"Malaka" Fine Custom Handmade Knife
"Malaka" Fine Handmade Custom Knife
- Size: Length overall: 12.25" (31.1 cm), Blade Length:
7.6" (19.3 cm), Thickness: 0.174" (4.4 mm)
- Weight: Knife: 13.9 oz. (394 grams) LeatherSheath::
7.8 oz. (221 grams), Kydex Locking Sheath: 11.9 oz. (337 grams)
- Blade: CPM 154CM high molybdenum powder metal
martensitic stainless steel blade, T4 deep cryogenically treated with
quadruple tempering to 60 HRC, hand-engraved
- Bolsters, Fittings: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, Mirror polished,
hand-engraved
- Handle: Plasma Agate Gemstone (California),
Nephrite Jade Gemstone (Wyoming)
- Sheath: Hand-carved, hand-dyed Leather Shoulder nylon stitching, stainless steel fasteners
- Sheath: Locking Kydex (Version 2.0) in Kydex,
anodized aluminum, anodized titanium, 304 stainless steel
- Knife: A great custom knife project for a great
client, Malaka is named for the ancient Sumerian King of Warriors.
My client requested a completely hand-engraved knife on the blade
flats, and fully engraved stainless steel bolsters. The Malaka is a
magnificently sharp and pointed knife, with a deeply set handle for
a solid grip. My client also requested simple hand-tooled leather
crossdraw on the sheath, and an additional minimal kit with my
version 2.0 locking sheath for outdoor wear.
- The steel my client chose for his knife is
CPM 154CM, a powder metal tool steel, a high technology steel
known for extremely even distribution of alloy elements and
a uniform microstructure. It's a high molybdenum stainless
steel, and the molybdenum aids in forming nucleation sites
for complex carbide development. The moly also increases the
toughness dramatically, resulting in a blade that's
extremely durable. This allows me to temper the steel at a
higher overall hardness, for great wear resistance as well.
The high chromium and high carbon results in profuse
chromium carbides, increasing corrosion resistance as well
as wear resistance. To bring this steel to its zenith, I
used my proprietary T4 deep cryogenic process in heat
treating this blade; it's a highly detailed, extremely
sophisticated process that takes 35 individual steps and
takes over a week long. The result of this is an incredibly
wear-resistant blade that has extremely high carbide
development, fine grain, and extremely high toughness.
Asperity is reduced; the microstructure development is
superior to any other typical handmade knife, and far above
any factory or manufactured knife. This is, simply put,
154CM Powder Metal steel at its very finest advanced
condition. I performed a beautiful deep hollow grind on this
knife,and beautifully and mirror polished
it throughout. Before heat treating, I hand-engraved an
elegant design in the blade flats. The blade has very deep
and bold vine
filework for handmade distinction and the
tang is fully tapered for balance and beauty. It's
a handsome, striking blade and I loved creating it for him.
- I bolstered the knife with zero-care 304 high chromium, high
nickel stainless steel bolsters, which are contoured, rounded and
finished for a comfortable feel. The bolsters are secured with
zero-clearance peened pins and dovetailed to bed the
handle scales. The front bolsters are beautifully
contoured to support the full thumb rise and sheath lock. The rear bolsters
are wide and support the rear quillon that locks the handle
into the hand. I continued the deep-relief hand-engraved
design on the bolsters. Rarely engraved, 304 austenitic
stainless steel is zero-care, unlike carbon steel
engravings, these will last as long as the knife with no
concern for rust or corrosion.
- The handle scales of this knife have Nephrite Jade
liners against the tang. This is an extremely tough gemstone from Wyoming,
and it elevates the main course, striking Plasma Agate from
New Idra, California. This is getting to be a very hard
stone to find in high quality, and I was lucky enough to
come up with some breathtaking scales. Please look over the
6 power enlargements on this page, this is a magnificent
material that my client chose for his custom knife. The handle
shape has a good belly for a comfortable grip and the
quillons are extremely deep, locking the knife solidly into
the hand.
- The knife feels
substantial and sharp in the hand, with a sure grip in the handle
shape, and smooth rounded contoured bolsters. The
engraving sets the knife into the collector's range, but my
client intends to use the knife and that means a lot!
- Sheaths: My client requested two sheaths, one
in hand-carved leather and another in locking kydex. For the
hand-carved leather sheath, I used 9-10 oz. leather shoulder,
hand-carved and tooled in the same design as the engraving on the
bolsters and blade. He requested a left side crossdraw, so the
sheath has a large and strong belt loop secured by six 304 stainless
steel screw fasteners for longevity and trustworthiness. The loop
holds the knife at a slight point-down angle, and the thick welts
protect the wearer from the incredibly sharp edge and point. The
welts are double-row stitched where they are not screwed together,
and even the sheath back and belt loop are hand-carved and tooled.
The high back allows easy access to the handle for casual wear while
protecting the wearer. The leather sheath is sealed with multiple
coats of saddle lacquer for longevity.
The second sheath is one of my version 2.0 locking models, made of
double-thickness kydex and supported by heavy welts of 5052 H32 high
strength, corrosion -resistant aluminum aircraft alloy. I've
anodized all of the aluminum in the sheath and hardware with a 1-mil
thick, near ceramic-hard anodization with a deep black dye that is
sealed with UV-resistant sealer. This includes a complete basic kit
of belt loops, straps, and mounts. I included a LIMA with Olite
rechargeable flashlight for emergencies in a night excursion, and
the locking mechanism and fasteners are blackened 304 austenitic
stainless steel with an anodized 6AL4V titanium spring. The sheath
is fully waterproof and positively locking for security. The kit
includes a basic set of bags and storage tins, and one of my 1000
denier ballistic nylon carry duffles with polypropylene, polyester,
and acetyl, D-rings and YKK zipper.
- I'm honored to have made this for a very special client; and
look forward to the adventures it will undoubtedly accompany!
Thanks, C. L.!
I received the Malaka a week ago. I did not write immediately because I wanted to take time
with it and gain an honest opinion after spending time with it. I have carried it everyday since
then. The finish is exactly as exact as I had hoped. The detail is enthralling. The knife came sharp
and well packaged. I appreciate the care taken in the duffle and assorted bags and tins. Each the
right size to contain all the additional parts and pieces.
I know that this knife is well into the
collectors range, but I look forward to it being my constant companion on camping, travel, and
daily life through the rest of my life. Below I have included a photo of the knife with the care
products you recommended. I include this because I want you to know that I appreciate not only the
care and effort you put into not only crafting this knife, but also into education about all aspects
of your knife making. I want you to have confidence that this blade will be cared for and maintained
with as much diligence as you invested in it. Thank you for creating this wonderful functional piece
of artwork for me.
Respectfully,
C. L.
Please click on thumbnail knife photos