"Volans" (the Flying Fish)

Size: Length overall: 11.2" (28.4 cm), Blade Length: 6.8" (17.3 cm), Thickness: .125" (.32 cm)

Weight: Knife: 4.8 oz.  Sheath: 5.0 oz.

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 Fossilized Cretaceous Algae Gemstone (chalcedony)

Sheath: 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 detailed geometric 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 Fossilized Cretaceous Algae gemstone, a hard, tough, beautiful gem that is actually 100 million year old algae fossil, replaced with hard and tough chalcedony gemstone. Very original gem from earth's ancient past, with striking patterns and microscopic details. I just look at this stuff and imagine the time it formed.... neat!

This knife had to have a classy sheath, so I hand-carved a sheath of 9-10 oz. leather shoulder with a clean, variable crescent pattern set.  The sheath is dyed a medium brown color, hand stitched with polyester sinew, lacquered and sealed.

A beautiful, graceful knife!

Thanks, P. K.!