"Nereid" Fillet, Boning, Carving Knife

• Size: Length overall: 12.25" (31.1 cm), Blade Length: 7.5" (19.1 cm), Thickness: .131" (3.3 mm)
• Weight: Knife: 8.5 oz. (241 grams) Sheath: 5.8 oz. (165 grams)
• Blade: 440C High Chromium Martensitic Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered to 57HRC
• Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel
• Handle: Fossil Crinoid Marble Gemstone (China)
• Sheath: Hand-carved Leather inlaid with Brown Stingray skin
• Knife: In ancient Greek mythology, Nereus had 50 daughters which became sea nymphs and were named Nereid. The name suits this graceful and elegant fillet, boning, carving, and collector's grade knife very well. I designed the blade as an adaptation of a tanto style, with gentle curves at the edges and an extremely thin and well-designed trailing point. The grinds on the knife are hollow, beautifully matched and accurate side to side, with nicely radiused grind terminations and a good amount of spine to support the blade. The blade is cleanly mirror polished for longevity, high corrosion resistance, easy cleaning, and beauty and is ground from thin 1/8" thick stock. I tempered the knife back to 57 for good toughness with substantial hardness, necessary for this type of knife to limit flexing. The cutting edge is razor keen and sharp, and the knife has a full tang, fully tapered to the rear bolster. The knife is clean with no filework to trap debris, and has a noticeable thumb rise and good forefinger quillon for control. The handle has just a bit of belly for comfort, and a rear bolster pair at the rear quillon to lock the hand into the handle. Both bolster pairs are zero care 304 austenitic high nickel, high chromium stainless steel and are polished, contoured, and dovetailed to bed the handle scales. The handle scales are something very special; they are imported from China and are Fossilized Crinoid Marble. Crinoids filled the seas during the Paleozoic era, and are called Sea Lilies or Feather Stars. When they died, they settled in great abundance on the sea floor, their tubular ringed skeletal parts lodging in the mud there, and ultimately becoming crinoid limestone. But something special happens when limestone is very, very old and is deep within the crust of the earth subjected to heat and pressure. Limestone changes to marble. So these fossils are the result of that, living creatures that left behind their remains at least over 250 million years ago, replaced by rock that becomes marble. When you look closely, you can see literally thousands of pieces of these fossils in the handle, in pinks, rose, whites, and cream colors embedded in black matrix. The marble is tough, solid, and has a high luster; a truly fascinating gemstone. In the hand, the marble feels cool and solid, and the balance point is right at the forefinger in forward grip.
• Sheath: The knife has a commensurate sheath, made of 9-10 oz. leather shoulder, dyed black, hand-stitched with polyester sinew, lacquered and sealed, with panel inlays of brown Stingray skin, hard, tough, and extremely durable. The sheath protects the keen blade while displaying the striking fossil handle and even has inlays on the back, and in the large and long belt loop.
• A beautiful and useful knife for the kitchen or for tasks requiring the thinnest, sharpest blades, suitable for a gift or collection.

Thanks, A.Y.!