Jay Fisher - Fine Custom Knives

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"Vindicator" push dagger, obverse side view in CPM154CM powder metal technology tool steel blade, 304 stainless steel bolsters, Afghanistan Lapis Lazuli gemstone handle, hand-carved leather sheath inlaid with Elephant skin
"Vindicator" with Lapis Lazuli Gemstone handle

Imamu

"Imamu" obverse side view in ATS-34 high molybdenum stainless steel blade, 304 stainless steel bolsters, tiger stripe G10 fiberglass/epoxy composite handle, locking kydex, aluminum, stainless steel sheath with ultimate belt loop extender, diamond sharpener, firesteel/magnesium fire starter, HULA flashlight holder with XL series Maglite
"Imamu" Tactical Combat, CSAR, Survival Knife
  • Size: Length overall: 13.75" (34.9 cm), Blade Length: 8.0" (20.3 cm), Thickness: .260" (6.6 mm)
  • Weight: Knife: 1 lb., 7.0 oz. (652 grams), Sheath (with extender, accessory package, HULA and Maglite): 1 lb., 13 oz. (822 grams)
  • Blade: ATS-34 High Molybdenum Martensitic Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C59, Bead Blasted
  • Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Bead Blasted
  • Handle: Tiger Stripe G10 Fiberglass/Epoxy Laminate Composite
  • Sheath: Locking, Black Kydex, Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Polypropylene and Nylon belt loop extender with Firesteel/Magnesium fire starter, Fine DMT diamond pad sharpener
  • HULA (Holder, Universal, Lamp, Articulating): Welded and machined 304 high nickel, high chromium austenitic stainless steel, 5052H32 corrosion-resistant, high strength aluminum alloy, 6AL4V titanium alloy, Maglite XL100 series flashlight
  • Knife: In popular culture, there is special term for the end of the world when everything is chaos. The term is Zombie Apocalypse. If that were to happen, this is one of the few knives that you would want to have in your emergency kit. Imamu is the the Swahili name for "Spirit Guide" and this knife was created for intense field, tactical, survival, and combat use. This is clearly one of the toughest, strongest, and most durable knives I make. I started with a tough foundation and made the blade in ATS-34. This is a hot work, high molybdenum martensitic stainless steel, a steel used to make turbine blades, and extremely high wear mechanical components that must be very tough at a high hardness and high wear resistance. Because it's so resistant to fracture, this steel can take a lot of abuse and shock without failing. This is due to the high molybdenum content in the steel, over three and a half percent. This high moly, along with high chromium (13.7 percent) and high carbon make ATS-34 one of the toughest stainless tool steels available in the world of modern high alloys. An additional advantage to this fine tool steel is the extremely high tempering temperature. This means that the knife blade will not lose its hardness unless the blade temperature exceeds 1000 degrees Fahrenheit or 540 Celsius! Talk about heat resistant! I've ground the blade deeply and accurately side to side, with sweeping grind terminations that add to the strength of the blade-to-handle junction. The blade point is clipped at an angle that lowers the point and helps guide it into the sheath. The half-length top swage reduces the cross-sectional geometry without sacrificing spine strength. The center of percussion for this beast is at the belly location in the hollow grind of the blade and I left plenty of thickness in the grind to support light impact. The blade has 2 inches of my  Microblade rip tooth serrations for smooth and aggressive cutting, one of the toughest serration geometries I offer. The choil area is deeply sculpted with trapping hooks, blending into the serrations, with the hand protected by the large and effective quillon of the front bolster. The knife has staccato offset filework completely around the fully tapered tang for increased grip potential and handmade flair. The knife is bolstered with very large and broad multi-pinned, radiused and contoured 304 high nickel, high chromium stainless steel for the ultimate in durability, and the bolsters are dovetailed to bed a pair of tiger stripe (black and orange) fiberglass reinforced G10 epoxy laminate composite scales. The G10 is nearly indestructible and should last generations with no care. With the substantial curves of the handle belly, large forefinger quillon and the rear hawk's bill quillon, this knife is very solid and bonded to the hand in the most active of motion. The perfectly placed thumb rise gives extra support and control in fine cutting activity. The slight angle of the handle to the blade gives the wrist a more comfortable position, reducing the possibility of strain and wrist injury. The rear bolster has a chamfered 5/16" through-tang lanyard hole for extra security, and the knife feels meaty and solid with the balance point at the front of the forward bolster.
  • Sheath: The sheath is a professional assembly, frankly, the best tactical sheath and accessory package made in the world. It's also an example of my commitment to making the finest combat tactical, and rescue knives and sheaths on the planet. It starts with double thickness (.125") kydex (methyl acrylate and polyvinylchloride), hot-formed over an  aluminum welt frame of 5052 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy in H32 hardness. The body and welts are secured with bead blasted and slotted 304 stainless steel Chicago screws for the ultimate in durability with no care and no glare. The sheath is one of my long-proven positively locking waterproof models, with all stainless steel locking mechanism and components for the ultimate in reliability and trustworthiness. Even the machine screws are stainless steel. The sheath can be worn in any position, even upside down when worn with the die-formed high alloy aluminum belt loops (included). The belt loops can be located in several positions along the welt frame and are reversible for a variety of wear options.
  • Accessories: This knife and sheath is made complete with my ultimate accessory package, and I included my Ultimate survival, CSAR sheath belt loop extension accessories with outstanding and critical features and devices. The polypropylene accessory is waterproof, durable, and extremely stout, and lowers the locking knife sheath to be worn in a more traditional belt position with the knife handle at the hip. The extension is mounted with counter bored and dressed 304 stainless steel straps and stainless steel socket head cap screws attached to the existing stainless 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 2.5 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. Even the dot snap assembly is all stainless steel. The shock cord is not for retention of the knife; this is done with the stainless steel sheath lock. At the lower back of the extension I've included 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, even on this high alloy wear resistant blade. These are great tools that can re-sharpen or just touch up even the hardest tool steel edges, as they are surface-bonded with diamond abrasives. The pocket for this tool is situated at the sheath back and against the body, so the sharpener can not be removed unless the sheath is off the body and the industrial strength Velcro closure is open. I also added a specially modified critical survival component to this accessory: the Firesteel/Magnesium block with custom fittings. These blocks are 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 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 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.
  • HULA and Maglite XL Flashlight: Included in this professional assembly is my latest offering for field use, the HULA. The Holder, Universal, Lamp, Articulating (HULA), is my answer to a call for not just a backup lamp that I've provided on previous Ultimate Extender packages, but an actual main or key professional grade lamp and mount assembly. The lamp I included is the Maglite XL100, perhaps the most sophisticated programmable flashlight made today, with five modes of operation and infinite power settings. The lamp is a powerhouse of options and longevity, with ultra bright LED technology that is dependable and tough. The only thing the lamp needs is a reliable, adjustable, dependable and corrosion-proof way to mount, use, and carry it on the sheath, so I designed the HULA. This special holder will hold any flashlight that is 1" by 4.75" and also accommodates the Maglite XL200 flashlight that has slightly different options. The holder lamp frame is made of welded 5052H32 high strength corrosion-resistant aluminum alloy, for the highest durability and corrosion resistance combined with low weight This aluminum is suitable for marine (salt water) environments. The lamp is held in custom made socket with a retaining cap that is maintained in a T-slot lock by the elastic tension of replaceable shock cord straps. The T-slot lock can be negotiated even in the dark due to it's simple and clever design and construction. The lamp can be turned operated within the holder, and can even have selected modes while still in the control of the holder. One of the best features of this assembly is my exclusive ball joint and pinch mechanism. This is a very old mechanism, dating back to 200BC, where a ball sits in a dedicated socket, and is held there by the tension of a screw. The ball joint frame, ball, tangs, screw and mounting hardware are all welded 304 high nickel, high chromium stainless steel which is bead blasted for glare reduction. This is a very tough assembly that will probably outlast the knife owner. What it offers is an articulating adjustment, aiming and positioning of the lamp, while still mounted on the knife sheath, wherever the knife sheath is mounted on the body. In the traditional belt line position, the lamp can be aimed at the ground in front of the wearer (great for hiking or movement), or aimed at any object or person in front of the wearer, while freeing the hands for a weapon, tool, or carry. Having the HULA also eliminates the need for a headlamp, a device that has its own limitations. This new development has been highly popular with search and rescue and disaster response teams. Since the lamp can be dimmed infinitely, the setting can allow soft light for subdued movement, and various settings on the lamp can aid in emergencies to signal and draw attention, depending on the program selected. The lamp can even be program-locked to prevent unwanted turning on, even if the switch is operated. If the wearer needs the light in his hand, he simply pulls up on the T-slot locking cap, pulls the lamp from the socket, and replaces the cap so it won't bounce around. I've done my research, and created simply the finest flashlight accessory made in the world today, custom made to mount to my locking sheaths, the best locking sheaths made in the world today. One more important point: the bolt pattern and arrangement on this particular knife sheath allows the HULA to be bolted to 12 positions and 24 orientations along the welts of the sheath. Talk about flexibility! There are much more to these accessories; learn about these critical accessories on a special page on my site at this link. Mounting, care, and use instructions are posted there.
  • This is an extremely well-designed and constructed, high durability professional grade knife and tool set, with outstanding features and accessories, one of the absolute best available in the world today, an ultimate survival tool for disasters, emergencies, and reliable tactical use.

