. The back side is smooth, and two wide, but tapered belt loops are used to thread the belt through. It's always a good idea to "trap" the horizontal sheath from sliding by straddling a belt loop on the pants with the sheath loops, stopping the sheath from sliding around. The neat thing about this horizontal sheath is that it has my "drop-lock" retention shape. Inside the sheath is a special depression in the welt profile that accommodates the forward finger ring. The sheath is slid into the sheath, cutting edge down, and then the finger ring "drops" downward into the socket that helps retain the knife in the sheath. The knife can't be removed from the sheath unless the handle is lifted up about 1/2" and since the sheath is snug, this offers a "drop-lock" retention that is still fast to unsheathe, once it's broken in.
• Leather Sheath, Vertical: The second leather sheath is of a traditional black basketweave vertical design, thus keeping with the "working knife" appearance. The sheath has a high back, to protect the wearer, and the orientation is right side, edge-back. There is a large belt loop, double-row stitched with heavy nylon for strength and moisture and rot resistance. The sheath body, front, back, and welts are stitched with nylon for durability. The sheath is dyed black throughout, with buffed edges in a water-resistant lacquer finish. Leather is irreplaceable in extremely cold or hot environments, and where absolute silence is needed in tactical operations with no clicking when in contact against objects, people, or gear. The leather sheath is also great for a "non-tactical" outdoors look in a more casual setting when a knife simply needs to be a tool.
• Hybrid-Tension Locking Sheath: I've included my best hybrid tension-locking tactical sheath, the very best of its type made in the world today and the only type of its kind made in the world today! It's made of double-thickness black kydex, bonded and sealed over a frame of black anodized 5052 H32 corrosion-resistant, high strength aluminum alloy. The near-ceramic hard coating on the aluminum is permanently dyed black and specially sealed against fading even in long-term ultraviolet sunlight exposure. The sheath is built with all black oxide 304 stainless steel hardware and fasteners, and with an extremely corrosion-resistant and tough blue-brown-black 6AL4V titanium spring lock set for reliability, no matter what the sheath is exposed to. The sheath is sealed with waterproof bonding and the inside is permanently coated and prevents the blade steel from contacting any metal of the welt frame. The tension lock is quick and secure, solid and strong, so the knife can be worn in any position, even upside down. This is absolutely, positively, the very best hybrid tension-locking sheath made in the world. The sheath frame features my integrated spacing so that my accessories and mounts can be used (below). The sheath is entirely reversible for a huge variety of wearing options with the equipment included. I've even included two interchangeable dogleg titanium springs so the wearer can adjust the tension of the sheath release. If you're not familiar with my tension-lock, here's how it works: the knife is retained with the pressure of a ball-lock. In the case of this Random Access III, the lock engages on the forward finger ring, keeping it locked against the welt frame. The pressure can be removed by using the thumb to push out on the spring, and then the knife can be moved away from the spring and then out of the sheath. Alternately, the knife can be pulled very hard, up and then out of the sheath, releasing the lock. The mechanism is light, adjustable, and completely reversible on the sheath allowing a tremendous amount of wearing options. And I've included two titanium springs of different strengths (heavy and light) so the owner can adjust the tension and retention strength to his preference.
• Sternum Harness Plus: The sternum harness I've included is the result of input from my military and counterterrorism clients. It allows the knife to be worn, handle down, angled across the sternum, on top of any other tactical gear. This harness is made of polypropylene and stitched with polyester for rot-free, high strength longevity, and the buckles and straps are tough Acetyl plastic with 110 lbs. breaking strength. The harness can be donned and doffed quickly and simply, and the "plus" is the additional one-inch wide stabilizing strap and buckle that creates an "X" strap around the torso, to prevent movement in any position of the wearer, even while running and climbing. I've even included several snap hooks for extra gear, and these can be removed or placed at different points on the harness.
