Nihal

• Size: Length overall: 6.25" (15.8cm), Blade Length: 3.0" (7.6 cm), Thickness: .125" (3.2 mm)
• Weight: Blade: 2.8 oz. (79 grams) Sheath: 2.5 oz.(71 grams)
• Blade: CPMS60V Martensitic High Vanadium Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C59, satin finished
• Fittings/Bolsters: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, mirror polished
• Handle: Polished Green, Black Canvas Micarta Phenolic
• Sheath: Hand-Stamped Basketweave 9-10 oz. Leather Shoulder
• Knife: The Nihal is one of the smallest knives I make, a great knife for paring, work, small chores, or whenever an extremely sharp and pointed blade is needed. It is named for the second brightest star in the constellation of the rabbit (Lepus). The actual cutting edge of the knife is only 2.5 inches long, but those few inches are presented very well in extremely thin CPMS60V high vanadium martensitic stainless tool steel. This is a rare steel, as it has been discontinued and very little of the old stock exists. Also known as 440V, it was the vanguard of the Crucible Particle Materials tool steel line, powder metal technology tool steels that are particles that are formed into a billet under tremendous heat and pressure for uniform alloy distribution. The key alloy here is 6 percent vanadium, which forms vanadium carbides at the cutting edge, extremely hard particles that resist wear. This steel is as corrosion resistant as 440C, but more wear resistant than CPMS30V (S30V). Though hard to sharpen, it holds an extremely long sharp edge. Since this steel can not be mirror polished, I made the knife with a clean and smooth satin finish, and the blade is thinly pointed, and evenly hollow ground. The spine and tang are smooth with no filework, making the knife ideal for paring and easy to clean. The three-fingered handle fits well in the palm, and the 304 austenitic high nickel, high chromium stainless steel bolsters are zero care and very tough. I topped this knife off with striking green and black layered canvas reinforced Micarta handle scales, bedded and sealed with six 304 stainless steel through tang pins for security. This is one tough, waterproof, durable, and long-lasting knife.
• Sheath: The sheath needed to be tough and long lasting, so I made this one in hand-stamped and tooled 9-10 oz. leather shoulder, deep and protective of both the razor edge and the knife owner. This is a high back style of sheath that allows a lower wear on the belt, while protecting the wearer from the handle butt. The pattern tooled is a small, intricate basketweave, elegant and complete, even on the sheath back and belt loop. The sheath is dyed medium brown, hand-stitched with tough polyester sinew, lacquered and sealed.
• A tough, useful, and stylish little knife up to any task; one that will last for decades.

Thanks, N.S.!