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

Kochel

"Kochel" custom art knife, Obverse side view in hot blued, mirror polished O1 high carbon tungsten-vanadium tool steel blade, 304 stainless steel fittings, Polvadera Jasper gemstone handle, stand of American Black Walnut, Wenge, Cocobolo hardwood and Polvadera Jasper
"Kochel" custom art knife, obverse side view in blued, mirror polished O1 high carbon tungsten-vanadium tool steel blade, 304 stainless steel bolsters, Polvadera Jasper gemstone handle
"Kochel" Custom Art Knife
  • Size:
    Knife:
    Length Overall: 19,25" (48.9 cm), Blade Length: 11.5" (29.2 cm), Thickness: .232" (5.9 mm)
    Stand: Length: 24.75" (62.9 cm), Depth: 6.0" (15.2 cm), Height (with knife): 8.75" (22.2 cm)
  • Weight:
    Knife: 1 lb. 12 oz. (794 grams)
    Stand: 2.0 lbs. (907 grams)
  • Blade: O1 high carbon tungsten-vanadium tool steel, hardened and tempered to 58HRC, mirror polished, hot blued
  • Bolsters, Fittings: 304 austenitic high nickel, high chromium stainless steel
  • Handle: Polished Polvadera Jasper Gemstone
  • Stand: Hand-carved American Black Walnut, Wenge, Honduras Rosewood, Cocobolo Hardwoods, Polvadera Jasper Gemstone
  • Knife: The knife Kochel was named for The Smith of Kochel, a legendary metal smith who became a soldier, and armed with just a bar of steel, stove in the gates of Belgrade. Had the Smith of Kochel had the chance to refine his bar, this knife is what I envision for him. This striking art knife project started with the input and drawings from my client, who wanted a custom piece with certain specific and original features incorporated into the design. From his original design, I refined the design, created the pattern and made Kochel. The knife blade has some unique features. The steel is O1 high carbon tungsten-vanadium high alloy tool steel, and I've mirror-polished the knife throughout and hot blued it to a deep, penetrating black, glassy finish. The large blade (over 11 inches long) has several hollow ground areas, with a 3" length of grind at the ricasso sporting my vampire rip tooth serrations, and over 8" of regular hollow grind, upswept to the large and aggressive swage area. This area has four deep, large serrations, and including all serration faces, the knife blade has 58 individual grind faces and about 340 file cuts! Bringing all these together was quite a challenge. Bringing them all to mirror finish goes way beyond what I had originally envisioned for Kochel, but I think the effort was worth it. The spine of the knife is strong and thick, with full filework throughout. The tang was left at full thickness for balance, and has multiple variable-sized finger rings that are fully contoured, smoothed, polished, and blued for a comfortable grip. The blade has a wide bolster-guard area with full coverage in sculpted, contoured, and mirror-finished bolsters in 304 high nickel, high chromium austenitic stainless steel. At the butt of the knife is a talon point (also called a skull crusher), bringing the point home that this is a substantial weapon and piece of art. The handle was an equal challenge to the blade to make. The material is solid Polvadera Jasper (with some Agate areas) from the Polvadera mountains in New Mexico, and the scales are sculpted, carved, and finished to match the tang and extend down the finger rings. They are dovetailed and bedded to the bolsters and tang. With a bright polish, this hard, tough, and solid jasper will outlast the knife. The handle feels very comfortable in the hand; the balance point is just at the tip of the sculpted bolster face, and the center of percussion is right at the main sweeping grind.
  • Stand: Kochel had to have one of my original and unique stands, and I thought it would be best served with a Black Forest-type of dark, carved and woody flavor. I carefully calculated the balance point, position, and lines of the knife and designed the stand to compliment and accentuate the bold look. I hand-carved the stand in American Black Walnut hardwood with two claw feet with the members mounted crossways to each other. At the apex, the Walnut is bored and holds two turned and polished pegs of Honduras Rosewood, which are capped with Polvadera Jasper, matching the handle material of the knife. The pegs are retained with tapered pegs of polished Cocobolo hardwood. The Walnut carved claw feet rest on wormy Wenge African hardwood, chosen for its dark, intriguing grain and small wormholes, giving an ancient appearance. The knife balances on the first and third finger holes on two cannelures in the rosewood pegs. All of the woods in the stand are either polished or lightly oiled and are their natural color. The blade is suspended along the main leg of the stand, guarding it from contact. To top off the piece, I made a name stand of polished Cocobolo hardwood which holds a reversible black lacquered brass and red lacquered aluminum engraved plate for display options.
  • A striking and original work of knife sculpture, custom made for a special client.