• Ultimate Belt Loop Extender (UBLX): I included my ultimate survival, CSAR tactical, rescue, and counterterrorism sheath belt loop extension with outstanding and critical features and devices. The nylon and polyester accessory is waterproof, durable, and extremely stout, and lowers the hybrid tension-locking knife sheath to be worn in a more traditional belt position with the knife handle below the hip. The extension is mounted with 304 stainless steel straps and stainless steel cap screws attached to the existing stainless Chicago screws, and the assembly is stiffened by trapped acrylic stiffeners stitched in place with polyester. These prevent the extension from folding, bending, or collapsing when the knife is extracted from the sheath. The belt loop is 2 inches wide for standard tactical belts, and has a mid-placement 1" wide strap retained with acetyl buckles to prevent the knife handle from flopping around during active movements (running, climbing, crawling). 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, and it works 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 (hook and loop) closure is open. Read more about the UBLX at this link.
• LIMA Emergency Lamp (Lamp Independent Mount Assembly): An important lesson I learned from my military and counterterrorism clients is the addition of the emergency lamp. The LIMA is a special socket in thick and wide polypropylene, stitched with polyester for durability and rot resistance, and it accommodates the latest small lamp, the LED ThruNite Ti3. This little, super-lightweight flashlight puts out an incredible 120 lumens and at lower levels can last for 115 hours on lowest setting. It can reach out 164 feet and give you enough light to get to safety, and the entire mounting assembly is extremely lightweight and waterproof to continual immersion. The flashlight even has an emergency strobe at high illumination that will get noticed. The LIMA webframe is secured with a lightweight anodized aluminum strap and stainless steel machine screws and mounts anywhere along the sheath welts where I have the standard 2.5" spacing. There are 8 possible locations and 16 possible orientations of the LIMA on this versatile sheath. The retaining strap rings are also 304 stainless, and the 1/8" shock cord is easily replaceable if needed, and replacement shock cord is included. More about the LIMA on this dedicated page.
• Horizontal Belt Loop Plates: Answering the call of my counterterrorism and military clients, I've included a pair of horizontal belt loop plates for this knife sheath. These bolt onto either side of the sheath using included hardware, and are 5052H32 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, completely anodized and permanently dyed black with a near-ceramic hard surface. They are high-purity welded for durability, and light weight. They allow horizontal wear of any belt up to 1.5" wide, and the sheath runs inline with the belt.
• Flat strap plates (horizontal and/or vertical): These have several uses: one is to mount the knife sheath rigidly clamped to the sternum harness, with no play. They also allow the sheath to be clamped on any gear (like PALS webbing) with a solid strap security and no sliding around (like on traditional belt loops). So they clamp the sheath to your gear with all stainless steel hardware. The vertical straps accommodate web strap up to over 2" wide, and the horizontal accommodated web 1.5" wide (see photos below). They are also 5052 H32 high strength, corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy, anodized with a permanent black color, and a near-ceramic hard surface.
• High and Low-profile belt loops (footman's loops): I've included two pairs of anodized aluminum belt loops, one pair that accommodates 1.5" wide belts up to .250" thick and one pair that accommodates 1.5" wide belts up to .190" thick. They work with the integrated spacing so can be mounted in a variety of positions on the reversible sheath.
• Lanyards, hardware, tools: The included paracord (550 Nylon Kernmantle Rope) sliding noose lanyard can be critical and necessary for retention of your knife when working in elevated locations or in marine environments. It's an adjustable type, a frequent request by my tactical combat professionals. I've also included a SCUBA-rated waterproof lanyard with silicone rubber abrasion-resistant sleeve and locking cord adjuster for adjustment. I've included all the tools, hardware, and necessary components to mount all or any combination of these accessories with your gear, on your person, and all of the hardware is blackened, non-reflective stainless steel in common American Standard Sizes. Included is screw top and snap tins for hardware storage. Detailed Instructions and care information for the individual components are also included, and they nest well at the bottom of the duffle bag (below) in the padded sleeve. I've also included a list of video links that explain how to set up every single one of these accessories. This is an ultimate system, and demonstrates my commitment to actual combat, tactical, field, rescue, and counterterrorism knife service in my trade.