Thanks, R. F.!


Please click on thumbnail knife photos
"Imamu" reverse side view. Sheath has ultimate belt loop extender in polypropylene with nylon stitching, with diamond pad sharpener, magnesium/firesteel fire starter, HULA with XL maglite "Imamu" spine edgework, filework detail. Tang is fully tapered, bolsters are dovetailed, locking handle material to tang. "Imamu" inside handle tang view. Handle has deeply sculpted shape for increased grip security, all surfaces are rounded, radiused dressed and smoothed for comfort "Imamu" obverse side handle detail. G10 fiberglass/epoxy composite is tough, strong, waterproof, and hard, with a nice grip "tooth" for security. Note deep trapping hooks at ricasso between front quillon and serrations "Imamu" reverse side handle detail. Rear bolster has through-tang 5/16" camfered lanyard hole for extra security if needed "Imamu" micro-blade serrations detail. Serrations are deep and sharp with mutiple cutting edges and smooth geometry for less tearing. "Imamu" sheathed view. Sheath is the finest made, locking waterproof, highly durable. All fittings and components are corrosion resistant, high strength. "Imamu" point detail. Curvature of blade belly is significant and sturdy with thick hollow grinds and swage to reduce point thickness. "Imamu" handle butt detail. Filework is full, tapered tang balances weight yet preserves intense strength for transfer of energy to blade. "Imamu" sheathed view, traditional locking sheath arrangement. All Chicago screws are slotted and bead blasted stainless steel for high corrosion resistance, high strength, non-glare "Imamu" sheathed view, traditional arrangement with die formed high strength aluminum alloy belt loops. Loops can be located in various positions along welt frame for a wide variety of wear options.

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