Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

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"Andromeda" obverse side view in T3 deep cryogenically treated CPM 154CM powder metal technology high molybdenum stainless steel blade, 304 stainless steel bolsters, K2 Azurite Granite gemstone handle, hand-carved leather sheath inlaid with blue rayskin
"Andromeda"

"Nishi"

"Nishi" obverse side view in 440C high chromium stainless steel blade, hand-engraved 304 stainless steel bolsters, Sonoran Flame Agate gemstone handle, hand-carved, hand-dyed leather sheath
"Nishi" Fine Handmade Knife
  • Size: Length overall: 8.25" (21 cm), Blade Length: 4.5" (11.4 cm), Thickness: .174" (4.4 mm)
  • Weight: Knife: 7.0 oz. (198 grams) Sheath: 4.2 oz. (119 grams)
  • Blade: 440C High Chromium Martensitic Stainless Steel, Hardened and Tempered with  Cryogenic Process to Rockwell HRC 60.5, Mirror Polished
  • Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Mirror polished, Deep Relief Hand-engraved
  • Handle: Sonoran Flame Agate Gemstone (Mexico)
  • Sheath: Hand-carved, hand-dyed Leather Shoulder
  • Knife: The "Nishi" is a small tanto design, named for the Japanese word for west. This is a palm-handled knife; the short, rounded contoured handle fits in the palm of the hand, which makes the knife compact and tough. Even though the blade is just over 4" in length, it's deeply hollow ground creating a thin, keen cutting edge with high durability while having the support of a very strong spine. The spine incorporates a substantial thumb rise for applying force and control of the tough blade. I added a punchy, offset, full filework throughout, and the tang is fully tapered for balance.
    • The steel I chose for this dagger is 440C, my most asked-for steel for a reason. It's very tough, highly wear resistant and excels in corrosion resistance, for the lowest care needed of just about any knife steel. I used a special cryogenic process in heat treating this blade; the result of this is an extremely wear-resistant blade that has very high carbide development, fine grain, and high toughness with reduced asperity (surface roughness). This results in a very tough, highly wear-resistant, corrosion resistant blade that will simply last for generations of use.
    • I bolstered the knife with zero-care 304 high chromium, high nickel stainless steel bolsters, which are contoured, rounded and finished for a comfortable feel. The bolsters are secured with zero-clearance peened pins and dovetailed to bed the handle scales. It's very difficult to engrave 304, since it's 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel, the same steel that is used to make stainless nuts, bolts, and heavy fasteners. I fully hand-engraved the bolsters in deep relief to match the flame design in the Agate gemstone handle scales (next).
    • The handle scales are absolutely striking; this is one of the most beautiful gemstones I've encountered. It was acquired from old stock mined over two decades ago, now unavailable in any sizes large enough for a knife handle. What you may find in Sonoran Agate is called "fire" agate, but doesn't come close to the striking patterns of this rock. It's formed by fine sediments being carried into a narrow seam in periods that allow the formation of quartz, a cryptocrystalline gemstone that has distinctive "flame" banding in a wide range of colors. Ranging from tans, oranges, and reds to whites, translucents with hints of purple, this is an absolutely stunning piece of gem. The gems had crystalline pockets, and I've carefully stabilized and filled them with jeweler's quality methods to make them permanently sealed and solid throughout. This rare material is something to behold; I only wish I had much, much more of it! Take a close look at the magnifications below, and you'll see what I mean. The agate is very hard, tough, and strong and will literally outlast the knife. The scales are bedded, accurately fit, and rounded, contoured, and polished to a vitreous finish.
    • The balance point of the knife is at the forefinger placement, and the handle seems to meld into the palm. It's a compact, yet seriously durable knife.
  • Sheath: Making a complimentary sheath for this knife was a design natural, I only had to replicate the pattern of the gemstone and the bolster engravings into the leather. I hand-carved the opposing flames with a deep background in 9-10 oz. leather shoulder. I used many steps of graduated and mixed dyes to display the gradations of the flames set against a coffee-brown receding background. The sheath is fully carved and dyed, front and back an in the belt loop with the design. I stitched it together with heavy nylon thread, and it's sealed throughout with lacquer for permanence.
  • A wonderful, intensely striking gemstone-handled small tanto knife with bold fiery character.

Thanks J. N.!

Hi Jay!
Nishi has arrived!  What a great knife!  The Sonoran Flame Agate is a beautiful gemstone and really makes for a very distinctive appearance.  The engraving is awesome and complements the gemstone beautifully.  I cannot say enough about the excellence of the engraving.  I like the way you have done the filework, from the spine of the blade all the way around the tang and back.  The blade itself is very impressive and really sharp!  The overall feel in my hand is really great and feels like a really solid knife.  The sheath is a work of art in itself, very nice!  I cannot wait to show friends. 

All in all Jay, I feel this is not only a very functional knife but a work of art in steel and stone.  

Thank you for this beautiful knife.

--J.


Please click on thumbnail knife photos
"Nishi" reverse side view. Note full carving, tooling and hand-dying on sheath back "Nishi" knife, reverse side view. Small "palm-handle" tanto is a tough, beautiful knife "Nishi" obverse side knife view. Knife has deep hollow grind, deep choil and thumb rise for force and control "Nishi" spine filework, edgework detail. Filework is full alternating, geometric, down fully tapered tang "Nishi" inside handle tang detail. Bolsters and gemstone scales are rounded, contoured, polished, and finished. "Nishi" obverse side handle detail. Deep relief filework in 304 high nickel, high chromium stainless steel bolsters "Nishi" reverse side handle detail. Bolsters are fully engraved, in very tough, zero-care austenitic stainless steel. "Nishi" reverse side gemstone handle detail, a six-power enlargement of this agate "Nishi" obverse side gemstone handle enlargement, 6X. Crystal-lined pockets are filled and sealed with jeweler's fracture sealer for stability "Nishi" obverse side gemstone handle detail. Fit and finish of this gemstone is seamless "Nishi" reverse side gemstone handle detail. Fit and finish of bolsters, gemstone scales and knife tang are seamless "Nishi" sheathed view. Sheath is fully tooled, hand-carved and hand-dyed to match design motif "Nishi" sheath back view. Sheath is fully tooled and hand-dyued throughout with graduated tone of flames and brown receding background "Nishi" sheath mouth detail. Sheath has high back to protect knife, thick, multiple welts for tight, stiff fit and durability "Nishi" point detail. Razor-keen cryogenically-treated high alloy stainless steel blade

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