"Izar" Fine Handmade Liner Lock Folding Knife

• Type: An interframe liner lock folding knife
• Size: Length overall open: 7.25" (18.4 cm), Length overall closed: 4.375" (11.1 cm) Blade Length: 2.875" (7.3 cm), Blade Thickness: .106 ( 2.7cm)
• Weight: Knife: 5 oz. (142 grams) , Case: 1 lb. 9 oz. (709 grams)
• Blade: 440C High Chromium Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C58 hollow ground and mirror polished
• Liners: Polished and hand-engraved 304 austenitic stainless steel
• Handle: Inlaid Polished Pietersite Agate (China)
• Lock plate: 6AL4V titanium, anodized
• Case: Black Galaxy Granite gemstone, suede leather, neoprene feet
• Knife: The Izar is named for a double star in the constellation Bootes. This is a striking liner lock folding knife, which resides in a polished sarcophagus of black granite. The knife has a hollow ground, mirror polished 440C high chromium stainless steel blade, elegant and clean, with full vine filework throughout and a 304 stainless steel thumb tab. The knife is a liner lock type, and I anodized the  6AL4V (aluminum and vanadium alloy) titanium lock plate with a copper-bronze color to match the gemstone handle scales. The titanium lock plate is also fully fileworked in a tiny vine pattern. The liners for the handle are hand-engraved 304 high nickel, high chromium stainless steel. Most makers will not work with 304 because of its high toughness and resistance to machining, but this is the finest steel with the highest corrosion resistance available, and it is uniquely beautiful and "zero-care." In the liners, I hand-engraved an intricate leaf and scroll design, one of the smallest possible in this very tough material. The liners are also fileworked and the knife is embellished throughout. The spine has a milled and framed lanyard slot and is fully fileworked, even inside the handle on both sides of the spine. The liners are milled in interframe, and bed a pair of glassy, polished, unique and stunning handle inlays of Pietersite Agate. Pietersite is a brecciated tiger eye quartz, with a fantastic and intricate pattern of waves, flow banding, and chatoyancy (cat's eye effect). This particular set is filled with golds, reds, and milky to clear agate, and is one of those materials that becomes more fascinating with more magnification and light. To see this gemstone in the sunlight is something the camera just can't convey, and all of the photos on this page are at least a 2x magnification so you can see every detail. Pietersite is becoming very rare indeed in the world, as the African Pietersite deposits were played out over a decade ago, and the Chinese Pietersite just played out in 2009. So, any stock of this material is very expensive, and I was very lucky to acquire some of it large enough for knife handles as most pieces of it are very small. Though elegant and refined, the knife feels great in the hand, tough and workable, with a comfortable substance and character.
• Case: A knife of this jewelry quality needed a special place to rest, a sarcophagus both unique and striking. I hand-carved, shaped, lapped, and polished this case of Black Galaxy Granite from India. This is gabbric anthorsite, and is a hard, tough, and very durable granite. It has inclusions of bronzite (enstatine) which create a coppery spangled reflection in the light which varies depending on the angle and light. This is a beautiful granite, with no veining and a uniform finish, lapped and polished throughout, even on the inside surfaces. The inside is carved to accept the knife, with finger cutouts for easy removal, and is lined with black suede leather for protection of the knife. The lid has keyed holes which engage 304 stainless steel buttons for a snug fit. I inlayed neoprene feet in the bottom so the case can safely rest on any surface.
• A beautiful and unique combination of simple and refined elegance.

Thanks, E. B.!