Arcturus
"Arcturus" Tactical, Combat, Survival Knife
- Size: Length overall: 13.125" (33.3 cm), Blade Length: 8.25" (21.0 cm), Thickness: .185" (4.7 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 14.8 oz. (420 grams) Sheath (with extender and accessories): 1 lb., 2 oz. (510 grams)
- Blade: CPMS30V High Vanadium Powder Metal Technology Martensitic Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C59, Bead Blasted
- Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Bead Blasted
- Handle: Green, Black, Pistachio G10 Fiberglass/Epoxy Laminate Composite
- Sheath: Locking, Woodland Digital Camouflage Pattern Kydex, Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Polypropylene and Nylon belt loop
extender with Firesteel/Magnesium fire starter, Fine DMT diamond pad sharpener
- Knife: The Arcturus is a vicious
and dangerous professional grade tactical combat knife which doubles as a
survival tool. Named for the brightest star in the
constellation Bootes, Arcturus has a unique and
spiderlike quality. A blend of tanto, khukri, and
aggressive toothed character, this Arcturus has some
neat and useful features. Start with the blade. I made
it from CPMS30V, Crucible Particle Metallurgy's high
technology powder martensitic stainless tool steel with
three percent vanadium. The powder technology allows a
more even and higher alloy content and distribution of
the vanadium, and when heat treated, it forms super
wear-resistant vanadium carbides. This steel has about
the same corrosion resistance as 440C, but the vanadium
carbides give it higher wear resistance at the cutting
edge. This tough blade is thinly hollow ground but with
a noticeable curve of profile, for slicing ease and
tactical combat keenness. The point is thin and
devastating, and the blade spine is topped with a full
length top swage to reduce point profile. One of the
most noticeable features are the 2.5 inches of my Canine
Rip Tooth Serrations. These are devastatingly aggressive
serrations, and the super wear resistant blade should
hold the edges and points extremely well. They're placed at the
recurve area of the blade, which, when hollow ground
like this Arcturus, is very thin indeed. Just above this
area the spine thickens at the thumb rise, which allows
the user to apply great cutting force. The spine of the
knife is fileworked throughout the fully tapered tang
with a serpentine pattern, and the handle is deeply
sculpted and shaped for a form that positively locks the
knife in the hand in either forward or reverse grip. The
bolsters are heavy 304 high chromium, high nickel
austenitic stainless steel for supreme corrosion
resistance. The front bolster fully covers the
forefinger quillon, and the rear bolster does the same
with the addition of a 1/4" chamfered through-tang
lanyard hole for extra security. The bolsters are
dovetailed and bed a pair of bold green, black, and
pistachio G10 fiberglass/epoxy laminate composite handle
scales, which are very tough, hard, wear resistant, and
waterproof. The entire knife and handle are bead-blasted
for glare reduction and easy care, while offering an
increased purchase on the handle. This is a very
comfortable knife to hold, with the balance point just
at the front bolster quillon.
- Sheath: Previewing my new
Woodland digital camouflage Kydex ,I've made one of my fine locking,
waterproof tactical sheaths for this knife, the best
tactical combat knife sheath made anywhere. While most makers
use a single thickness kydex (.060"), this kydex is (.125"),
twice that thick for strength, durability, stability, and longevity.
The MARPAT (Marine disruptive Pattern camouflage) is
dye-printed into the surface of the white kydex which is hot-formed over a 5052H32 corrosion resistant, high
strength aluminum welt frame, secured with solid 304 stainless steel
Chicago screws and waterproof cement. The sheath has all stainless
steel locking components in 302, 304, and 316 austenitic stainless
steel for low-care, high corrosion resistance, and durability while
positively locking the knife in the sheath. Even the machine screws
and reinforcements are stainless steel. 1.75" wide belt loops are
die-formed, in high strength, corrosion resistant 5052H32 aluminum, and are reversible for
versatile wear in any position. The belt loops can also be relocated
at the sheath tail, for inverted wear in a variety of positions.
- Accessories: I decided to go all out on this
sheath, and included one of my new survival, CSAR
sheath belt loop extension accessories with new and
added features and devices. The polypropylene accessory
is waterproof, durable, and extremely stout, and allows
the locking knife sheath to be worn in a more
traditional belt position. The extension is mounted with
304 stainless steel straps and machine screws attached to
the existing stainless steel Chicago screws, and the assembly
is stiffened by multiple zigzag nylon stitching to
prevent the extension from folding, bending, or
collapsing when the knife is extracted from the sheath.
The belt loop is over 2 inches wide for the widest of
belts, and has a top placement shock cord with snap
retention to prevent the knife handle from flopping around
during active movements. The shock cord is not for
retention of the knife; this is done with the stainless steel sheath
lock. At the back of the extension I've created a custom
fit pocket for a DMT (Diamond Machining Technology)
Mini-Sharp diamond-nickel abrasive hone, to bring up the
cutting edge in the field with ease. These are great
tools that can re-sharpen or just touch up even the
hardest tool steel edges, even on this high vanadium tool steel, as they are surface bonded
with diamond abrasives. I included a red (fine) grit sharpener on
this extension. The pocket for this tool is cleverly
situated at the sheath back and against the body, and the sharpener
can not be removed unless the sheath is off the body and the Velcro
closure is open. I also added a specially modified
critical survival component to this accessory: the
Firesteel/Magnesium block with custom fittings. The
block is waterproof and durable, with soft magnesium
that can be easily shaved off with the knife blade, and
a Firesteel striker to ignite the magnesium shavings
when placed into tinder to start a fire. A unique
addition to this commonly found block is the stainless
steel rod guard. This minimizes the possibility of the
Firesteel contacting any other metals and causing
accidental sparks and ignition when the accessory is worn or removed, guards the knife tip (or
swage) when the blade is dragged over the Firesteel,
helps concentrate and guide the spark direction, and
offers a variety of mounting options, besides on the
sheath extender's industrial strength Velcro straps. Being all 304 stainless steel, it will
not corrode or rust. Learn much more about these
critical
accessories on
a special page on my site. Mounting, care, and use
instructions are posted there.
- A unique, extremely aggressive khukri-tanto bladed
knife in super wear-resistant high vanadium powder technology stainless steel with all
the accessories and features needed for combat, tactical
use, and survival.
Thanks, T.A.!
Jay,
Just walked in a few minutes ago ... knife was waiting for me when I arrived, and I
must say at first glance it looked huge; however, once I took it out of the sheath
it had that incredible feel that I have come to love with your knives. My PJLT Tac
knife has been with me now on three different continents and it is now like and old
friend. For my up coming deployment to OEF I wanted something with a little more
bulk as well as something that I could carry in a survival/exfil mode...I must say
this definitely looks and feels as if it has the perfect combination of length,
weight, and balance to take on the most demanding tasks. I like the way you
incorporated the webbing into this knife and it has the same secure locking mechanism
that I have come to trust. After six months in OEF and another 60 days in Africa,
I never once had the locking mechanism open while in motion. I carried it both
upright and handle down on my vest and never once had a problem. I can't thank you
enough Jay for your quick response and as in the past, having one of your blades
close at hand is a very comforting feeling.
... I sing the praises of your knifes at every opportunity and I only wish that every
soldier, airman, sailor, marine, and civilian serving this great country of ours could
have the opportunity to carry one of your knives where ever they might find themselves - most
especially if that brings them into harm's way.
All the best Jay to you and yours and as always thank you very much.
--T. A.
Please click on thumbnail knife photos