Aquila
"Aquila"
- Size: Knife: Length overall: 9.6" (24.4 cm), Blade Length: 4.9" (12.5 cm), Thickness: .152" (3.9 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 8.2 oz. (232 grams) Sheath: 4.0 oz. (113 grams)
- Blade: O-1 high carbon tungsten-vanadium alloy tool steel, hardened and tempered to 58HRC, mirror polished, hot-blued
- Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, mirror polished, hand-engraved
- Handle: Golden Plume Agate Gemstone
- Sheath: Hand-carved leather, hand-dyed
- Knife: The name Aquila comes from a
stellar constellation in the northern sky and is Latin for eagle.
The blade of the Aquila is straight and clean, with a slight drop
point that makes it easy to sheath. I ground the knife with a deep
hollow grind, for a thin, uniform thickness at and behind the
cutting edge to give decades of dependable use and sharpness. The
blade I made of high tungsten-vanadium version of O1, an oil-hardening tool
steel made for tough work with good wear resistance superior to all
plain carbon steels, and superior to typical O1. I mirror polished the blade to a bright finish
and then hot blued the blade with a sodium bluing passivation
process. This is not a coating; this is the bare blade, with black
oxidation that helps inhibit rust and corrosion. This is the same
bluing process found on fine firearms, and on the knife blades I
extend the process by doubling the time, resulting in a passive
surface that is very deep. It's so deep that it takes at least two
passes of the diamond stylus at 50 PSI to cut through the black to
the bright metal below for my maker's mark. Please see both sets of
photos below; one is with a white reflector on the blade so you can
see the grind shape and grind lines, the other is shot without the
reflector so you can see how jet black the blade actually is. The
shot above does not have the white reflector. The blued steel blade is
fully fileworked with a tight vine pattern completely around the
fully tapered tang all through the handle to the choil. The knife is
bolstered with zero-care 304 high nickel, high chromium austenitic
stainless steel, the same steel used in stainless nuts, bolts, and
fasteners. This steel is very tough and durable, and I've engraved a
nice breaking leaf pattern into all four bolster faces. Most
engravers won't touch 304; it's too hard and tough, but it is my
fitting material of choice. In choosing 304, I can assure that it
will never rust, corrode, pit, or stain, and there simply is no care
required for this steel for my patrons and clients. The bolsters are
rounded, contoured, smoothed and finished for comfort in grip and
they are dovetailed to bed a pair of extremely hard Golden Plume
Agate Gemstone. This gemstone comes from California in the high
Sierras, and is a translucent to transparent agate with mossy
bits of black interspersed that are echoes of the black blade. The
golden plumes run throughout the stone, and careful inspection of
the stone reveals deeper layers patterns, and intricacies within.
This stone is extremely hard, and will quite literally outlast the
blade, the bolsters, and you and I and our descendants! I've
polished it to a high, glassy luster, and it feels cool and inviting
in the hand. The knife balance point is at the middle finger, behind
the front bolster, making the blade light and quick in the hand.
- Sheath: The sheath is one of my hand-carved and
hand-dyed works, and many hours were spent on getting the colors and
patterns just right. I copied the pattern engraved on the bolsters
for continuity, and used a golden graduated toning against a black
relieved background on the front, the back, and even on the belt
loop. The sheath is stitched in a very tight spacing with polyester
sinew for strength, and sealed and finished. The high back protects
the wearer, while the deep sheath protects the blade and leaves
enough of the handle and the hawk's bill rear quillon exposed for easy unsheathing.
- A handsome and classy mid-sized knife with unique character,
materials, and presentation, from the glassy black blade to the commensurate and detailed sheath
Thanks, M. M.!
Jay,
I just opened the Aquila and am ecstatic with it. I have some nice knives from other makers
but this is on a plane of it's own. The physical result of your experience, skill, care and
artistry is a marvel. I'm literally laughing and shaking my head at the perfect fit of the
stone in the handle. And I mean perfect. The finish on the blade is gorgeous. Best of all is
the feel in hand. I could go on, at length, but you know what it is; it's an awesome knife.
I am going to have to come to New Mexico and shake your hand, and see if you'll create as
wonderful a chef's knife for me.
Many, many thanks and much respect,
--M. M.
Please click on thumbnail photos