• Leather Sheath Storage: I've included my black denim embroidered drawstring bag with this kit (see photos below). This is to store the leather sheaths; it breathes and keeps the sheaths from being scuffed or abraded, and I make these in heavy denim stitched with polyester, embroidered on one side with "Jay Fisher Knives." The drawstring is polyethylene and it keeps the sheath protected and clean even while in the duffle (below).
• 2" x 6" dual diamond sharpener and storage/pad: This is a new accessory, and one that I'll be including in all my newer kits. It's a double-sided diamond sharpener, with two grits, 400 and 600. Diamond is the only abrasive I recommend for sharpening, and it's important to have it available and included. Because diamond is the hardest known substance, it makes an excellent abrasive for the very hardest, toughest and most wear-resistant cryogenically-treated tool steels. Because diamond is so hard, special care must be taken in handling and storing the sharpener, as it absolutely will scratch every single surface it comes in contact with! This is why I've gone to the extra effort to create an incredible, tough, and durable pad/bag for it. The diamond pad is stored easily in the heavily-stitched thick nylon bag, and secured with industrial strength hook and loop. When the diamond pad is out of the bag, the owner can set it on top of the bag, using it as a thick, heavy, protective flat pad for sharpening his knives. He can even use it as an assembly pad for laying his knife on for adjusting, servicing, or cleaning. This is the heaviest, thickest piece of nylon you will find! A great addition to the kit!
• Heavy 7" x 11" Duffle: It's important to keep everything together, safe, and accessible, and since no on makes a duffle heavy and stout enough for the job, I make these, too. I make them in 1000 Denier Cordura® ballistic nylon, coated on the inside with polyurethane for water resistance. This is some of the heaviest, toughest material available, and I've double-row stitched all of the seams with strong, waterproof, sunlight-resistant heavy polyester thread. I've attached stout metal #8 zippers and double pulls, and reinforced the zipper ends as well as the 2" wide polyethylene carry straps. I've even included a 7mm thick closed-cell foam inner base pad, wrapped in 600 Denier Cordura nylon in the bottom to prevent abrasion and wear. You can store paperwork, written or printed orders, and other items in the base bag to keep them flat and clean. The duffle is identified with my "Quality Without Compromise" patch. Because many of my clients have more than one knife, I've also include an embroidered knife name patch, which is removable and secured by hook and loop so knife owner can tell which duffle stores which knife. See photos below.
• Archival engraved detail plate: As with all of my knives, I've included a co-extruded engraved acrylic detail plate. This identifies the knife, the blade, sheath, accessory materials, and the tested hardness of the blade. On the reverse is engraved my complete contact information with telephone numbers, email, and website address. This 2.75" x 4.25" plastic plate will last as long as the knife, and will verify the exact model design and materials indefinitely. It will never wear out, never discolor or fade, never be unreadable in any weather or exposure, unless it's completely melted—and then you have other problems! Seriously, this is much more than a piece of paper, and assures the information lasts as long as the knife and kit.
• See more about all the features in this video of a PJLT (Pararescue Light) tactical combat and rescue knife. In the video, I describe the mounts, accessories, and interfacing wear assemblies that are included in this kit; the same as you will see in the PJLT kit in the video.
• Designed for professional use, this is a top-of-the-line, brutally tough skeletonized lightweight and effective tactical, counterterrorism, security detail, and working tool. The package includes useful and valuable sheaths, and an accessory package that is simply the best made. With a razor-keen curved slicing cutting edge and a super-tough point geometry, this knife also crosses over into the field of utility, working, and daily use. This package is comprehensive, sturdy, dependable, and useable. NO OTHER SOURCE can supply what you see here, all finely handmade to work with your gear, your outing, your mission, and your excursion, no matter the situation and exposure.

Thanks, S.!