Volans (The Flying Fish) fine handmade custom fillet knife

• Size: Length overall: 11.0" (27.9 cm), Blade Length: 6.6" (16.8 cm), Thickness: .125" (.32 cm)
• Weight: Knife: 5.0 oz. (142 grams) Sheath: 5.2 oz. (147 grams)
• Blade: 440C High Chromium Martensitic Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C56.5, hollow ground and mirror polished
• Fittings/Bolsters: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, mirror polished
• Handle: Polished Antelope Jasper Gemstone
• Sheath: Emu Skin Inlaid in Hand-Carved Leather
• Volans is named for the constellation of the flying fish, and is designed as a fine fillet, boning, and carving knife. The slender and keen blade shape will work with precision on those fine cuts, and this knife is made with enough grace and class that it is a collector's piece on its own. I made the blade out of 440C high chromium stainless steel, for the lowest care and highest corrosion resistance of any custom knife steel. I left the blade fairly hard for a fillet knife, I didn't want it to be floppy and springy, but to be rigid enough for straight accurate cuts. Keeping that in mind, the steel is 1/8" thick stock, thin enough for a slender, lightweight form, but heavy enough for durability and limited flexibility. It supports a hollow grind with an 8" contact wheel, for an incredibly sharp, high longevity knife. Mirror finish is beautiful and easy to keep clean. I fileworked only the top of the spine for easy cleaning, with a graduated oval pattern. The bolsters are 304 high nickel, high chromium stainless steel, for zero care and long life, and I've included a 1/4" rear bolster lanyard hole for security. They're mirror finished and dovetailed to hold handle scales of Antelope Jasper gemstone, a hard, tough, beautiful layered gem with striking colors and pattern. The gem is brightly polished and should outlast the blade. Very nice stuff.
• This knife had to have a striking sheath, so I hand-carved and inlaid a sheath of 9-10 oz. leather shoulder with emu skin, the fine-patterned area by the legs of the big bird, for an intricate, smooth pattern. The sheath has eight inlays, and is hand carved with accents, dyed a medium brown color, hand-stitched with polyester sinew, lacquered and sealed.
• A beautiful, graceful knife.

Thanks, P. K.!