Thanks, A. V.!

Jay…
I can’t wipe the stupid grin off my face. You have gone far and above the call on this one, and have exceeded my expectations in every way! (which were already very high) I really like how the stand came out as well, and like the added touch of the jasper on the mounting pegs and the carved claw feet.
P.S. – I know you weren’t sure of the jasper as a handle material – but I thank you for making it work for me. ever since I saw it on another of your knives, I knew it was something I wanted to have on this one.
Thank you for making this knife for me.

-A.


Please click on thumbnail knife photos
"Kochel" front knife display stand view. Position of knife is along the main leg of the display, and compliments the lines of the knife "Kochel" front left display view. Knife and stand are complimentary artwork, all handmade and original in tool steel, hardwoods, and gemstone "Kochel" back left view. The name tag is reversible for variety, in red lacquered engraved aluminum or black lacquered engraved brass "Kochel" art knife display stand, back view. There really is no specific orientation, as the knife and stand are independent works of sculptural art "Kochel" right rear view. The knife is balanced on turned Honduras Rosewood pollished pegs retained by cocobolo polished pins "Kochel" front right view. The llines of the knife and stand work together, looking like a dark forest beast "Kochel" knife hanger view. The girdled (or cannelured) pegs are Honduras Rosewood, and the knife is balanced on the first and third finger ring hole. Note all holes are gauged for individual fingers, contoured and polished and blued "Kochel" rear display stand view. Honduras Rosewood pegs are secured with tapered Cocobolo tension pegs in hand-carved walnut stand "Kochel" knife point on display stand detail. On the swage alone, there are 24 independent grind surfaces, all matched and mirror polished "Kochel" custom knife display stand, hanger detail. The Polvadera Jasper is very hard, tough, and durable. The clear areas are agate and the stone is actually a microcrystalline quartz "Kochel" custom knife display stand foot detail. I chose wormy Wenge hardwood (note wormholes in base) because it's hard, dense, dark, and ancient looking, matching the style of the knife "Kochel" custom knife display stand, rear view. Hand-carved walnut blends well with other dark hardwoods: cocobolo, wenge, Honduras rosewood "Kochel" obverse side view. Massive knife is stout and strong. The grind terminations are nicely matched and radiused "Kochel" reverse side view. Blade has original and unique character, in mirror finished hot blued tungsten-vandium high alloy tool steel "Kochel" knife blade point detail. This is an aggressive and beautiful work of knife art. Note front bolster faces sculpted and polished "Kochel" reverse side butt detail. Knife has stout talon at rear bolster, adding much to the character of this artistic weapon and tool. "Kochel" obverse side handle detail. The Polvadera Jasper is polished and contoured throughout, for a comfortable and secure grip as well as unique beauty "Kochel" reverse side handle detail. The bolsters are high chromium, high nickel stainless steel, sculpted, polished and dovetailed to handle material for a solid, permanent fit "Kochel" spine view. Knife has full filework, and well contoured and polished handle form as well as tight and solid fit throughout "Kochel" blade spine view. The front bolser is a guard-bolster design, with large and heavy quillons and bearing surfaces, sharp and cleanly polished "Kochel" inside handle tang detail. A very difficult handle to make, all inside surfaces are contoured, smoothed, rounded, and polished for comfort. Gemstone handle scales are bedded to the tang for solid, smooth fit.

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